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.

Douglas, Stephen Arnold (1813-1861) to Emanuel Bernard Hart

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02975 Author/Creator: Douglas, Stephen Arnold (1813-1861) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 December 1851 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 25.1 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Douglas writes to Hart, a United States Representative from New York: "A thousand thanks for your letter & for the efforts of our friends in the empire city. If I had a few such friends everywhere the battle would be soon won" (possibly referring to his attempt to become the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1852). Sends his regards to mutual acquaintances Sickles & Field (possibly other Democrats from New York).

Douglas was a Representative from Illinois 1843-1846, and Senator 1847-1862. He was the unsuccessful candidate for the nomination for President on the Democratic ticket in 1852 and 1856, and was an unsuccessful Presidential candidate in 1860.

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861
Hart, Emanuel Bernard, 1809-1897
Field, David Dudley, 1805-1894
Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914

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