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.

Gibson, Sarah (fl. 1848) to Randall Gibson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04501.058 Author/Creator: Gibson, Sarah (fl. 1848) Place Written: Live Oak Forest, LA Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 September 1848 Pagination: 4 p. : address ; 27.5 x 21.5 cm. Order a Copy

A house slave has become less of a favorite and was sent down to the fields. She discusses plans to dig a ditch to provide drainage near the house.

Excerpt:
"...Several of the negroes are complaining [of ill health] today. Old Sol has had more serious sickness...Bob became so little of a favorite in the house that yesterday Pa sent him to the field...
Some one of the family have written you I suppose of the great Taylor [Barbecue?] we see to have on the 21st. I think it probable the old General will get an invitation, which he may accept...."

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

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