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.

Diamond, Sidney (1922-1945) to Estelle Spero

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09120.420 Author/Creator: Diamond, Sidney (1922-1945) Place Written: Bougainville, Papua New Guinea Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 May 1944 Pagination: 11 p. ; 16 x 18 cm. Order a Copy

Diamond responds to a number of Estelle's letters. Regarding "that hotel deal," he writes that he regrets not having had "those few moments free from fears of curious eyes, of parental scrutiny, - just to be alone -." He informs Estelle that once they are married, he plans on forgetting "every bit" about the islands and his war experiences. Diamond describes his former company commander, a "Jew baiter", writing that he feels a little more comfortable now that he has left. He then discusses how reform can be brought about, with reference to Robinson's "The Making of the Mind".

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources