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.

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese (1791-1872) to John Spencer

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 #: GLC04235 Author/Creator: Morse, Samuel Finley Breese (1791-1872) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 June 1843 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 25.5 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to the Secretary of the Treasury about saving $920 in making telegraph wires with colored varnish instead of colored thread. Asks permission to sell the unnecessary colored thread.

Morse is credited with inventing the telegraph and Morse code. In 1844, he sent the first telegraphic message, from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., "What hath God wrought!" He was also an accomplished artist and politician.

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872
Spencer, John C. (John Canfield), 1788-1855

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources