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.

Wirt, John (fl. 1864) to Bill Kessler

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 #: GLC03523.52.66 Author/Creator: Wirt, John (fl. 1864) Place Written: Delphi, Indiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 September 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 24.6 x 39 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to his cousin. Provides direction to California. Explains he cannot join him because of his job. Complains about his new stepmother. Writes, "thare never was a bigger fool than my father when he married that girl whenever thare is any work to be done she plays off sick she dont care about anything but dress…please never call her my mother again I wont own her…" Discusses the "Hundred day boys" who just arrived home.

Wirt, John D., fl. 1864
Kessler, Bill, fl. 1864

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources