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.

Slayton, Chester M. [inscribed envelope and cloth square]

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 #: GLC03955.17 Author/Creator: Slayton, Chester M. Place Written: s.l. Type: Envelope Date: unknown Pagination: 1 envelope : cloth square ; 6.2 x 9.2 cm. Order a Copy

Envelope inscribed with a description of the contents of the envelope. The contents include pieces of clothing from members of the Slayton family who have at the time of the rest of the collection already died including Ezra G. Slayton Simeon Slayton Elijah Slayton and Hannah Howe Slayton. [These items are also included with the collection.]

Asa W. Slayton and Chester M. Slayton were brothers from Grattan, Michigan who served in the 25th Michigan Infantry Regiment. Asa W. Slayton enlisted as a sergeant at age 30 and Chester as a corporal at age 27, the later being promoted to full sergeant on 15 July 1864 during his participation in the Atlanta Campaign. Asa resigned from his position in the army in 1864 and returned to Grattan where he worked a school teacher, farmer and amateur artist. Chester served as a surveyor and draughtsman in the Engineers Department of the 25th Infantry until the end of the war. After being mustered out in June of 1865, he returned to Grattan to live as a farmer.

Slayton, Chester

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources