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.

Kane, Elisha Kent (1820-1857) to Mr. Ticknor

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 #: GLC02475.07 Author/Creator: Kane, Elisha Kent (1820-1857) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 March 1853 Pagination: 1 p. ; 21.5 x 17 cm. Order a Copy

Writes that he has noticed "that you have made no charges against our little party for the host of troublesome commissions connected with my lectures" and considers it "a direct contribution to the object of our Expedition." Offers his thanks.

Biography: Elisha Kent Kane was a scientist and explorer. He was appointed surgeon and naturalist for the Grinnell expedition in 1850, an unsuccessful search for Sir John Franklin. His narrative of the expedition was published in 1854, as The U.S. Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin. He lectured to obtain funds to continue the search.

Kane, Elisha Kent, 1820-1857

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources