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.

Unknown to My Dear Cousin

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.193 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: Downingtown, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 July 1882 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.4 x 25.4 cm. Order a Copy

Letter addressed "My Dear Cousin." Refers to the death of Amanda and how distraught "Poor Old Aunt Phebe" must be. Says they are cutting wheat "...with one of those large binding machines." Reports that "...Poor blind Mrs. Praddy's daughter...drowned away from home on the Mississippi River." Signature on letter is L.M.H.

Joseph Maitland enlisted on 8 August 1862 as a Private. He was mustered into "G" Co. OH 95th Infantry. He was mustered out 31 May 1865 at Memphis, Tennessee.

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