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.

Welles, Gideon (1802-1878) to Collector of Customs, Alexandria, Virginia

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05603.01.21 Author/Creator: Welles, Gideon (1802-1878) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 February 1861 Pagination: 2 p. ; 24.5 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Orders that the Commanding Officer of the Brig Perry require all vessels to produce a certified list of their crew from the Custom house at Georgetown or Alexandria. This is to prevent parties from avoiding the pass system on the Potomac by claiming to be part of the crew of a vessel.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

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