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.

Thompson, Wilmot (fl. 1864 - 1901) to my dear wife

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02740.28 Author/Creator: Thompson, Wilmot (fl. 1864 - 1901) Place Written: City Point, VA Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 February 1865 Pagination: 4 p. ; 12.7 x 20.6 cm. Order a Copy

He wants her to write more. He talks of searching for beans for breakfast but coming up empty-handed. He draws a picture full of dots and says it represents kisses for her and the baby.

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