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.

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897 to Eliza Cook

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02570.65 Author/Creator: Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897 Place Written: Beaufort, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 January 1865 Pagination: 8 p. : Order a Copy

Decides to write a lighthearted and witty letter since he cannot sleep. Describes the routine morning activities and talks about the bad food. Writes a bit later in the day and includes "…I only need the love of one being and that one you can guess. The others I can give up." A postscript reads, "You are authorized to act in all things as you desire except marry again." Discusses letters he has received from family and friends, but never from his wounded brother Girard and sister-in-law Jennie. Mentions that some friends have stopped writing altogether and writes, "It looks like I was losing some of my best beloved friends and kindred. Thus it is though and I must try to win them back again…"

Cooke, Gustave, fl. 1861-1865

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