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.

19 search results

Showing results 1 - 19

1865 ca.

Brady, Mathew B. (ca. 1823-1896)

Photograph

Title: Carte de visite portrait of John Wilkes Booth

Possibly from a Brady negative.

GLC08521

1865

Hammond, Cyrena (fl. 1865)

Diary

Title: [Journal]

One hundred and thirty three pages of diary entries and handwritten notes. Fourteen pages with preprinted text, including a title page and printed calendars. Previous research indicated that this is a "journal of Western New York teenager;" the title page cites "North Bergen" as Hammond's location. Discusses school and her friends: "Danced all the morn, & at recess we went out on the meeting house steps and danced for sharp to fiddle" (6 January 1865). On 9 January 1865, mentions attending a temperance meeting.

GLC09413

1865 ca.

Gardner, Alexander (1821-1882)

Photograph

Title: [John Wilkes Booth]

Carte de visite of John Wilkes Booth, seated holding pipe.

GLC00368.03

1 January 1865- 11 August 1865

Kessler, Thomas J. (fl. 1843-1868)

Diary

Title: [Diary of a soldier 2nd Brigade Band, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, during Petersburg Campaign]

States that his band played out the old year and in the new 1 January. 2 January, mentions "Rebs threw a shell at us while playing the Star-spangled Banner at Div Hd. Qrs shelling continued for some time afterwards. Notes that his band performs and practices nearly every day. 12 January, notes that a flag of truce has been sent by Confederates, with a sealed communication for General Ulysses S. Grant. 17 January, notes that Fort Fisher, North Carolina, was taken with 1400 prisoners.

GLC04562

circa April 1865

Gardner, Alexander (1821-1882)

Photograph

Title: [Albumen of John Howard's livery & sale stables]

Inscribed on verso: "the livery stable from which the horse was hired that Booth ran away after shooting President Lincoln April 14, 1865."
Also includes #7767 and a stamp for Kemp, Photographers, 137 S. Broad St., Trenton, N.J. The photograph is mounted on board.

GLC07736

1865/04/14

Unknown

Newspaper clipping

Title: W.J. Ferguson, actor, dies; saw Lincoln shot

Newspaper clipping announcing the death of W.J. Ferguson, the last living actor to have witnessed the assasination of President Lincoln. Ferguson played the part of Lietenant Vernon in "Our American Cousin." The actor and Laura Keene were in the wings when Booth shot the president. Ferguson always insisted that Booth never shouted "sic semper tyrannis!"

GLC05603.03.02

15 April 1865

Hawley, Joseph Rosewell (1826-1905)

Newspaper

Title: The Hartford evening press. [Vol. X, no. 89, whole no. 2813 (15 April 1865)]

Covers General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox including an account of the events leading up to the surrender, an interview between Ulysses S. Grant, and military information. Another article is on the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Announces that John Wilkes Booth was the assassin and that he has been caught. Most other items are local news, advertisements, or public announcements.

GLC08428.02

15 April 1865

Unknown

Broadside

Title: Dispatch! Extra. Death of the President

Newspaper clipping reports that President Lincoln is dead. Falsely announces that Secretary Seward has also been murdered. Includes information on the plotting of the assassination.

GLC06107.38

15 April 1865

Unknown

Broadside

Title: Herald extra President Lincoln assassinated

Announces the death of President Lincoln and assassination attempt of Secretary Seward. Dated from Chicago, but the newspaper printing the small hand-bill is unknown. Has remnants of a doily around the borders.

GLC02364

16 April 1865

Pearce, W. Henry

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Selina

Discusses Lincoln's assassination. Signed "W.H." Later handwritten note attributes letter to Henry.

GLC00066.150

17 April 1865

Hale, Charles (1831-1882)

Newspaper

Title: Boston daily advertiser. [Vol. 105 no. 90 (April 17, 1865)]

Includes information surrounding the events of Lincoln's assassination and selected dispatches announcing Lincoln's death. Declares that John Wilkes Booth is undoubtedly the murderer. Announces that the funeral will take place on Wednesday, April 19, 1865.

GLC08429.21

18 April 1865

Unknown

Letter

Title: [Union soldier's letter]

Has very strong feelings against the South. Writes that all traitors in the North should be burned at the stake. Feels that if it had not been for the traitors of the North, the war would have ended a long time ago. The letter is incomplete.

GLC08618

19 April 1865

Stone, Henry (fl. 1865)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Orders regarding the 100th United States Colored Infantry's observance of Abraham Lincoln's funeral]

The first part of this document relates official orders issued by Thomas S. Sexton, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, based on the orders of Colonel Charles R. Thompson. Provides guidelines regarding activity during Lincoln's funeral, including the suspension of work, displaying flags at half mast, and firing of guns at all ports in which artillery exists. James T. Essex (possibly an assistant adjutant general) issues a statement for Lieutenant Colonel Henry Stone on the bottom half of the page.

GLC04219.02

20 April 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (1814-1869)

Broadside

Title: [Lincoln assassination reward poster]

Contains a message from the War Department advertising a $100,000 total reward for the capture of John Surrat, John Wilkes Booth and David Herold. Specifies amount rewarded for each capture: Booth ($50,000), Surrat ( $25,000), and Herold ($25,000). Gives a brief physical description of Booth and his accomplices.

GLC04092

21 April 1865

Greeley, Horace (1811-1872)

Newspaper

Title: New-York daily tribune. [Vol. 25, no. 7501 (April 21, 1865)]

News of the capture of George Atzerodt, John W. Booth seen in Pennsylvania, and Secretary Seward and son recooperating. Also reports on the death of Richard Cobden.

GLC08428.06

21 April 1865

Greeley, Horace (1811-1872)

Newspaper

Title: The New York tribune. [Vol. XXV, no. 7501 (April 21, 1865)]

Covers President Abraham Lincoln's assassination and funeral. Reports on capturing the assassins, John Wilkes Booth, and on the funeral ceremonies being held in many cities and states. Includes an article on the disapproval of surrender terms between Union General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. Mentions reconstruction plans, and reports the escape of Jefferson Davis. Issue also includes the Evening Edition of the Tribune for the same date.

GLC08430.12

22 April 1865

Matsell, George Washington (1811-1877)

Newspaper

Title: National police gazette. [Vol. 20, no. 1025 (April 22, 1865)]

Includes six large front page sketches relaying various scenes of Lincoln's assasination, Seward's attempted assassination and portrait of John Wilkes Booth. Has bold black borders around news columns symbolizing the mourning of Lincoln's death. A full account of Lincoln's assassintion and the events immediately surrounding the assassination is given. Some topics include Laura Keene's encounter with Wilkes Booth, a porter's description and account of the attempted assassination of Secretary Seward, and testimony of Clara Harris.

GLC08560

28 April 1865

Greeley, Horace (1811-1872)

Newspaper

Title: New-York semi-weekly tribune. [Vol. 20, no. 2079 (April 28, 1865)]

News of capture of John Wilkes Booth and David Herold. Booth was found and killed, Herold was arrested. Includes a commentary on the unnecessary shooting of Booth; it is felt by the general public that he should have been tried and hanged.
Reports that Junius Brutus Booth was arrested under suspicion that he knew of his brother's plans to assassinate Lincoln. Also reports on the occupation of Raleigh by General Sherman. The paper is uncut.

GLC08428.10

3 May 1865

Unknown

Newspaper

Title: Sixth corps. [Vol. 1, no. 6 (May 3, 1865)]

News of Lincoln's assassination and the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth. Also includes an article on opening trade with the south once all rebels have been overthrown, and the text of the "President's favorite poem."

GLC06107.34

Showing results 1 - 19