Robert Todd Lincoln was the eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. He was the only one of their four sons to survive into adulthood.

Robert Todd Lincoln served as Secretary of War under Presidents James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur from 1881 to 1885. This letter is from him while serving in that position.

He worked to preserve and protect his father’s legacy. He maintained control over Abraham Lincoln’s presidential papers and later willed them to the Library of Congress,

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

This article from the Connecticut Courant and Weekly Intelligencer reports the news of Benjamin Franklin signing the preliminary articles of the peace treaty in Paris between the United States and Great Britain, which led to the treaty formally ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing American independence.

This original newspaper from 1783 has fascinating detail relating to this news.

Read more about it at The Luecht Historical Collection.

Marbury v. Madison (1803) is widely regarded as the single most important decision in American constitutional law.

The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the U.S. Constitution is binding law—not merely a statement of political principles—and helped define the constitutional boundaries among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government.

This original Boston Gazette from 1803 covers the news of this historic ruling. Read more about it at The Luecht Historical Collection.

NATO’s Article 5 has been invoked only once in history….when allies of the US rallied and responded to the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

In this letter, United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair lets it be known that his country will be there for America.

Allies have always been a key part of American history and this is one example of it.

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

This is a very rare document because it is the oldest Treasury Secretary appointment in private hands.

James Madison signed it as President and James Monroe signed it as Secretary of State.

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

Eisenhower and Kennedy. A presidential campaign, yet a President in office communicates with a candidate from another party…..making sure what is best for the country comes first.

You have to read this story and see the documents!

The Malta Summit is widely regarded as a symbolic end to the Cold War. President George H. W. Bush thanks Jeane Kirkpatrick for her role in preparing him for his meetings with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.

President Obama made education a major policy priority. In October 2011, the White House released a report titled Teacher Jobs at Risk, which highlighted how cuts in education funding had led to the loss of nearly 300,000 teaching positions nationwide between 2008 and 2011.

Obama sends encouragement to a teacher in this rare autographed letter..

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

President Ronald Reagan, with his passionate views on democracy, had a very disciplined view of the world order. Reagan believed America had a unique role as the leader of the free world. His view of U.S. strength — military, economic, and moral — was the anchor of global stability.

The IMF Treaty in 1987, negotiated by Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, was viewed as a landmark achievement to begin the reduction of the world’s nuclear arm supplies.

See a special document and read more about it here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

President Abraham Lincoln writes to Major General George G. Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac at the time. “Major General Meade Army of the Potomac: I am appealed to on behalf of John Murphy, to be shot tomorrow. His mother says he is but seventeen. Please answer, A. Lincoln.” A very consequential letter and a fascinating story.

If you watched “The Crown”, the story that goes with this document may sound familiar!

When then Princess Elizabeth’s engagement was announced, the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to congratulate the King. This is King George VI’s response to the archbishop.

This is a special document, and historically significant, for many reasons….

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy gives her final approval for the 1962 White House Christmas card, which was the last one sent during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.

This a fascinating piece of history to read more about.

The book that caused President Abraham Lincoln to say to the author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “So you’re the little lady who started this great war.”

The best-selling novel of the 19th century and it was second only to the Bible in overall sales.

The book that woke America up to the cruelty and injustice of slavery.

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).

The “Linked States with GW cipher” button is one of the most iconic varieties of George Washington inaugural buttons, dating to 1789, the year of Washington’s first inauguration as President of the United States.

Read more here at The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC).