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.

Van Nuys, G. L. to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07687.149 Author/Creator: Van Nuys, G. L. Place Written: Hopewell, Indiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 March 1862 Pagination: 8 p. : envelope ; 20.2 x 12.7 cm. Order a Copy

Expresses many thanks for the letter he received this evening, and hope that Van Nuys "will be home the comming [coming] summer." Describes an amusing episode at school involving Charles H. Smith and Mr. Shaw, the recent meeting of the local philosophical society, and an upcoming exhibition or orations. Also mentions frequent marriages among people in the area, and observes, "Perhaps this war is one incentive to action in the matrimonial line."

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources