Signers of petition: Christian Herr, Elias Herr, Jacob Spring, Henry Ferrer, Jacob Keesy, Isaac Houser, John Kreider Jr., John H. Miller, John Krider, A. S. Mylin, Henry Gall, Isaac Pickel, [signature in German], John Herr.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: John P. Long, Jacob Weidler, Isaac B. Miller, Jacob Diffenbaugh, Jacob Spring, Jacob Keesy, Amos Stauffer, Frederick [Dare], Christian Herr, Frank McCullick, Isaac Pickel, James McCurdy, John Williamson, Abraham Herr.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: David Illges, George Gerlach, Henry Herr, John Stigelman, Abraham Bitner, Levi Illgas, Martin Manning, Frederick S. Kline, Jacob Zimmer, John Witmer, Henry Peter, Benjamin Bortzfield, George Morry, H. B. Kauffman, Eli Hewes, John Smith, Martin Dickey, J. S. Kise, Philip Kare, Daniel Will, John Sauder, Adam Doerstler, Henry L. Strickler, James [Humey], John Amend, Abraham Ulmer.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Horace Alleman, Jacob Stoler, Christian Ohmit, James Hutchson, Augustus Rhoads, James Conner, Peter Williamson, Edward E. Davis, Henry K. Haines, Abraham Hess, Aaron Hewes, C. H. Zimmer, Jacob B. Haines, Leonard Pickel, Jacob Immel, Michael Bender, Frederick Dickman, Henry Kauffman, William Nagle, Joseph Overdorf, [George Wiker], John G. Witmer, Henry Bortzfield, David Rummel, David F. Binkley, John Nunamacher, Jacob Neff, Jasper Newton Pursel, John M. Myers, Martin Daily, Henry [Dybrand], S. P. Lindemuth, Cyrus B. Neff, Jacob Shiekley, Jacob Beller, Jesse Franck, Christian Mellinger, Lewis Fite, Adam Hysinger, N. McDonald, Samuel Kitch, Hiram Ward, Daniel Fishel, John Derrick, George Green, Benjamin Dornbach, Joseph McLane, Benjamin Otstot, Thomas Moore, David Miller, Henry Ortman, John Wall, B. K. Myers, C. Funk, George Myers, E. T. Houltshous, Cyrus Shartzer, George Wall, Henry Snyder, John Ketrick, John McGrim, George Fishel, John Kise, John A. Brush, Henry E. Kline, Jacob Ortman, G. E. Sehner, Henry Fishel, Christian Walk, Jacob Kise, David Bitner, John Lawrence, Andrew Shultz, Samuel Barge, Jacob Walk, Mathias Brooks, Benjamin Barge, Jacob Christ, Christian Cover, John Charles, Samuel Funk, Martin Funk, Jesse T. Brush, Nathaniel [Milar], Joseph [McLane], Cyrus Shultz, William Parker, James Douglass, Martin Bitner, Martin Fry, Joseph McLane, [unknown signature], John [Cohn].
Signers of second petition: William Morrison, Joseph Kauffman, Christian F. Herr, Adam Shuman, Abraham Kline, [signature in German], Daniel Kline, Benjamin Karr, Christian Sourbeer, John Eisenberger, John W. Fry, [signature in German], John Shissler, A. B. Brenneman, M. H. Lefever, Frederick Fenstermacher Jr., Jacob Kauffman, Adam Breneman, Rudolph Wissler, Henry Loyer, Abraham Kauffman, Frederick Dearstler, Obed Strickler, Peter Kline, Christian Gehr, George Aman, Jacob Eshleman, Samuel Smith, Joseph Hess, Samuel Smith Jr., John Christ, Henry Gerlach, John Peifer, Benjamin Ament, Jacob Millhouse, John Kolp, Amor D. Kendig, John Miller, John Habecker Jr., Christian Breneman, Benjamin Stauffer, Henry Gehr, [ ] Henry, Emanuel Schock, [unknown signature], Abraham Kauffman, George D. Shuman, Christian Schock, Christian Kline Jr., Andrew Cracker, Christian F. Heidlaub, Jacob Kindig, Henry R. Witmer, Martin M. Kindig, [signature in German], Christian S. Eshleman, Daniel Kauffman, John S. Bender, John Herr, Henry Sauder, Henry H. Kauffman, Jacob W. Fry, George Markley, Christian Feltenberger, Elias Eshleman, George W. Lutz, Jacob M. Lutz, John M. Lutz, Samuel Grosh, Barnhard Grosh, John Grosh, Samuel Lively, George G. Brush, Jacob S. Mann, Henry Neff, Joseph G. Brush, Amos Shuman, Henry Way, [ ] Shuman, Amos B. Shuman, Jacob Dellinger, Michel Shuman, Amos Dombauch, Andrew Dritt, Daniel Dritt, Barnherd Mann, Henry Mann, John W. Mann, Abraham Hostetter, John Overderf Jr., Christian Amend, Benjamin Ellenbarger, Abraham Lyer, Abraham Lewis, [signature in German], Christian Eshleman, Benjamin Kauffman, David Shaff, Charles Bender, Henry F. Herr, Jacob Brenner, Harrison Hock, Jacob S. Line, Joseph Stillinger, Christas Keller, Samuel Christ, Henry Kahler, Amos B. Christ, Michael Shenk, Emanuel Stauffer, Christian D. Martin, H. S. Zercher, Abraham Gochenour, Frederick Stauffer, Christian S. Ehrman, B. F. Kline, David Kline, Elias Gochenour, John Martin, [Daniel Danky], Joseph Neff.
