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.

Unknown [Civil war era belt]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.43.28 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: s.l. Type: Object Date: circa 1861-1865 Pagination: 1 belt : leather ; 92 x 4.5 cm. Order a Copy

Black leather belt with faded striped red and gold overlay. The belt has a heavy rectangular metal buckle with an eagle emblem and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Fragile. Leather rotting and cracking in places. Fabric is slightly deteriorated.

John Reeser enlisted as a Private on 16 July 1864. He was mustered into "B" Co. PA 197th Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal on 18 August 1864. He was mustered out on 11 November 1864 at Philadelphia, PA.

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