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.

Sully, Thomas (1783-1872) to Charles Lanman

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05503.01 Author/Creator: Sully, Thomas (1783-1872) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 March 1855 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses Gilbert Stuart's portrait of Commodore James Lawrence, and informs that it would probably be worth $300 or more. Mentions some institutions that may be interested in acquiring it, like The Academy of Fine Arts, Congress, the City Council of New York, or the Academy of National Design. Wonders if communicating the painting's availability in a Washington D.C. newspaper would be helpful.

Charles Lanman was a lawyer in Monroe, Michigan. His son, also named Charles Lanman (1819-1895), was an author, government official, artist, librarian, and explorer. Since Sully addressed Lanman as Esquire, he is probably writing to the father.

Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872
Lanman, Charles James, 1795-1870
Stuart, Gilbert Charles, 1755-1828
Lawrence, James, 1781-1813

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