90,993 items
Once a month, the Gilder Lehrman Institute offers teachers the opportunity to visit the Gilder Lehrman Collection for a behind-the-scenes show-and-tell with our curatorial staff. Last Friday, July 7, the curators were joined by Megan...
The Hamilton Education Program Goes on Tour
The Hamilton Education Program is going on tour for the 2017–2018 school year! As Hamilton: The Musical makes its way across America, the Hamilton Education Program will be holding special full-day programs for students in the...
Ulysses S. Grant Dies: On This Day, July 23, 1885
On July 23, 1885, Ulysses S. Grant, a Union general in the Civil War and the 18th president of the United States, died at the age of 63. He had struggled with throat cancer for a year while rushing to finish his memoirs, the proceeds...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Kevin Dua, Massachusetts
This year, Gilder Lehrman recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. These exceptional educators were awarded $1,000 and an archive of...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Andrea Guy, Tennessee
This year, Gilder Lehrman recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. These exceptional educators were awarded $1,000 and an archive of...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Adam Johnson, Alaska
This year, Gilder Lehrman recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented teachers to answer a...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Caroline Young, Minnesota
This year, Gilder Lehrman recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented teachers to answer a...
National Friendship Day: August 6
Today is National Friendship Day, and to celebrate, we’re showcasing a vivid letter from the Gilder Lehrman Collection that shows the enduring strength of friendship forged in war. In January 1784, the Marquis de Lafayette , back home...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Paul Howard, Washington DC
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Georgette Hackman, Pennsylvania
This year, Gilder Lehrman recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented teachers to answer a...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Blake Busbin, Alabama
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Renny Taylor, North Carolina
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Nicole Bishop, South Carolina
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Randy Martin, New Mexico
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Jason Steinagle, New York
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Sara Ziemnik, Ohio
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: John Burkowski, Florida
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: John-David Bowman, Arizona
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Meet the National History Teacher of the Year Finalists
Congratulations to the ten finalists for 2017 National History Teacher of the Year! These educators were chosen from the 52 exceptional 2017 State History Teachers of the Year for their innovative methods of bringing history to life...
Explore the Constitution with the Gilder Lehrman Institute
September 17 is Constitution Day, a time to celebrate the US Constitution, the oldest written national framework for government in the world. Take the opportunity to discover and appreciate its history, content, and meaning with...
Vietnam War Resources from the Gilder Lehrman Institute
This Sunday, September 17, marks the premiere of The Vietnam War , a ten-part, 18-hour documentary series by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that takes a multifaceted look at one of America’s most divisive and controversial conflicts....
Elbridge Gerry and the Original Gerrymander
Elbridge Gerry —signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Constitutional Convention ( follow the links to documents by and about Gerry in the Gilder Lehrman Collection ), congressman , diplomat , governor, and vice...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Luke Roadcap, Virginia
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Jennifer Faith, Kentucky
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Kathleen Boland, Connecticut
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Katherine Harrell, Kansas & Lance VanderWorst, South Dakota
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Rhonda Watton, Wisconsin
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Aaron Weiss, Illinois
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Elise Cuevas, Mississippi
This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students. But who are they, really? We asked these talented...
Frederick Douglass Writes to His Former Owner: On This Day, 1857
On October 4, 1857, Frederick Douglass penned a letter to Hugh Auld, his former owner, hoping to begin a correspondence. “My heart tells me that you are too noble to treat with indifference the request I am about to make,” he begins....
Awards, Honors, and Key Initiatives
In recognition of its contribution to the knowledge and understanding of American history, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has received the following awards and honors: In 2021, the Gilder Lehrman Institute was...
David McCullough
David McCullough (1933–2022) was widely acclaimed as a “master of the art of narrative history” and “a matchless writer.” He was twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize and twice winner of the National Book Award, and received the...
Daniel P. Jordan
Dr. Daniel Jordan (1938–2024) was a native Mississippian and graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he was a scholarship athlete in baseball and basketball. After serving as an officer in the US Army Infantry, he received a...
John L. Nau, III
John L. Nau, III, is chairman and chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors, LP, the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products. Silver Eagle employs more than 1,400 people who serve sixteen counties in Texas...
Privacy Policy
ABOUT THE PRIVACY POLICY STATEMENT A privacy policy is a legal notice about how organizations use Personal Information collected on a website. It includes information that outlines what data is collected, how it is used, the persons...
Richard Gilder
Remembering Richard Gilder (1932–2020) Richard Gilder Remembered by the Press and Other Institutions A Song from the Gilder Lehrman Collection Performed in Honor of Richard Gilder Introduction to the Richard Gilder Biography Richard...
Lewis E. Lehrman
Lewis E. Lehrman was presented the National Humanities Medal at the White House in 2001 for his work in American history. He has written for the Finest Hour , Washington Post , The Churchill Project at Hillsdale College, New York...
Robert H. Niehaus
Robert H. Niehaus is the chairman and founder of Greenhill Capital Partners LLC. Prior to joining Greenhill, Niehaus spent seventeen years at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he was a managing director. Niehaus is also chairman of...
Shaiza Rizavi
Shaiza Rizavi is a money manager and managing member at Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co., a dual-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser committed to giving individuals who possess long-term patience and fortitude an opportunity...
Richard Edelman
Richard Edelman is the president and CEO of Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm, with 67 offices and 4,800 employees worldwide. Richard was named president and CEO in September 1996. Richard has extensive experience in...
Joseph DiMenna
Joseph DiMenna is managing director of Zweig-DiMenna Associates, which is a global investment management firm. He has been the portfolio manager there since he co-founded Zweig-DiMenna Partners with Martin Zweig in 1984. Zweig-DiMenna...
Dorothy (Debbie) Stapleton
Debbie Stapleton graduated from the American University in Washington DC, majoring in communications with a minor in international relations. After college, Stapleton worked for the MITRE Corporation (MIT Research & Engineering)...
Russell P. Pennoyer
Russell Pennoyer is a senior advisor to Brittany Capital Group, joining in 2014 after twenty years with Benedetto, Gartland & Company, a leading private equity placement agent, where he was a partner and ultimately president. He...
Dorothy (Debbie) Stapleton
Dorothy (Debbie) Stapleton was raised in Farmington, Connecticut. She attended Miss Porter’s School, where she developed a love for art and history under the tutelage of the legendary educator Sarah B. MacLennan. With a BA in...
Alexander Hamilton and the Ratification of the Constitution
Return to Alexander Hamilton: Witness to the Founding Era .
Alexander Hamilton Establishes the US Economy
Return to Alexander Hamilton: Witness to the Founding Era .
Alexander Hamilton and Washington’s Presidency
Return to Alexander Hamilton: Witness to the Founding Era .
The American Revolution through the Eyes of Hamilton
Return to Alexander Hamilton: Witness to the Founding Era .
Hamilton's New York: Lower Manhattan Walking Tour
Join the Gilder Lehrman Institute and Professor Cindy Lobel on a virtual walking tour of Alexander Hamilton’s Lower Manhattan.
Affiliate School FAQs
General What is the Affiliate School Program? How much does it cost? The Affiliate School Program is a special gateway to education resources, events, and tools designed to bring American history to life in the classroom. Initially...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2000-2010
2010 Winners High School Division First Prize Jacob Fletcher , Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt, MD "The Postman: Joseph William Briggs and the Free City Delivery System" Second Prize Geoffrey Andrews , West Morris Central...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2011
High School Division First Prize Martin C. Carlino , Patchogue-Medford High School, Medford, NY " President Lincoln ’ s Influence over the Northern Press " Second Prize Martina Harris , American History High School, Newark, NJ "...
Past Winners
History Scholar Award Winners 2017 Michael Antosiewicz of Rutgers University Rebecca Barker of Liberty University Jacob Bruggeman of Miami University of Ohio Robert Campbell of Texas Tech University Amanda Horrocks of Franklin Pierce...
Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, A Man for All Times
This exhibition traces Lincoln’s path from a self-educated, rough-hewn lawyer with virtually no administrative experience, to the president who guided a divided nation through the crises of slavery, secession and Civil War. We hope...
Past Exhibitions
Free at Last: A History of the Abolition of Slavery in America The Free at Last: A History of the Abolition of Slavery in America was damaged during Hurricane Sandy and is no longer available for loan. Free at Last was the first...
Freedom: A History of US
This exhibition documents and illustrates critical figures and events while tracing the evolving concept of freedom from founding until 1968. Among the highlights are: a rare 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence, a printed...
Past Fellows
Below is a list of all recipients of Gilder Lehrman Fellowships since the program’s founding. The Fellow’s name, home institution at the time of the fellowship, and project title are followed by the research archive and year of the...
Dear George Washington Contest Winners 2012
First Prize Joli Dou , Haaff Elementary School, Pueblo, CO Second Prize Lucas Lemas , Brighton School, Lynnwood, WA Third Prize Jackson Davis , Ravenscroft School, Raleigh, NC Fourth Prize Konnor Rafferty , Puesta del Sol Elementary...
Dear George Washington Contest Winners 2013
First Prize Madeline Scanlon , Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY Second Prize Rashawn Wilson , Shuman Elementary School, Savannah, GA Third Prize Zane Martin , Dailey Charter Elementary School, Fresno, CA Fourth Prize Ethan Yan , The...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2013
High School Division Click on the title to view a pdf of a winning essay. First Prize Clarissa Aaron , Kelso High School, Kelso, Washington "Uncle Tom’s Failure" Second Prize Farukh Saidmuratov , New Dorp High School, Staten Island,...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2014
High School Division Click on the title to view a pdf of a winning essay. First Prize Mahir Rafi Riaz, The Collegiate School, New York, New York "An End to the Era of Compromise: Amending the Constitution in Civil War America" Second...
Gilder Lehrman Institute Annual Gala
On Monday, May 8 the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History held its 2017 Gala, bringing together more than 300 supporters at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. This year we honored John L. Nau, III, and Jeffrey Seller,...
Dear George Washington Contest Winners 2014
Fifth Grade Division First Place Annabelle Jin, Moorestown Upper Elementary School, Moorestown, NJ Teacher: Mrs. Kathleen Conners Second Place Ted Rittle, Spring Creek Elementary School, Laramie, WY Teacher: Ms. Sonja Browe Third...
History Scholar Program Winners
2011 Participants 2011 History Scholars Alicia DeMaio of the University of Pennsylvania and Aston, PA Michael Johnson of the University of Notre Dame and Berlin, NJ Jooyeon Koo of Boston College and Monroe Twp, NJ Kristen Maye of the...
Library Affiliate FAQs
GENERAL What is the Library Affiliate Program? The Library Affiliate Program is a new initiative that recognizes public and university academic libraries as centers for American history learning for students and teachers and offers a...
Special Events
The Gilder Lehrman Institute will be sponsoring the following events in the coming months. February 22, 2018 : Frederick Douglass Book Prize , Yale Club, New York City April 2018: Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize Dinner , Union League...
Seminar Application Confirmation
Thank you for your seminar application, you will receive a copy for your records via email within 24 hours. Please check your spam filters and be sure that seminars@gilderlehrman.org is on your safe senders list. If you do not receive...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2015
High School Division Click on the title to view a pdf of a winning essay. First Prize Anjelica Matcho, Bridgewater Raritan High School, Bridgewater, New Jersey "Dethroning King Cotton: The Failed Diplomacy of the Confederacy" Second...
Dear George Washington Contest Winners 2015
Fifth-Grade Division First Place Melea Jones Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, Mooresboro, NC Teacher: Ms. Georgia Maimone Second Place Rasia Graves Rineyville Elementary, Rineyville, KY Teacher: Ms. Traci Gillock Third Place...
Age of Revolution Essay Contest Winners 2015
Jordan D. Axe Las Lomas High School, Walnut Creek, California "The American Revolution and Its Correlation to Patterns of European Revolutions" Ayah Elmansy Academy of Information Technology and Engineering, Stamford, Connecticut "The...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2016
High School Division Click on the title to view a pdf of a winning essay. First Prize Catherine Cai, Garnet Valley High School, Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania "‘Army Disease ’ and America’s Changing Attitudes toward Drug Addiction"...
About the Hamilton Education Program
In October 2015, Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Rockefeller Foundation, NYC Department of Education, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute announced an educational partnership that will...
Dear George Washington Contest Winners 2016
Fifth-Grade Division First Place Kaari Little, Cornerstone Christian School, Olympia, WA Second Place Elizabeth Blenden, Trinity Academy, Caldwell, NJ Third Place Cameron Haughton, Trinity Academy, Caldwell, NJ Fourth Place Brevin...
Age of Revolution Essay Contest Winners 2016
Andrew Branson Academy of Information Technology and Engineering, Stamford, Connecticut "The Comprehensive Debate on the Validity of a Standing Army" Natalea Cohen Rocky Mountain High School, Fort Collins, Colorado "The Role of...
Civil War Essay Contest Winners 2017
High School Division Click on the title to view a pdf of a winning essay. First Prize Kaylee Kimbrough , Pennsylvania Homeschoolers AP Online, Kitanning, Pennsylvania (based in Greenville, Texas) "‘I Shall Deal at the Other Shop’:...
Dear George Washington Contest Winners 2017
Fifth-Grade Division First Place Zachary Gwosden, Bullis Charter School, Los Altos, CA Second Place Chris Kim, Notre Dame Academy, Palisades Park, NJ Third Place Lauren Hoffman, Trinity Academy, Caldwell, NJ Fourth Place Dario...
Age of Revolution Essay Contest Winners 2017
Adrian Byrne Sarno Alameda Science and Technology Institute, Alameda, CA "The Invisible Divide: The Role of Class in America" Aya Elwassif Academy of American Studies, Long Island City, NY "From Witch Hunts to Revolutions" Nathaniel...
Press Coverage and Media
Press Coverage New York Times (Founding Era quiz) Google Blog (Hamilton Education Program + Google Exhibitions partnership) Buzzfeed News (Hamilton Education Program + Google Expeditions partnership) San Francisco Chronicle Stanford...
How to Participate in the Hamilton Education Program
Thank you for your interest in the Hamilton Education Program. Middle and high school students in Title I schools are currently eligible to participate in the program. If you are from a school , please register your interest in...
Exhibitions
Exhibitions Museum Exhibitions Items from the Gilder Lehrman Collection are exhibited at prominent museums across the country. See what is currently on display. Learn More Traveling Exhibitions Our Traveling Exhibitions are offered...
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