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 Edward P. Fry

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 #: GLC04503.04 Author/Creator: Morse, Samuel Finley Breese (1791-1872) Place Written: Baltimore, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 August 1844 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 29 x 17 cm. Order a Copy

Regrets that he cannot yet give Fry an answer to his request because he cannot get in touch with all the other proprietors. Sends a paper Fry requested (not present), and states he has made an improvement in the telegraph machinery which will allow him to write at least 25 characters a minute. Informs that he has just completed experiments on running telegraph lines across rivers. Addressed to Fry in Philadelphia.

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

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872
Fry, Edward P., fl. 1844-1870

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources