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.

William to his brother

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06630 Author/Creator: William Place Written: Huntsville, Alabama Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 March 1865 Pagination: 4 p. ; 11.8 x 19.1 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses camp life and playing baseball.

[excerpt:]
Little mac got back last night and he has commenced to rule us with a high hand; no more pleasant dreams in the morning[;] roll call puts a quietus on that. and no more days exempt from drill for our 15 Wis. recruits will have to be whipped into shape so that they will be fit to be seen along with the Magnaglorious 24th...we spend a good portion of our time playing "baseball" and all medical men say that it is the healthiest exercise in which man can engage.

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