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.

Diamond, Sidney (1922-1945) to Estelle Spero

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09120.011 Author/Creator: Diamond, Sidney (1922-1945) Place Written: Edgewood, Arsenal, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: Circa. April/ May 1942 Pagination: 4 p. ; 18.5 x 27 cm. Order a Copy

Describes his elation with his new post in Edgewood Arsenal, where everyone behaves "like a gentleman and a soldier". States that the Chemical Warfare Service is merely a year and a half old, and consequently "acts its age - young, militant, enthusiastic, courageous, and, above all, eager!" Accommodation is described as being far superior to that at Fort Dix. Outlines the time frame for training - five weeks of initial training, then nine weeks of school and further training, and how frequently he will be able to receive a pass to visit home.

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