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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.

Forbes, Edwin (1839-1895) The Sanctuary

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02199.40 Author/Creator: Forbes, Edwin (1839-1895) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Print Date: 1876 Pagination: 1 etching : b&w ; 47 x 59.5 cm. Order a Copy

Marked "Plate 40." Depicts a family of former enslaved people who just came in sight of fortified lines of the Union Army. The old mother has thrown herself on her knees, praising the Lord, while the rest of the family are grouped behind, contemplating the scene in silent wonder. Actual size of the image without the margins is 27.1 x 39.5 cm. Title and image information taken from the table of contents. Top edge is frayed where it appears the page was torn from the binding of the book.

Created by Forbes, a member of the French Etching Club, while he travelled with the Union Army from 1862-1865. Born in New York City, Forbes became a Civil War reportorial artist for Leslie's Illustrated newspaper, joining the staff at age 22 in 1861.

Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895

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