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.

Archer, Robert (fl. 1840) to Aaron Jeffery

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01896.098 Author/Creator: Archer, Robert (fl. 1840) Place Written: Richmond, [Va.] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 August 1876 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 17 x 12 cm. Order a Copy

Letter from Aaron's grandfather praising young Aaron's style and the fact that "not a word was misspelt." Also, mentions visiting guests, pleasant weather, and that he doesn't "...know what got into [Aaron's] hens. they stopped laying as soons as you left home. I suppose they are grieving at your absence." Ends with a humorous anecdote about Aaron's dog , Leo, getting himself into "mischief" at the butchers.

Archer, Robert, fl. 1840-1878
Jeffery, Aaron, fl. 1858-1900
Jeffery, Richard Woodlief, 1815-1882

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