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.

Barclay, John (fl. 1856) to William McBlair

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.68 Author/Creator: Barclay, John (fl. 1856) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 January 1856 Pagination: 2 p. ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Recommends finding a harbor as soon as possible. Says the crew is worn down by a long voyage and inclement weather, and there are not enough supplies to provide for them. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at sea. Barclay was the surgeon and health officer.

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, William, ?-1863
Barclay, John, fl. 1856

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