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.

Coleman, Daniel (fl. 1884-1890) to Joseph M. Maitland

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 #: GLC03523.10.200 Author/Creator: Coleman, Daniel (fl. 1884-1890) Place Written: Cropsey, Illinois Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 December 1884 Pagination: 4 p. ; 19.5 x 12.1 cm. Order a Copy

Letter is addressed "Dear Cousin." Says he has bought an additional twenty acres of land for pasture. Plans to plant thirty-eight acres of corn. Comments "I think all over the land there is deadness in the church owing to the bitter feeling between the Political parties in the Election this fall..." Discusses John St. John and the Prohibition party. Claims, "The Prohibitionist is here to stay..." Mentions he would like to visit. Declares "...a republican would be about as safe in the south as a St. John's man in Urbana..." Letter has several holes.

John St. John (ca. 1832-1916) was a politician from Kansas who served as State Senator and United States Senator as a Republican and then ran for President in 1884 as a candidate for the Prohibition Party. He was highly criticized for deserting the Republican party. He was also a supporter of women's suffrage.

Maitland, Joseph M., 1839-1918
Coleman, D., fl. 1884
St. John, John, 1833-1916

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources