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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.

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901 to my dear wife

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02740.14 Author/Creator: Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901 Place Written: Gallops Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 December 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 12.7 x 20.6 cm. Order a Copy

He has had a lovely Christmas and spent most of it asleep. He wants her to send a picture of herself. Once again, he tells her to have more confidence in him, for he has only spoken to one woman since he left. He says "I know I am a wicked man, but I am honest and true to my darling wife..."

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