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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.

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864 to his sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02232.17 Author/Creator: Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864 Place Written: Shelbyville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 May 1863 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 26 cm, Width: 20.5 cm Order a Copy

Advises his sister that in order to keep a sweetheart she should give him a daguerreotype and not a photograph of herself. Writes that his "sweetheart," Miss Melinda, has replaced him for another fellow. He discusses how many of the soldiers get positions (promotions) just talking their way up. Asks his sister to give his love to all the girls and writes that he will marry any that will take him, assuring them that he is still good looking and not "as some contraband, or American gentleman of African descent." There is missing text due to holes in the paper. The letter is very fragile.

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864
Ward, S. Elmira, fl. 1861

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