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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.

James, Frank, 1844-1915 to John N. Edwards

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01649 Author/Creator: James, Frank, 1844-1915 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: August 7, 1882 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 21.5 cm, Width: 14 cm Order a Copy

James expresses concern that Edwards has not written to him. Worries about his reputation while evading authorities, stating: " ... it is harder still to rest content beneath the harrowing reflection that ones character, his mind, his heart, his entire nature is misunderstood- misconstrued ... " Refuses to accept Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden's offer of turning "State's Evidence" against comrades. Feels that stooping "so low as to place a comrades life....in jeopardy" was "beneath the dignity of a man or the principles of a Christian." Postscript mentions concern for the welfare of his wife and child.

James, Frank, 1844-1915
Edwards, John Newman, 1839-1889
Crittenden, Thomas, 1825-1905

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