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.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 to Joshua F. Speed re: asking Speed to help Lyman Guinnip in Louisville

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04370 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1863/03/17 Pagination: 1 p. + env 20.3 x 12.6 cm Order a Copy

A confidential letter. Guinnip had been accused of helping enslaved people seek refuge. Lincoln comments "I scarcely think he is guilty of any real crime."

Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. VI 1862 - 1863,
p. 140.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources