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.

Adams, Abigail (1744-1818) to Richard Rush

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02515 Author/Creator: Adams, Abigail (1744-1818) Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 December 1816 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 24.6 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy

A friendly letter of introduction, revealing the intimacy between the Adams and Rush families. Adams was introducing Reverend Coleman, who was going to Washington to carry the presidential electoral votes from Massachusetts and to vacation as well. She believes they will get along well. Quotes William Cowper to describe him. Writes that her husband's hands hurt from the cold and from previous letter writing and that he sends his greetings. In GLC02852, John Adams uses "Colman" instead of "Coleman."

Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818
Rush, Richard, 1780-1859
Cowper, William, 1731-1800
Adams, John, 1735-1826

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