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.

Painter, Heber (fl. 1841-1900) to sister Kate

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.006 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (fl. 1841-1900) Place Written: Camp Curtin, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 December 1861 Pagination: 3 p. ; 20.5 x 26 cm. Order a Copy

Reports that he has a slight cold. Asks his sister to thank their aunt for the good advice contained in her letter to him. Hopes that the war will not last long and is quite sure that England will be getting involved soon. Describes his Christmas dinner as consisting of cold beef, bread, and crackers.

Before joining the service, Painter was a trained printer from Danville, Pennsylvania. He was mustered as a private into F Company of the 58th Pennsylvania infantry on 8 October 1861 and transferred to I Company on 1 March 1862. While in I Company, he was promoted to Sergeant and eventually mustered out on 21 January 1866 as First Lieutenant. Painter also held a post as Quartermaster's clerk, and performed freedman duties shortly after the war ended.

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900
Painter, Catherine, fl. 1844-1870

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