Our Collection

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.

Swan, Christiana, fl. 1799-1804 to unknown

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.07877 Author/Creator: Swan, Christiana, fl. 1799-1804 Place Written: Paris, France Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 September 1804 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 23.2 cm, Width: 18.3 cm Order a Copy

No addressee is listed, but based on previous letters, may be written to Lucy Flucker Knox Thatcher, daughter of Henry and Lucy Knox. Writes a lengthy letter about her life in Paris. Talks about the luxuries of the city, as well as the wealth disparities between the rich and poor. Discusses her difficult voyage to Paris, and her stop in Holland. Compares Paris to Holland. Asks about her wedding, and whether it has happened yet (Lucy Knox married Ebenezer Thatcher in January, 1804).

Swan, Christiana, fl. 1799-1804
Thatcher, Lucy Flucker Knox, 1776-1854

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources