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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.

Barnum, P.T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891 to Dr. Davenport

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05508.030.01 Author/Creator: Barnum, P.T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891 Place Written: Bridgeport, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 November 1878 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 18.2 cm, Width: 11.2 cm Order a Copy

A short, odd, breezy letter, Barnum promises a humorous lecture, possibly to a religious group. He also remarks on the virtues of being "practically useful to our fellow man," indicating that he would trade some of his faith for a stack of good works. Barnum continues, remarking that he cares less what men believe in just so long as they love God and man. A photograph of Barnum is included (GLC05508.030.02).

Barnum, P.T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891

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