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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.

Boker, George H. (George Henry), 1823-1890 to David Bell Birney

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02608.02 Author/Creator: Boker, George H. (George Henry), 1823-1890 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 March 1863 Pagination: 3 p. : Height: 18.6 cm, Width: 12 cm Order a Copy

Boker, Secretary of Philadelphia's Union League, thanks General Birney for the flag of General Philip Kearny, recently donated to the League (refer to GLC02608.01). Declares "I never before was so thoroughly impressed with my incompetency to perform any duty that was allotted to me. If you could have been present at the Solemn Silence which fell on all lips, as I reverently unrolled that war-worn standard ... you would understand how poorly mere words can convey the feeling which it inspired." Thanks Birney for the "treasure which I know that you esteem above all other symbols save that of our nationality." States that if Birney or any of his staff members travel to Philadelphia, they are welcome at the Union League.

Birney, David Bell, 1825-1864
Boker, George H. (George Henry), 1823-1890
Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862

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