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.

Greeley, Horace (1811-1872) to Mr. H. S. [Held]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02467.14 Author/Creator: Greeley, Horace (1811-1872) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 March 1848 Pagination: 1 p. ; 24.8 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy

Greeley discusses his decision not to publish a letter sent by [Held?] regarding the 1848 Presidential election. Writes, "Publishing your letter as you wish could have just one effect- to aid the nomination of Gen Taylor as the Whig candidate for the President. Do you desire that? If not, be thankful that I do not submit such letters as yours to the public. I am doing what I can to defeat Gen. Taylor's nomination, and taking what I believe the best way to do it. If he is beaten at all, it will be by the use of Mr. Clay's nerve." Marked "private" at the top.

Taylor, a General in the Mexican War, defeated Henry Clay and others for the Whig nomination in 1848. He won the election, serving as United States President until his death in 1850.

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872
Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources