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.

Adams, John (1735-1826) Untitled

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09335 Author/Creator: Adams, John (1735-1826) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 August 1798 Pagination: 1 p. Order a Copy

As President, sending a"petition of Parson Smith for a Pardon of a very serious crime.… request you to inclose the Papers to the Secretary of State and Attorney General for their consideration. If they and you agree in advising me to pardon the Criminal, I may perhaps do it, but not other wise."

Adams, John, 1735-1826

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