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 #: GLC00722.47 Author/Creator: Cunningham, John S. (d. 1894) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 January 1859 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Reporting, at McBlair's request, that $1,568 is "on board to the credit of the government" and $1,450 is due to the "Kroomen" (native crewmen from Liberia) of the ship. Also notes that he requested $6,000 from the flag ship, but received $4,000. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" while at sea.

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.

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

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