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Samuel R. Peters, Martin Eshleman, Jacob B. Eshleman, Martin Mellinger, James Bones, Jacob Heiny, William B. Peters, Joseph B. Habecker, Frederick M. Brady, John W. Rumel, Christian Funk, Samuel Giner, Adam Stofer, Robert D. [Bentice], Samuel [McGurk], Jacob Miller, Jacob Ritter, [ ] Ulmer, Adam K. Manning, Jacob F. Frey, Joseph Frey, Anthony Dumsler, John F. Frey.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Samuel R. Peters, Martin Eshleman, Jacob B. Eshleman, Martin Mellinger, James Bones, Jacob Heiny, William R. Peters, Joseph B. Habecker, Frederick M. Brady, John W. Rumel, Christian Hunke, Samuel George, Adam Stater, Robert Pentice, Samuel McGunde, Jacob Miller, Jacob Ritter, W. Ulmer, Adam K. Manning, Sr., Jacob F. Frey, Joseph Frey, Anthony Bumselor, John F. Frey.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: John Kendig, Peter Weaver, John B. Kreider, Benjamin Miller, George [Hoeltzel], Jacob Hoover, Benjamin Price, John Eshleman, John Tomlinson, H. K. Stoner, Samuel Moore, Isaac B. Miller.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1, Papers of James Buchanan, Series 1 Correspondence
Description
The James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1, Papers of James Buchanan, Series 1 Correspondence, Subseries 1 contains letters to James Buchanan and Subseries 2 contains letters from James Buchanan. Within these subseries, the letters are arranged chronologically, dating from 1819-1868.
This collection contains letters, both to and from James Buchanan. The letters from Buchanan range from the different periods of his life-as a private citizen and lawyer, senator, and ambassador to Russia and Britain; his Presidential term from 1857 to 1861; and his later years until his death in 1868. The earlier letters include details of his travels, political matters and the military, social engagements and responsibilities, his responsibilities as a political figure, and accounts of family chatter and gossip. He also discusses at length, in his letters to and about Harriet Lane, his opinions of whom she should marry, his opinions about her social encounters and interactions, her living situations, and her livelihood. Buchanan also often wrote about his Christian beliefs, especially during the later years of his life. Letters from his later years detail the day-to-day life at home in Wheatland, including some of his guests, his servants, and his illnesses as the end of his life neared.
The letters that are addressed to James Buchanan range in different topics, concerning military affairs, political and legal information, and family chatter. Other letters include details of Buchanan's financial matters that are in reference to loans, Buchanan's investments and purchases, deeds and bonds. There are also a number of thank-you letters and notes of recommendation.
Many of the letters are to his niece, Harriet Lane and nephew, James Buchanan Henry. Other correspondents are H. B. Swarr, Henry A. Muhlenberg, family members, Francis Scott Key, Riggs & Co., James L. Reynolds, and many political colleagues.
Admin/Biographical History
James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791 to James Buchanan and Elizabeth Speer. He was the second child born out of ten children, and he would go on to outlive all but one of his siblings. Most popularly remembered as Pennsylvania's only President and as a lifelong bachelor, Buchanan committed a lifetime to politics. In 1821, he left his law practice and embarked on his political career after having been voted into the U.S. House of Representatives. He would remain in the House for five consecutive terms before serving as the U.S. Minister to Russia, a Senator in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Secretary of State, the U.S. Minister to Great Britain, and finally, the 15th President of the United States. He died in his bedchamber at Wheatland at 8:30 AM on June 1, 1868. He was 77 years old. [https://www.lancasterhistory.org/about-wheatland, accessed 10/24/2019]
System of Arrangement
James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1 Papers of James Buchanan is arranged into six series.
James Buchanan Papers, Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections http://archives.dickinson.edu/collection-descriptions/james-buchanan-papers
James Buchanan and Harriet Lane Johnston Papers, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-buchanan-and-harriet-lane-johnston-papers/
James Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/b/Buchanan0091.html
James Buchanan Papers, Penn State University Libraries, https://libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/1458.htm
Related Item Notes
James Buchanan Family Papers
James Buchanan Collection (MG0096) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/lhdo3760
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm
Photograph Collection
Curatorial Collection
Wheatland Collection
Wheatland Mansion
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Part #, Series #, Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact archives@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Some items are photocopies from other collections--researchers must obtain permission for reproduction and publication from the owner of the original material. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Please contact archives@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Description Level
Series
Custodial History
The James Buchanan Family Papers were collected by the James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland. This collection was relocated from the Wheatland mansion to the LancasterHistory archives in the Spring of 2009.
Digitization of the James Buchanan Family Papers was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 201808013051, 2019-2020.
