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.

Fessenden, William Pitt (1806-1869) to Ira Perley

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02490.06 Author/Creator: Fessenden, William Pitt (1806-1869) Place Written: Portland, Maine Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 May 1863 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20.5 x 12.5 cm. Order a Copy

States he cannot promise to attend an event, because of his poor health. His health has forced him to "abstain from all public speaking," and prevents him from "going abroad."

William P. Fesseden was a Senator from Maine and chairman of the Committee on Finance. Would later serve as the Secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln.
Ira Perley was a Superior Court Judge and State Senator from New Hampshire.

Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869
Perley, Ira, 1799-1874

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