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.

Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) To Ann Maitland

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.007 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) Place Written: Columbus, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 January 1854 Pagination: 3 p. ; 24.5 x 38.2 cm. Order a Copy

Addresses letter to "My Dear Companion" from the House of Representatives, Columbus Ohio. Confides in his wife that he misses her and their children greatly and that he is sorry to hear of the death of so many of their acquaintances. Reports "There is a great amount of wickedness perpertrated in this City and in all Cities. There are many tempations the unwary are often caught and drawn into...I have enjoyed myself in a religious point tolerably well the seductions of satan have no charms for me." Small letter dated 18 January on the last page, noting that he is going to try and take a train home to Urbana on Saturday.

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864
Maitland, Ann, fl. 1854-1865

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