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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.

Graeff, Raymond James, 1889-1963 to Leonard Eugene Graeff

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09611.180 Author/Creator: Graeff, Raymond James, 1889-1963 Place Written: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 December 1943 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope Height: 25.2 cm, Width: 16.9 cm Order a Copy

One letter from Susan Prowell Graeff and Raymond James Graeff to Leonard Eugene Graeff dated December 15, 1943. Raymond writes that Susan has been baking all day. They sent two boxes
of Christmas gifts to him that afternoon. He was in town and got his father a hat for Christmas. He also cashed Leonard's Christmas check and paid his garage rent. The time Leonard suggested to call works for them. Raymond also suggests the next time he has leave visiting Chicago alone regardless if he can find accompaniment. Announces that the money Leonard sent for Christmas arrived. Raymond is glad that Leonard got a "good bed" in Chicago, he relays the story of his sleeping arrangements when he served in the army during World War I, "I spent about four nights in hotels in Indianapolis when I was stationed at Ft Benjamin Harrison Ind. and when we landed in France I slept on the ground the first three weeks I used to take a pick and loosen the ground to make my bed softer."

Graeff, Leonard Eugene, 1920-2016
Graeff, Raymond James, 1889-1963
Graeff, Susan Prowell, 1890-1967

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