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.

Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907 to Mr. Kennard

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02928.03 Author/Creator: Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Typed letter signed Date: 8 August 1894 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 26.2 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Saint-Gaudens discusses the inscription on a monument honoring Robert Gould Shaw with Kennard (possibly Martin P. Kennard, a Boston abolitionist and political reformer). Encloses a letter (not included) from Edward Atkinson, treasurer of the Shaw monument committee, authorizing Gaudens to proceed with the monument's inscription. Relates that Charles William Eliot, President of Harvard University, and Colonel Lee (possibly Henry Lee) previously asked him not to proceed with the inscription, which was originally written by Eliot. Requests that Kennard, possibly on the monument committee, transfer the enclosed letter to committee chairman John Murray Forbes. Asks that Forbes return the letter with the committee's response, so that Gaudens may "order the stone-work proceeded with." Docket states "see my letter book."

Kennard, Martin Parry, 1818-1903
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907
Atkinson, Edward, 1827-1905
Eliot, Charles William, 1834-1926
Forbes, John Murray, 1813-1898
Lee, Henry, fl. 1894
Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources