James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1 Papers of James Buchanan, Series 5 Ephemera
Description
James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1 Papers of James Buchanan, Series 5 contains ephemera from his personal life and political career. The materials in this collection range from 1833 to 1860.
The materials include invitations to different events and dinners, a facsimile of his petition for membership in Lodge No. 43, Free and Accepted Masons in Lancaster, a list of guests invited to a dinner in St. Petersburg in Russia during Buchanan's time as the ambassador, admission tickets, menus for dinners, bills of fare, and embossed valentines. Some of the organizations mentioned were the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art, Seamen's Hospital Society, the Royal Astronomical Society Club, the Democratic Citizens of the City of Philadelphia, and the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers, and Commerce.
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]
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
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm
Photograph collections
Curatorial collections
Wheatland Mansion
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.
Front facade of Wheatland. Note on back: "Dignity and grace are notable in the mansion Buchanan bought for $6250 in 1848 while Secretary of State in Polk's cabinet. With his niece Harriet Lane who was his White House hostess and companion to the end of his days, he entertained here frequently. Problems of state were dealt with during conferences in the spacious library. Buchanan died at Wheatland on June 1st, 1868 at the age of 77. Many original furnishings remain."
Provenance
Photographs from the James Buchanan Foundation institutional archives.
Front facade of Wheatland. Cropped with the following caption: "Wheatland, the gracious 19th century mansion of President James Buchanan, is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hoop-skirted guides and much of Buchanan's furniture, china, and silver greet today's visitor at the home, open daily April through November and during selected witner dates. wheatland in one of eight historic homes open to visitors in Lancaster County." Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Dutch Visitors Bureau.
Provenance
Photographs from the James Buchanan Foundation institutional archives.
