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.

Schley, Winfield S. to A.W. Reese

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09073 Author/Creator: Schley, Winfield S. Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 July 1898 Pagination: 1 p. + clipping Order a Copy

Days after triumphing over the Spanish Squadron at Santiago, Cuba, and sent from flagship Brooklyn: "Thank you for your note of congratulation. I am afraid I am being praised more than I deserve for a simple act of duty which my whole training in life has been directed...! The victory was won by all who were engaged, and the people's thanks are more due to them than to me..."

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