The James Buchanan Family Papers collection is organized into eight parts: Part 1 Papers of James Buchanan, Part 2 Papers of Harriet Lane Johnston, Part 3 Papers of James Buchanan Henry, Part 4 Papers of Edward Young Buchanan, Part 5 Papers of Other members of the Buchanan Family, Part 6 Papers of Hiram B. Swarr, Part 7 Papers of Jonathan Messersmith Foltz, and Part 8 Papers of Others (Not Part of the Family). The papers are arranged by category within each part.
The correspondence is both professional and personal. The letters provide information about family and social events, business and military affairs, social and political history, health and illnesses, religious beliefs, education, friendships, domestic staff, and Wheatland. Political letters specifically highlight the Democratic Party in the United States in the early to mid-nineteenth century, as well as foreign policy and politics while Buchanan was the ambassador to Russia and England. Personal letters share family, local, regional, and international news between family members and friends.
Financial and legal documents include business papers, property records, estate papers, plans for James Buchanan's tomb, and investments. James Buchanan's 1856 presidential campaign and 1857 inauguration are captured in campaign ephemera, political cartoons, Democratic tickets, invitations to the inaugural ball, newspaper articles, and a political song. Other items in the collection include speeches, ephemera, genealogy, diplomas and certificates, account books, scrapbooks, newspaper articles, invitations, programs, pastoral records, and poetry.
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
The James Buchanan Family Papers collection is arranged in eight parts:
English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Latin, Italian
Object ID
JBFP
Associated Material
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
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
Fonds
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.
Account Book of Robert Baldwin,Salisbury Township with reference to Waterloo, Salisbury Township in the second pagination.
Book references to cash paid on accounts, purchase of sundries, whisky, tobacco, butter, Cheese, apples, beef, bacon, wool, calico, leather, cattle, coffee, fur hat, molasses, etc.
NOTE: This is a combination Account and Day Book. The first part is an account book and the back part is a day book.
Contains 249 leaves plus an 22 page index. Covers are marbleized inside. The 1st leaf has accounting information written on it and the second leaf is blank. There are 2 separate paginations: The front pagination (pp. 1-390) is a listing of accounts of various customers. The back pagination (pp. 1-112 + 3 additional leaves and the first 2 leaves are p. 1) is a day book of daily transactions.
Three newspaper articles are glued to front leaves 2 and 3: Recipes for Raspberry Syrup, Blackberry Syrup, Current wine, White Wine, Elder Wine, Black Current Wine and Current Jelly; Acceptance letters of July 1850 Whig Candidates from Bucks County, and Selins Grove (sic), and Washington, Pa.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 4 loose items:
Item 1 - Contains Robt. Baldwin signature.
Item 2 - Contains reference to William Ross.
Item 3 - Contains the name Mr. Thomas.
Item 4 - Scrap of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and Salisbury website
Robert Baldwin (1805-1888)
1827 - Robert Baldwin, school teacher came to Cains to reside at The Bull's Head.
1830 - Robert Baldwin and John Cains opened a store in Cains.
1843 - Robert Baldwin built his store and home on the corner of Cains Road and the Old Philadelphia Pike.
1849 - Robert Baldwin was elected to the State Legislature.
Book covers are worn, have red rot but are intact; two index tabs P-Q and R-S are missing. Pages have foxing. 15 leaves have been cut out or torn out: (pp. 4-5), (pp.18-27) and (pp.84-105).
The front third leaf is unattached.
Object ID
MG0963_F002
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account Book of Robert Baldwin, Salisbury Township.
Description
Account Book of Robert Baldwin, Salisbury Township.
Book references purchase of goods, e.g., turpentine, molasses, oil, sundries, coffee, butter, tobacco, old iron, ax, whisky, muslin, potatoes, postage, blocking, hat salt, saltpeter, cigars, flints, candles, powder, shot, gloves, boots, fish oil, raisins, quince, etc.
