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.

McSherry, Richard M. (b. 1818) to Henry F. McSherry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.21.46 Author/Creator: McSherry, Richard M. (b. 1818) Place Written: Baltimore, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 November 1865 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.3 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. Says he has not heard from him since he sailed. Tells him that their father and sister Anna have received letter from him though. Says "They were very much astonished at your resignation and Pa seems quite distressed about it. You must be aware that the practice of medicine is a very unpromising field for aspirants, in which success is very slow and enumeration is for the most part, but very moderate." Says it will be more difficult because there are more medical men unemployed after the war. Says he will not make his navy salary again for 20 years. Updates him on friends and family.

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