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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.

Alfocord, E.B. (fl. 1860-1866) to Aaron Jeffery

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01896.085 Author/Creator: Alfocord, E.B. (fl. 1860-1866) Place Written: Petersburg, [Va.] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 August [1866] Pagination: 4 p. : address ; 24 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Apologizes to her nephew, Aaron, for not writing sooner and wishes that Jeffery and her family had not left Petersburg to live in "...that distant country under existing circumstances." Wishes for Aaron and Roberta [Jeffery] to come visit and declares that she would be perfectly willing to share with them "...all that I have from a cup to the last pair of sheets that I have..." Also mentions the "shameful" behavior of the the Federal troops stationed in Norfolk, the administering of the Oath of Allegiance to the United States government, and her willingness to lend Aaron a small amount of money [$50].

Jeffery, Aaron, fl. 1858-1900
Jeffery, Robert Archer, fl. 1858-1900
Alfocord, E.B., fl. 1866

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