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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.

Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903 What They Have to Do Who Stay at Home

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08665 Author/Creator: Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Pamphlet Date: November 1862 Pagination: 1 v. : 12 p. : Height: 22.9 cm, Width: 14.2 cm Order a Copy

Written by Olmsted as General Secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Touts the good work of the Sanitary Commission, but "What They Have To Do" is get involved. Calls for a better system of donation and distribution of supplies to alleviate the suffering of sick and wounded troops. Says "The recent battles East and West have completely exhausted the reserved stock of the Commission, and it is found now not only impracticable to accumulate supplies, but impossible to meet even urgent demands daily made by hospitals within sight of the very dome of the Capitol." Says materials are becoming more scarce and that larger armies are being mustered, so it is important to get involved. Pages 10-12 provide a list of goals for the Commission. Lists commissioners under appointment by Lincoln. Inscribed at top in an unknown hand "Mrs. Daniel Williams." Original wrappers and stab-stich binding. Essay is dated 21 October 1862 in the pamphlet, but top of front page says November 1862. The latter was used to date this item.

Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903

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