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.

Magie, James K. to Mary Magie

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05241.04 Author/Creator: Magie, James K. Place Written: New Haven, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 January 1863 Pagination: 3 p. Order a Copy

Writes from Headquarters of the 78th Regt, Illinois Volunteers. Notes that he has not received a letter from her in two weeks. Informs her about friends who were killed or wounded in recent fighting. Yesterday, January 7th, was his 37th birthday and he displays a hint of a mid-life crisis. Mentions Unionist civilians.

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