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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.

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S. (fl. 1860-1866) to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00686.16 Author/Creator: Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S. (fl. 1860-1866) Place Written: Pine Bluff, Arkansas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 February 1865 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

Refers to his mother's letter of 28 January 1865. Says he is sorry that the letters he writes to her are not arriving. Updates her on family information. Reports that he has contracted Erysipelas and that his face has been swollen for a week. Adds that it has since peeled all over. Says the weather is good and that the woods are full of flowers. Mentions that he was not aware that his brother Robert was going to Japan until he received a note from his brother Frank (Robert was selected as the American ambassador to Japan). Says he is doing well and that he may marry in the fall. Hopes they can meet again soon.

May have been released from prison when he wrote this letter.

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