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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.

Bennett, James Gordon (1841-1918) The New York herald. [No. 9136 (September 15, 1861)]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08793 Author/Creator: Bennett, James Gordon (1841-1918) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Newspaper Date: 15 September 1861 Pagination: 8 p. ; 57 x 40 cm. Order a Copy

Prints a letter of President Lincoln to John C. Fremont concerning emancipation. Headline reads, "Modification of the Proclamation with regard to the liberation of slaves." Lincoln asks Fremont to modify his order proclaiming that all slaves owned by Confederates in Missouri were free because it goes against Congress. Civil War news, retreat of the rebel Army of Manassas, news from Havana and Mexico, among other items.

On 1 January 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln, freeing all slaves upon Union military victory in states that had seceded from the Union and were not under Northern control. This factor is important because it shows that the Proclamation did not touch on slavery in loyal Border States.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890

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