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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.

Frank Leslie's Publishing House Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [Vol. XX, No. 509]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09674 Author/Creator: Frank Leslie's Publishing House Place Written: New York, N.Y. Type: Newspaper Date: 1 July 1865 Pagination: 1 newspaper ; 16 p. ; 40 x 28.5 cm. Order a Copy

One issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper dated July 1, 1865. Periodical includes variety of illustrations regarding tenement house living, a steamboat landing in the Confederate Navy Yard in Richmond Virginia, the completion of Atlantic telegraph calbe at Glass, Elliot, and Co., among others. The main spread of the issue is focused on tenement houses in New York City which looks into the crowded living style of the impoverished families.

Frank Leslie was a British-born engraver, illustrator, and publisher. He worked briefly on other publications such as a wood engraver for P.T. Barnum's "Illustrated News. "His own publication "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper" also known as "Leslie's Weekly," was published from 1855-1922. It largely covered topics of war, politics, science, art, travel, and the arts. Issues circulated heavily during the Civil War for its' accounts of battle.

Tenements were buildings that had multiple occupancies. In New York City during the 19th century, immigrants and workers took up as habitants of the dwellings. Due to crowded conditions of these buildings, fires and accidents as well as unhealthy living were prevalent.

Leslie, Frank, 1821-1880

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