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.

Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to Frederick W. Porter

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04913 Author/Creator: Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) Place Written: Hermitage, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa December 1838 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; 25.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Jackson's letter is one page, written on the back of a two page letter sent to him by Porter. The address is also from Porter's letter. Porter's letter was sent from Philadelphia 27 November 1838. Porter's letter explains to Jackson that "A friend in Tennessee", unnamed, has paid for him to become a member of the American Sunday School Union, and explains the Union's work. In Jackson's reply he refuses to accept the membership, stating "Charity begins at home." He will not accept charity from others, and cannot afford to pay the fee himself, though he agrees with the Union's work.

Frederik W. Porter was the corresponding secretary at the American Sunday School Union in Philadelphia.

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
Porter, Frederick W., fl. 1820-1845

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