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.

Hensley, Samuel J. (1817-1866) to James B. McPherson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03746.03.06 Author/Creator: Hensley, Samuel J. (1817-1866) Place Written: San Francisco, California Type: Document signed Date: 21 February 1859 Pagination: 1 p. : envelope ; 18 x 11 cm. Order a Copy

Inviting McPherson on an expedition on the steamer "Cornelia." Signed by Hensley as the President of the California Steam Navigation Company.

Samuel J. Hensley was an early immigrant to California, became rich after striking gold, and played an important role in early California politics, being instrumental in California achieving statehood.

McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864
Hensley, Samuel J., 1817-1866

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