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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.

McBlair, William (d. 1863) to V. McBlair

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.63 Author/Creator: McBlair, William (d. 1863) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 December 1858 - 14 January 1859 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

To his wife, discussing family and life at sea. Has received small gifts of gold jewelry for his family from a local governor and a native chief. Hopes he will return home in May, and says the weather has cooled recently. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," 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.

McBlair, V., fl. 1857-1859
McBlair, William, ?-1863

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