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.

King, William R. (1786-1853) to R. J. Gordon

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02512.07 Author/Creator: King, William R. (1786-1853) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 February 1834 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 20.5 x 25 cm. Order a Copy

States that after a delay by the Treasury Department, he has obtained an order requiring "the district attorney to attend to the taking of the depositions" regarding the loss of money on board a steamboat. An audit by Mr. Elliott may resolve the matter without further action by Congress, but should a law be necessary, Gordon should forward "the depositions as soon as practicable." William Rufus de Vane King was a former representative from North Carolina, sitting senator from Alabama, and future (short-lived) vice president of the United States under Franklin Pierce.

William Rufus de Vane King was the Vice President under Franklin Pierce. When this letter was written he was serving as a senator from Alabama.

King, William Rufus, 1786-1853

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