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.

[Draft of inscription intended for the Robert Gould Shaw monument]

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02928.06 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Typed document Date: circa 1897 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 26.5 cm, Width: 20.5 cm Order a Copy

Includes hand written corrections by an unknown writer. Honors Robert Gould Shaw, who commanded the famous 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry during the Civil War. Features excerpts from a speech delivered by Massachusetts Governor John Albion Andrew on 18 May 1863, during his presentation of the regiment standards: "I know not where in all human history, to any thousand men in arms, there has been committed a work at once so proud, so precious, so full of hope and glory, as the work committed to you." Indicates that this draft is intended for the front of the monument. Docket includes several measurements pertaining to the monument. Fragile and torn in several creases.

Andrew, John Albion, 1818-1867
Forbes, John Murray, 1813-1898
Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources