Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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Pages

1773

Wheatley, Phillis (1753-1784)

Book

Title: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

Poems written by the "Negro Servant" of John Wheatley of Boston. Printed at London by A. Bell and sold in Boston by Cox and Berry. First edition copy. The first book of poetry by an African American. Bound in nineteenth century vellum, with heraldic bookplate with the name "Stainforth." With frontispiece engraved portrait of Wheatley writing. Dedication to Countess of Huntington on 12 June 1773.

GLC06154

1775-1776

Aitken, Robert (1735-1802)

Magazine

Title: The Pennsylvania magazine, or, American monthly museum.

Nearly complete run, edited in part by Thomas Paine. Total of 13 issues from January to December 1775 (12 issues plus one supplement), January 1776, February 1776 (incomplete with facsimile cover) and March 1776. Two additional issues for April and May 1776 are supplied in photocopy facsimile. (There is one facsimile copy of February 1776.) The famous poem of slave Phillis Wheatley to George Washington is contained in the April 1776 issue (facsimile). Ex-lib marks of Enoch Pratt Library and Newburyport Library.

GLC06466

4 November 1786

Flucker, Presence (fl. 1786)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Docket reads, "from [sic, about] a negro woman formerly belonging to Mr Flucker." Writes that she heard from a Miss Cummings that Knox offered to receive her into his home as a cook or some other kind of servant upon the death of the Fluckers "as an Assylum in my old Age." Would be lacking in a sense of duty and gratitude if she did not "acknowledge the great kindness of such an offer; especially from one of a Family with whom I have spent the greatest and happiest part of my life." However, she is obliged to decline the offer, as she has been married and se

GLC02437.03325

12 April 1788

Oswald, Eleazer, (fl. 1788)

Newspaper

Title: The Independent Gazetteer; Or, The Chronicle of Freedom. [Vol. 7, no. 728 (April 12, 1788)]

One newspaper published by Eleazer Oswald entitled "The Independent Gazetteer; Or, The Chronicle of Freedom" dated April 12, 1788. The newspaper features advertisements and news on shipping. Of particular note is a petition by Prince Hall against the kidnapping of African American seamen. The petition was presented to the General Court of Massachusetts. It enlightens the court of discontent due to the kidnapping of freed African American sailors who were sold into slavery.

GLC09728

7 February 1791 - 11 February 1791

Polinaire, Jean Baptiste (fl. 1791)

Manuscript document signed

Title: The Examination of Polinaire taken the seventh day of February 1791

A summary of the testimony of Polinaire, a free mulatto, regarding the recent slave revolt in Dominica, in which he participated. "The Examinant...makes a voluntary Declaration of the truth of all he knows concerning the late Revolt knowing he must die knowing." Polinaire explains that the enslaved people believed that John Orde, the British Governor, was trying to help the enslaved people and free mulattoes of the colony, but was being prevented from doing so by the white planters. Thus the enslaved people organized a rebellion against the planters.

GLC02542.32.15

31 March 1792-4 April 1792

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: [Salaries for War Department employees]

Written in two different hands. Lists the salaries for War Department employees, including Caleb Swan and Constant Freeman, for the period of January, February and March, 1792. Signed by nine War Department employees: John Stagg Jr, R.J. Vanden Brock, Caleb Swan (signature not included), Constant Freeman Jr., Benjamin Bankson, Philip Andibert, Nathan Jones, James B. Smith, C.L. Cummings Messenger, and Fredrik Sprig Messenger.

GLC02437.05389

16 October 1792

Banneker, Benjamin (1731-1806)

Newspaper

Title: The Mail; or Claypoole's Daily Advertiser [No. 432, October 16, 1792]

One issue of a newspaper, The Mail; or Claypoole's Daily Advertiser dated October 16, 1792. Contains advertisements for linens, willow hats, wax paintings, copper, glassware as well as letters. Featured on page 3 is correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and African American scientist, Benjamin Banneker regarding publishing Banneker's almanac and issues of race and equality.

GLC09730

1797

Book

Title: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States...

Printed Quaker petition, containing letters and what is apparently the first printing of the first petition brought before Congress by free Blacks (p. 7) appealing for intervention against the Fugitive Slave Act, which is called "a Flagrant proof of how far human beings, merely on account of color and complexion, are through prevailing predjudices excluded from common justice and...humanity."

GLC07442

20 January 1810

West, Benjamin (fl. 1810)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Certificate of emancipation for Priscilla a negro woman]

Certificate stating that Benjamin West, a free negro, has bought the freedom of Priscilla, who will be his wife. "Benjamin West a free negro having purchased a negrowoman named Priscilla...Do hereby liberate and emancipate the said negrowoman Priscilla...On condition the said negrowoman Priscilla is allowed to live with me as a wife during my life and not to be molested or disturbed by any person in authority under the act of assembly in that case made and provided." West signs with his mark. Also signed by Thomas Healy, George Healy, James Handate and Thomas Muse

GLC03434.04

23 June 1834

Williams, Henry (fl. 1834)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Waring

An appeal by Williams, on behalf of "the Colourd Citizens of N.Y.," to "the good Colourd Citizens of Washington" for help "in the great and noble under taking to save our paper the Liberator." Explains that the paper is $1,000 in debt, which must be "raised by Coloured Citizens of the U.S. by the middle of July." Implores them to contribute. In a postscript, he asks for a response in a week.

GLC08947

1 July 1834

Williams, Samuel May

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward C. Hanrick

Hanrick was an Alabama speculator in Texas lands. Williams held the lands in trust until colonists from Alabama were to arrive. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02576

1835

Gurley, Ralph Randolph (1797-1872)

Book

Title: Life of Jehudi Ashmun, late colonial agent in Liberia. With an appendix containing extracts from his journal and other writings; with a brief sketch of the life of the Rev. Lott Cary.

First edition. Printed by James C. Dunn. Engraved portrait of Ashmun opposite title page. With note affixed to the front endpaper: "This book was presented to me by the Revd. R.R. Gurley as a token of his Friendly Regard. Washington City, D.C., Oct. 25th 1847. J.Y. Van Tyne." First part (396 pages) consist of Ashmun's autobiography. Appendix, numbered 1-160, contains some of Ashmun's writings. Accompanied by a small maple leaf, which was previously pressed between pages 4 and 5 of appendix. Pages 4 and 5 are stained from the leaf.

GLC06128

ca. 1840-1890

Webb, Maria (1804-1873)

Scrapbook

Title: [Scrapbook of Maria Webb]

Bound collection of letters from leading abolitionists of the period, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe, among others.

GLC08360

circa 1845.

Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845)

Print

Title: The General Jackson. [hand-colored lithograph]

Lithograph by Black Artist Jules Lion after the battle of New Orleans. Printed by d'Aubertet de Jurica (?).

GLC07438

1845

Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Book

Title: Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave : written by himself.

First edition of Douglass's first autobiography. Contains an engraving of Douglass opposite title page. Published at the anti-slavery office.

GLC06117

1847

Book signed

Title: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave

Inscribed: "From his sincere friend." To N. B. Spooner.

GLC08365

24 March 1848

Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Newspaper

Title: North star. [Vol. 1, no. 13 (March 24, 1848)]

Douglass' Abolitionist newspaper; re: Theodore Parker's John Quincy Adams eulogy, anti-slavery meetings, etc. Waterstained across top.

GLC06865

1849

Brown William W., (1814-1884)

Book

Title: Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave

One book written by William W. Brown entitled "Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave" dated 1849. The book is broken into fourteen chapters that concern his life as an enslaved person in St. Louis and elsewhere.

GLC09931

17 September 1850

Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis Jackson

"You will begin to think this fugitive slave, ought to be flogged, for his neglect and sloathfulness[sic[, in replying to your letter. . .I have just been in search of the information which you require, in respect to the whereabouts of Livi Chocker-and can learn nothing satisfactory." To fellow abolitionist Francis Jackson.

GLC08387

19 June 1852

Bibb, Henry (fl. 1852)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Calkins re: how his money was used for fugitive slaves

A long, detailed letter from Bibb, the noted runaway slave and conductor on the Underground Railroad, telling Calkins of Wilbraham, Mass., how his money was spent in aiding runaway slaves who had traveled on the Underground Railroad, particularly those who had just arrived in Canada. In part: "The next sum was used to aid a sick man who had [been] but a short time in Canada before he was attacked with the intiminant fever....

GLC06834

5 July 1852

Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Pamphlet

Title: Oration delivered in Corinthian Hall, Rochester

First Edition by Lee, Mann & Co. Douglass' famous fourth of July oration, given on the fifth. Douglass was asked by the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society to give the oration on the fourth, choosing the topic "the meaning of the Fourth to the Negro." Douglass' famous peroration: "Are the great principles of political freedom and natural justice [of the Fourth], embodied in the Declaration of Independence, extended to us? .... This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

GLC06829

18 January 1854

Walker, Moses (fl. 1854)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moses Walker's mother

One letter dated Hootersville, Upson County, Georgia, January 18, 1854, from Moses Walker to his mother who resided at another plantation. Details his life on the plantation, collecting 260 pounds of cotton that he had not received his payment for yet, and the likelihood of his brother Henry, being sent to the same plantation after being sold for $800.

GLC09729

2 May 1854

Wallcut, Robert (fl. 1853)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David P. Harmon

Upon Harmon's request, Wallcut includes a list of suitable publications for inclusion in a public library. Amongst other works the list includes: William Garrison's Writings, Gidding's Speeches, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Theodore Parker's "Discourse of Religion," and the writings of Solomon Northup.

GLC06143.18

1855

Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Book

Title: My bondage and my freedom. Part I : Life as a slave. Part II : Life as a freeman. By Frederick Douglass with an introduction. By James McCune Smith.

Published by Miller, Orton & Mulligan. Includes an engraving of a young Douglass by J. C. Buttre from a daguerreotype. Signed on front free yellow endpaper by Maggie R. Marriott 1 June 1861.

GLC05820

1857

Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Pamphlet

Title: Two Speeches by Frederick Douglass re: West India emancipation; Dred Scott

Full title: "Two speeches by Frederick Douglass; One on West India Emancipation, delivered at Canandaigua, August 4th and the other on the Dred Scott Decision, delivered in New York... May 1857."

GLC07591

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