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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.

Drowne, Byron P. (1848-1933) Letter to his mother and photograph of Byron P. Drowne [Decimalized .01- .02]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01008.02 Author/Creator: Drowne, Byron P. (1848-1933) Place Written: Charleston, South Carolina Type: Header Record Date: 21 October 1864 Pagination: 2 items. Order a Copy

Letter from 16-year-old Drowne to his mother, written on the USS "Catalpa" off Charleston. Accompanying photograph.

Note by Drowne's descendent Lorna Drowne Moscrip in file says that Drowne joined the U.S. Navy in 1863 at the age of 15 with parental consent. He claimed he would run away from home if he was not given permission to join. He was a record-keeper and paymaster. In later life he settled in El Paso, Texas and transported gold shipments for Wells Fargo. He died at the age of 85 in Oakland, California.

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