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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.

Moore, John (1826-1907) to James Kelly

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04194.11 Author/Creator: Moore, John (1826-1907) Place Written: Camp Floyd, Utah Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 December 1858 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 22.9 x 17.9 cm. Order a Copy

Describes a Christmas dinner party he gave, mostly for men from the Medical Corps. Two or three balls were given, but Moore chose not to attend because he considers Mormon women dumb and unattractive. Discusses the Mormon block to holding court for the trial of a man who murdered a deaf and dumb boy. Mentions a message issued by President James Buchanan and the speed with which it crossed the Rocky Mountains, and comments that it is "unnecessarily filled with Kansas."

Moore was an army surgeon on duty during the Utah War, 1857-1861. Kelly was the husband of Moore's sister, Mary.

Moore, John, 1826-1907
Kelly, James R., 1839-1862
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

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