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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.

Chase, James F. (fl. 1834-1864) to Sarah Ogden

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06559.006 Author/Creator: Chase, James F. (fl. 1834-1864) Place Written: Madison, Wisconsin Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 March 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 19.3 x 11.2 cm. Order a Copy

Writes from "U.S.A. Hospital Harvey." Describes his recent journey from Philadelphia to Chicago, the state of his wound, and the weather in Chicago. Writes he rode "in one of the meanest Cars in the world there was Niggers and soldiers and all Kinds of the (this was this side of Pittsburg) Poorest description..." He concludes by thanking Ogden for her photograph and her kindness. Envelope includes a three cent stamp.

Sarah Perot Ogden was a Quaker from Philadelphia who took part in variety of philanthropic works such as assisting the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America, the Philadelphia Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and President of the Philadelphia Home for Incurables. Both Ogden and her husband, Edward H. Ogden, were strong supporters of the Union cause. During the Civil War Ogden volunteered in a military hospital where she made daily visits. Her husband served as a Union soldier.

Chase, James F., fl. 1834-1864
Ogden, Sarah Morris Perot, 1831-1912

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