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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.

Root, Elihu (1845-1937) Instructions of the Secretary of War to Governor William H. Taft in the matter of the purchase of the Friar Lands in the Philippines.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01625.04 Author/Creator: Root, Elihu (1845-1937) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Document Date: 9 May 1902 Pagination: 3 p. Order a Copy

Because Congress has not yet acted on recommendations of the commission in regards to the Friar Lands of the Philippines and Taft cannot delay his return there, the President authorizes Taft to travel to Rome to determine which authorities of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines have the right to sell the lands. His errand is not diplomatic, but official assistance will be rendered to him.

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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