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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.

Fox, Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883 to John Dahlgren

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03959.02 Author/Creator: Fox, Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 June 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 20.6 cm, Width: 12.9 cm Order a Copy

Written by Fox as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to Dahlgren as commander of the Washington Navy Yard. Tells Dahlgren that Ericsson is willing to produce 1 inch plates. Wants his report on the firing of cannon and his opinion before he proceeds. Dahlgren wrote a note at the bottom saying "Ericson was very positive as to his plates - why should he hesitate now?" Refers to inventor John Ericsson, who designed the ironclad "Monitor."

Fox, Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883

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