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.

Davis, Jefferson (1808-1889) Sketch of Jefferson Davis in a dress escaping Union troops.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.02.1374 Author/Creator: Davis, Jefferson (1808-1889) Place Written: s.l. Type: Photograph Date: Pagination: 1 carte de visite 6.4 x 10 cm Order a Copy

Drawing shows Jefferson Davis in a woman's dress hopping over a timber fence. There is a bag on the ground marked "J. Davis Mexico." Two Union soldiers are chasing Davis. One is holding a torch in the air, the other is pointing a revolver at Davis, and saying "Hold on old Jeff! the 'last Ditch' is not on that side of the Fence." Davis responds, "I thought your Government was too Magnanimous to hunt down Women & children." A woman in a fancy dress adds, "Don't Irritate the 'President' he might hurt somebody." Imprint on image "The Confederacy in Petticoats." Photographers imprint on verso: "Published By R. R. Landon, Agent, 88 Lake St., Chicago."

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