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.

Parker, Joel (1799-1873) to Anson Rood

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08965.01 Author/Creator: Parker, Joel (1799-1873) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 December 1852 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21.5 x 16 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses the controversy that developed after Harret Beecher Stowe cited Parker as a pro-slavery preacher in her book "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Parker, claiming his statements were misrepresented, threatened to sue for libel, and a scandal began. Two newspapers, the Independant, run by Henry Ward Beecher, Stowe's brother, and the Independant, which was pro-slavery, escalated the quarell. Beecher, who was Parker's friend, eventually managed to bring about an amicable end, agreeing that the footnote would be removed from later editions. Parker discusses the misrepresentations of himself that occured during this controversy.

Joel Parker was a prominent clergyman.
Anson Rood was a prominent clergyman.

Parker, Joel, 1795-1875
Rood, Anson, 1802-1857

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