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.

Cunningham, John S. (d. 1894) to William McBlair

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.30 Author/Creator: Cunningham, John S. (d. 1894) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 February 1858 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 26 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

States reasons for non-fulfillment of an order. Explains that he did not appear on deck earlier in the day, because he believed the order to do so applied only to specific officers, and states he meant no harm with his actions. Apparently McBlair required a signed statement regarding even minor breaches of conduct. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

William McBlair was a United States naval officer in command of the ship "Dale," responsible for catching illegal slave trading ships off the coast of Africa. Later served in the Confederate Navy.
John S. Cunningham was a purser in the United States Navy, later rose to paymaster.

Cunningham, John S., -1894
McBlair, William, ?-1863

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