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.

Brown, John Jr. (1821-1895) to Alexander M. Ross

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03007.04 Author/Creator: Brown, John Jr. (1821-1895) Place Written: Put-In-Bay, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 March 1878 Pagination: 2 p. ; 21.5 x 14 cm. Order a Copy

Thanks Ross for two photographs of his fathers last written words. Requests more copies of this photograph for other family members, and says many people request his father's autograph.

Alexander M. Ross was a famous Canadian naturalist, also a prominent abolitionist and a strong supporter of John Brown.

[excerpt]
Your kind favor of the 15th November last, enclosing two photographic copies of my father's last written words at Charlestown Va, was duly received, and should long since have have [sic] had a grateful acknowledgement, but for an injury to my right arm which has until lately, disabled me from writing. [2] Be assured that we prize them most highly. Shall be glad to pay you for a number of copies that each one of my father's household may have one...

[excerpt]
[2] I send you herewith one of my father's letters to me. So great has been the call for his letters and autograph that I have only a few left -
Most heartily thanking you on the part of my brother Owen as well as for myself,
I remain,
Very Truly Your Friend
John Brown Jr

P. S. Shall be very glad to see the little book you refer to.
Yours J.B. Jr

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895
Ross, Alexander Milton, 1832-1897
Hazlett, Albert, 1837-1860

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