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.

Smith, Francis M. (1842-1917) to John E. Boos

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05603.01.17 Author/Creator: Smith, Francis M. (1842-1917) Place Written: Baltimore, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 September 1915 Pagination: 1 p. ; 22.3 x 14 cm. Order a Copy

States he has not replied until now because of a serious illness. Has attached his signature to a statement for the National Tribune giving his impressions of April 2, 1865, a day Abraham Lincoln came to visit City Point hospital and so impressed a Confederate prisoner that he swore to not raise arms against the government again (see GLC05603.18). Relays that he cannot send autographs of the officers of the Maryland Regiments because he does not have them.

Smith served 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant, 1st Maryland Volunteer Infantry. Boos was a compiler of manuscript material on Lincoln.

Smith, Francis Marion, 1842-1917
Boos, John E., 1879-1974

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