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.

Manson, O. F. to Mary

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05344.05.06 Author/Creator: Manson, O. F. Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 August 1886 Pagination: 3 p. ; 22.3 x 14.6 cm. Order a Copy

[Manson is one of the professors who recommended hiring Alfriend at William and Mary, see #05.05.] Pleasant letter describing summer activities and criticizing women's obsession with fashion as a financial strain to their fathers and husbands. He adds: "I hope the time will come when talents, character, refinement education and excellence of disposition will be more prized than dry goods. The masses of the people are becoming educated and cannot worship finery much longer."

Alfriend, Frank Heath, 1841-1887

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