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.

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891 to John G. Walker

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03804.19 Author/Creator: Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891 Place Written: Narragansett, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 August 1882 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 34.2 cm, Width: 20.8 cm Order a Copy

Written by Admiral Porter to Captain Walker as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Marked "Private." It seems Walker was reporting about an experimental ship that was in need of repairs. Porter says repairs should be made and that is important to "find a vessel that will turn on her center, and go astern." Porter is not concerned about the repairs. Complains to Walker about the Board of Inspectors and hopes there are changes. Letter has very illegible handwriting.

Walker, John George, 1821-1893

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