Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Advanced Search
Back to Collection Search

Ker, David (fl. 1817) to Sally Ker

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 #: GLC04601.08 Author/Creator: Ker, David (fl. 1817) Place Written: Natchez, Mississippi Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 October 1817 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 25.5 x 21.5 cm

Updates his sister in Greenville, Mississippi about the condition of their brother who was suffering from a fever but is now recovering. Describes his medical treatments including taking tincture of bark and being rubbed with mercurial ointment. Mentions that the fever epidemic seems to be dying down in the area. Only a few new cases have been reported. Asks her to please send this letter on to their mother so that she may not worry. Assures Sally that he is telling the truth and that they should not believe the negative reports they hear as they are often false.

There were many outbreaks of yellow fever in Mississippi in the 19th century. It is possible that this is the fever referred to by the correspondents.

Ker, David, fl. 1817
Ker, Sally, fl. 1817
National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860
Disease
Medical History
Children and Family
Health and Medical
Drugs
Epidemic
Women's History
The First Age of Reform

Order a CopyCitation Guidelines for Online Resources

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.