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.

Polk, James K. (James Knox) (1795-1849) to John Y. Mason

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00094 Author/Creator: Polk, James K. (James Knox) (1795-1849) Place Written: [Washington?] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 September 1846 Pagination: 1 p. ; 26 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses boats for crossing the Rio Grande. Asks Secretary of the Navy Mason to introduce Captain Napoleon Harrison to Colonel Abert, with whom Harrison wishes to discuss the boats.

Polk, James Knox, 1795-1849
Mason, John Y. (John Young), 1799-1859
Harrison, Napoleon, 1823-1870
Abert, James William, 1820-1897

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources