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.

Keifer, Joseph Warren (1836-1932) to George E. Welles

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.134 Author/Creator: Keifer, Joseph Warren (1836-1932) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 February 1884 Pagination: 1 p. : envelope ; 24.4 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Keifer, a United States Representative from Ohio, writes "I will do what I can to aid in the passage of the bill you refer to for the benefit of Genl Hunt, who deserves the relief proposed by that bill. I know his history very well. I think great injustice has been done by our government to many of those old officers who have devoted their lives in sustaining the integrity of the army and submitting to whatever sacrifices came." Thanks Welles, which he spells as "Wells," for his expressions of friendship. Keifer possibly referred to a bill that would grant Henry Jackson Hunt the rank of Major General on the retired list. Written on House of Representatives stationery.

According to the American Civil War Database, Welles was a Civil War soldier from Ohio, and was appointed Brigadier General 13 March 1865 by Brevet. Hunt, who had been Chief of the Artillery for the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, served as Governor of the Soldiers Home in Washington, D.C. from 1883 until his death.

Keifer, Joseph Warren, 1836-1932
Welles, George E., 1840-1906
Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources