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.

Maugrita (fl. 1857) to Esthur Monk

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03587.33 Author/Creator: Maugrita (fl. 1857) Place Written: Clifton, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 December 1857 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 16.5 x 10.6 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to Cripps' mother in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the care of Mr. Benedict. Relays a message for Monk to send curtains to a family friend. Mentions having received a letter from Tousey, an acquaintance, who promises to return from Mexico soon, but she doubts it. Wonders about their trip to "the Metropolis." Discusses sending a care package and hopes it will arrive before Christmas. Written on scallop-edged stationery. Envelope hand-postmarked 14, December, Rippon, Virginia. Includes one three-cent stamp depicting George Washington. Date inferred from Mrs. Monk's trip to Greenwich.

Cripps was General Gadsden's Secretary and a sawyer by profession. Monk was Cripps' mother.

Monk, Esthur, fl. 1853-1857
Maugrita, fl. 1857

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