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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869 Pardon of August Kesling, alias August Kesting/Kestenger, convicted of transmitting forged federal documents.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00043.17 Author/Creator: Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Document signed Date: July 28, 1854 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 43 cm, Width: 28 cm Order a Copy

Convicted of transmitting forged federal documents; sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Pardoned for "...divers other good and sufficient reasons..." (c/s William L. Marcy)

Marcy, W.L., fl. 1854-1855
Kesling, August, fl. 1854
Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

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