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.

Lillie, Gordon William (1860-1942) to C. C. Morgan

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05476 Author/Creator: Lillie, Gordon William (1860-1942) Place Written: Wichita, Kansas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 June 1889 Pagination: 1 p. ; 27.6 x 21.2 cm. Order a Copy

Written on stationery of Pawnee Bill's Oklahoma Colonization Company. Informs Morgan of his plans to establish a settlement (possibly the colony which was later known as "Pawnee Bill's Old Town and Trading Post" in Oklahoma). Advises Morgan that a dry goods or cigar business will prove the most lucrative in the established town.

Wichita, Kansas, June 16, 1889
C C Morgan
821 M. St N W.
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
I will cross the line at [struck: present] Arkansas City Kansas Feb 1st with at least 2000 followers a charge of $200 is made for certificate of membership & stock in the town too & should think Cigar or Dry Goods business would pay first. Furnishing goods would not be on demand first year or two.
Would be pleased to bear you go down with the invasion whenever you join the colony or not I feel sure this move will open Oklahoma & the 1st in there will do the best
Yours truly -
GW Lillie
"Pawnee Bill"

Lillie, Gordon W. (Gordon William), 1860-1942
Morgan, C.C., fl. 1889

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