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.

View of exterior wall of Fort Sumter

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.02.1340 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Photograph Date: Pagination: 1 carte de visite 10 x 6.3 cm Order a Copy

Image shows four men, two seated on a large camera with the other two standing, in front of the exterior wall of Fort Sumter. Graphite inscription on verso "**Book" "Fort Sumter." Photographers imprint on verso: "H. C. Foster, Photographer, Morris Island, S. C."

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