Contains 335 book leaves, paginated and ruled plus a 23 page alphabetical index, plus 3 front leaves (The first front leaf is blank, The second front leaf has a list of products. The third front leaf has part of the A index.), plus 3 end leaves. (The first end leaf are pages 689 and 690 of the book. The second end leaf is torn in half and is blank. The last end leaf is blank on the front and has "Robt Baldwin"; "list of vacant pages" and a row of page numbers written on the back.)
Front inside cover has account information.
Book spine is embossed with "Ledger".
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 4 loose items:
Item 1 Three plant stems with leaves and one packed of plant pedals.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and Salisbury website
Robert Baldwin (1805-1888)
1827 - Robert Baldwin, school teacher came to Cains to reside at The Bull's Head.
1830 - Robert Baldwin and John Cains opened a store in Cains.
1843 - Robert Baldwin built his store and home on the corner of Cains Road and the Old Philadelphia Pike.
1849 - Robert Baldwin was elected to the State Legislature.
Book is intact. Cover has red rot and cut marks on front and back covers. Binding shows minor separation from spine. Foxing on most pages, index tab F-G is missing, second page is not attached and second last page is missing top part. There is also the imprint of the vegetation found in insert 2 on some pages, see pp. 159-160 and pp. 299-296.
Object ID
MG0963_F007
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Daybook of Robert Baldwin, Salisbury Township with reference to Waterloo, Salisbury Township.
Book references purchase of consumables; coffee, tea, butter, tobacco, sugar, whiskey, molasses, rum, etc. and non-consumables; bolts, screens, candles, gloves, nails, shot, flints, etc.
Contains 445 pages that are paginated, except 2 blank front leaves.
"Robert Baldwin; Book, Posheph L" is written on inside front cover.
"Waterloo; Hanlan, Baldwin [3 times]' is written on the 2second front blank leave.
"Baldwin", "James Boyd paid 5 Dollars to the firm" and ~17 names upsidedown are written in the inside back cover.
Cover spine has "DAY BOOK" embossed on it.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and Salisbury website
Robert Baldwin (1805-1888)
1827 - Robert Baldwin, school teacher came to Cains to reside at The Bull's Head.
1830 - Robert Baldwin and John Cains opened a store in Cains.
1843 - Robert Baldwin built his store and home on the corner of Cains Road and the Old Philadelphia Pike.
1849 - Robert Baldwin was elected to the State Legislature.
Book cover is worn and spine is separated from rear cover. Cover has red rot.
Object ID
MG0963_F003
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Daybook of Robert Baldwin, Salisbury Township and Waterloo.
Description
Daybook of Robert Baldwin, Salisbury Township and Waterloo.
Book references purchase of goods, e.g., turpentine, molasses, oil, sundries, coffee, butter, tobacco, old iron, ax, whisky, muslin, potatoes, postage, blocking, hat salt, saltpeter, cigars, etc.
Contains 346 leaves of ruled paginated pages. 2 front leaves (The first page has "Memorandum; Itinards for Jame & Jacob" and account information. The next 2 pages are blank. The last page has "Robt. Baldwin --- Coln. Samuel & Jacobs" written on it.) 1 end leaf with account information.
Front and back inside covers have names and account information.
Book spine is embossed with "DAY-BOOK".
Insert 1 - Blue donor card
.
Insert 2 - 4 loose items:
o Item 1 Memorandum 12 February 1840 between Christian Oberholser, Salisbury Township, Lancaster County & William Rochyfellow, West Calm Township, Chester County.
o Item 2 Rent received by Christian Oberholser from William Rockyfellow.
o Item 3 Bargain at Tahlia Sale.
o Item 4 Memorandum List
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and Salisbury website
Robert Baldwin (1805-1888)
1827 - Robert Baldwin, school teacher came to Cains to reside at The Bull's Head.
1830 - Robert Baldwin and John Cains opened a store in Cains.
1843 - Robert Baldwin built his store and home on the corner of Cains Road and the Old Philadelphia Pike.
1849 - Robert Baldwin was elected to the State Legislature.
Book is intact except for a loose second front page. Cover has red rot and cut marks on front cover. Binding has begun to separate from spine. Foxing on most pages, minor water damage to a number of pages, small burn holes on pp. 375, 428.
Object ID
MG0963_F006
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.