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
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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.
One of a pair of Empire side chairs (with 2013.008.22) with yellow upholstered seat and cherry wood frame. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Back uprights have slight cyma curve, surmounted by a long, wide concave tablet. Tablet has low relief foliate carved ends while most of face is covered with a panel of mahogany veneer. Tablet extends beyond back uprights. Horizontal splat at center of back is pierced carved with a central rectangle flanked by half-moon carved shells, and is then supported by paired, loosely scrolled lyre-like "legs" that attach to chair posts. Trapezoid slip seat upholstered in an ivory cotton brocade. Front legs have a slight cyma curve.
One of a pair of Empire side chairs (with 2013.008.21) with yellow upholstered seat and cherry wood frame. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Back uprights have slight cyma curve, surmounted by a long, wide concave tablet. Tablet has low relief foliate carved ends while most of face is covered with a panel of mahogany veneer. Tablet extends beyond back uprights. Horizontal splat at center of back is pierced carved with a central rectangle flanked by half-moon carved shells, and is then supported by paired, loosely scrolled lyre-like "legs" that attach to chair posts. Trapezoid seat. Front legs have a slight cyma curve.
Journals of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Beginning the twenty-eighth day of November, 1776, and ending the second day of October, 1781. With the proceedings of the several committees and conventions, before and at the commencement of the American Revolution. Volume the first
Minutes of the fourth sitting of the fifth General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania : ss²b which met at Philadelphia on Monday the twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred eighty and one
Signature of Edward Bird on two internal title pages.
Book number 12 as assigned by Yeates
One-half leather with marble papers; Title in gold on maroon leather.
Contents
Fourth Sitting of the Fifth General Assembly (p.476-562) --Second session of the Fifth General Assembly (p. 563-650) -- Report of the Committee of the Assembly ... (p. 1-50) -- Third session of the Sixth General Assembly (p. 651-712) -- First session of the Seventh General Assembly (p.713-780) -- Second session of the Seventh General Assembly (p.781-883) -- Third session of the Seventh of the General Assembly (p.885-986) -- First session of the Eighth General Assembly (p.-1-82) printed by Hall and Sellers, Philadelphia -- Second session of the Eighth General Assembly (p. 85-252) printed by Hall and Sellers, Philadelphia -- Third Session of the Eighth General Assembly (253-361, 1-3) printed by Hall and Sellers, Philadelphia -- First Session of the Ninth General Assembly (p. 1-103) printed by Francis Bailey, Philadelphia -- Second Session of the Ninth General Assembly (p. 105-328) printed by Francis Bailey, Philadelphia.
Minutes of the third session of the ninth General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania : which commenced at Philadelphia, on Monday, the twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five
One-half leather with marble papers; Title in gold on maroon leather.
Contents
Third session of the Ninth General Assembly (p.329-402) -- First session of the Tenth General Assembly (p. 1-160) -- Second session of the Tenth General Assembly (p. 161-272) -- Third Session of the Tenth General Assembly (p. 273-336) -- First session of the Eleventh General Assembly (p.1-114) -- Second session of the Eleventh General Assembly (p.115-198) -- Third session of the Eleventh General Assembly (p.199-250) -- First session of the Twelfth General Assembly (p.1-98) -- Second session of the Twelfth General Assembly (p. 99-200) --Third Session of the Twelth General Assembly (201-280)
The law's disposal of a person's estate who dies without will or testament : shewing in a plain, clear, easy and familiar manner how a man's family and relations will be entitiled to his real and personal estate by the laws
The Second edition, revised , corrected , enlarged and improved. To which is added the disposal of a person's estate by will and testament; containing instructions and necessary forms for every person to make , alter and republish his own will : likewise directions for executors how to act after the testator's death , with respect to proving his will , getting in the effects , and paying debts and legacies /
The Second edition, revised , corrected , enlarged and improved. To which is added the disposal of a person's estate by will and testament; containing instructions and necessary forms for every person to make , alter and republish his own will : likewise directions for executors how to act after the testator's death , with respect to proving his will , getting in the effects , and paying debts and legacies /
Place of Publication
Dublin
Publisher
Printed for Peter Hoey ... and John Jones ...,
Date of Publication
1787.
Physical Description
xii, [1], 330 pages ; 18 cm (12mo)
Notes
Originally published in 1785 under title: The will which the law makes or how it disposes of a person's estate in case he dies without will or testament ...
The modern practice of the High Court of Chancery : methodized and digested in a manner wholly new : interspersed with variety of the most approved and modern forms of practical precedents incidental to every suit in the progress of it, from the original bill to the decree, comprising a system of practical knowledge, according to the course of the Court as at present established
Reports of cases argued and determined in the High Court of Chancery : [Trinity Term, 18 Geo. 3. A.D. 1778 to Trinity Term, 32 Geo. 3.-Hilary Term, 34 Geo. 3. A.D. 1794]
