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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.

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889 to James Bennett

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03513 Author/Creator: Ericsson, John, 1803-1889 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 March 1845 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; Height: 29 cm, Width: 24 cm Order a Copy

A private letter in which Ericsson defends the merits of his screw propeller over Steven's Scull. Claims that reports that the scull beat his ship are misleading. Accompanied by a two page manuscript autographed by Ericsson that details his invention. John Ericsson invented the screw propeller, which replaced the paddle wheel and remains the most common form of marine propulsion to this day. James Bennett was editor of the New York Herald.

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889
Bennett, James Gordon, 1795-1872

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