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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.

Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888 to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00686.23 Author/Creator: Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: August 3, 1865 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 24.7 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy

Signed "Robt" by Congressman Robert Van Valkenburgh. Writes to his mother to tell her he has just returned to Washington after a trip to Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and then to Elmira, Albany, and New York. Says his health is better than it has been in two years. When he was in Bath, New York, he sold his house and lot to Julia and Mary [Ramsey] and the rest of his real estate to other parties. Hopes to know what he will do in a couple of weeks. Also included is a note to his mother from brother Frank, which is all about family or friends. A note in what appears to be a third hand is cross-written over Frank's note, includes an illegible signature, and says "All well here."

Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888
Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924
Van Valkenburgh, Mary Bethiah, 1793-1871

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