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.

Nicolay, John G. Daguerreotype of Nicolay with staff of Pittsfield, Ill. "Free Press" [framed]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05133.02 Author/Creator: Nicolay, John G. Place Written: [Pittsfield, Ill.] Type: Photograph Date: 1854-1856 ca. Pagination: 1 photograph 12 x 11.1 cm Order a Copy

Cased image showing four men in a printing office, including owner and editor Nicolay. The image is in a contemporary wooden frame. Nicolay stands second from left. According to Sothebys, the pencil inscription on the back of the frame ("Free Press") was supposed to have been written by his daughter Helen Nicolay. Conservator notes that the stamp on the clad plate is that of Louis L. Bis<hop> manufacturing in New York from 1845-47 (see report).

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