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 (1925-1945) to Estelle Spero

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09120.441 Author/Creator: Diamond, Sidney (1925-1945) Place Written: Bougainville, Papua New Guinea Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 June 1944 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21.5 x 27.5 cm. Order a Copy

Diamond reports to Estelle that his housewarming party had been a success. He mentions that all is quiet, except for the sound of a radio, and "a whistle blows occasionally at a basketball game - a negro team is playing our team - It's a pleasure to see the gallery - black and white…" He writes that this "onerous service has been a great leveler," and comments on "[h]ow pitiful it is that upon there [sic.] return these boys will find conditions unchanged."

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