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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.

Marshall, John, 1755-1835 [Certifying "true copy" a Thomas Jefferson letter to John Walker]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05506 Author/Creator: Marshall, John, 1755-1835 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph endorsement signed Date: 13 May 1806 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; Height: 25.4 cm, Width: 20.8 cm Order a Copy

Marshall's endorsement certifies this "true copy from the original shown me by Mr. Walker which I believe to be in the hand writing of Mr. Jefferson." James Madison also certified the letter, but his certification is written in Marshall's hand. The letter, dated 13 April 1803, concerns an alleged affair that Jefferson had had with the wife of John Walker. Jefferson was being attacked in the press. He expressed regret that he had not met with Walker earlier and talks about the newspaper writers and newspapers who he thinks should be silenced.

Marshall, John, 1755-1835
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Madison, James, 1751-1836
Walker, John, 1744-1809

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