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Collection
James Buchanan Collection
Title
James Buchanan Collection
Object ID
MG0096
Date Range
1816-present
  1 document  
Collection
James Buchanan Collection
Title
James Buchanan Collection
Description
The James Buchanan Collection, 1816-present, contains material that pertains to the life and legacy of James Buchanan and his Lancaster home, Wheatland. The collection includes correspondence of James Buchanan and letters written by his niece, Harriet Lane Johnston. Newspaper articles discuss Buchanan's life and Wheatland, tell the story of Buchanan's romance with Ann Coleman, and report on commemorative events. Legal and personal business are represented by deeds, financial matters, and Buchanan's probate records.
Political papers include the Presidential appointment of Buchanan as Minister to Russia, certification to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, and a series of letters regarding the Atlantic slave trade in 1819 and Liberia in 1858. In letters, Buchanan outlined his reasons for not wanting to run for Governor, wrote about the confidence bestowed on him by the Democratic Party, and established a fund for the city of Lancaster to purchase wood and coal for poor women during the winter. After the Crimean War, Buchanan wrote to the ambassador to the United Kingdom and observed that Russia seemed to be intent on recovering its military prestige and had made vast naval preparations.
There is an assortment of ephemera, such as programs for memorial celebrations, material related to John Updike's play Buchanan Dying, commemorative stamps, sheet music, and invitations. Souvenir pamphlets from Wheatland provide history about Buchanan's home and the museum. Speeches range from those given by Buchanan to several that honor his life and Presidency. A scrapbook describes the establishment of Wheatland as a museum and contains newspaper articles about archaeology on the site in 1948.
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.
Date Range
1816-present
Creation Date
1816-present
Year Range From
1816
Creator
LancasterHistory (Organization)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 03
People
Buchanan, James
Johnston, Harriet Lane
Other Creators
Buchanan, James (1791-1868)
Subjects
Ambassadors
Historic houses
Legal documents
Legislators--United States
Letters
Memorials
Monuments
Personal correspondence
Presidents--United States
Russia
Slavery
Statues
Wheatland (Lancaster, Pa.)
Search Terms
Ambassadors
Buchanan Collections
Historic houses
James Buchanan
James Buchanan Presidential Library
Legal documents
Letters
Memorials
Monuments
Correspondence, Personal
Presidents
Russia
Senators, United States
Slavery
Statues
Wheatland
Extent
2 boxes, 80 folders, 1 scrapbook, 1 oversized item, 4 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0096
Location of Originals
Location of originals is noted when known.
Newspaper articles were preserved as photocopies.
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 (JBFP)
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm in the LancasterHistory Research Library
LancasterHistory Library collection
Photograph collection
Curatorial 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.
To make a request, please contact archives@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Classification
MG0096
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Digitization of the James Buchanan Collection was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 201808013051, 2019-2020.
James Buchanan and Wheatland Scrapbook, February 1936-May
1948 was cataloged as part of a project funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Auto Racing Collection
Title
Auto Racing Collection
Object ID
MG0137
Date Range
1932-1987
. L. D. Emery home, Wyomissing, PA. Photograph by L. D. Emery. 26 April 1937. Folder 2 History of automobile races at the Old Lancaster Fairground and Landisville Speedway Item 1 Article by J. Earl Way. Folder 3 Photocopies of photographs, advertisements, programs, and newspaper articles Folder 3
  1 document  
Collection
Auto Racing Collection
Title
Auto Racing Collection
Description
The Auto Racing Collection contains photocopies of photographs of race car drivers, newspaper articles, advertisements, and programs related to auto racing at Lancaster County speedways. The items include a history of auto racing in Lancaster County, information about J. Earl Way, and an article about a benefit for the Williams Grove Old-Timers Association.
Admin/Biographical History
J. Earl Way (1907-1997) of Salunga, Pennsylvania was a barber, dance instructor, and local band leader. He was also involved in auto racing, was a race promoter at Landisville Speedway, and wrote articles about racing for several newspapers. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43953963/obituary-for-j-earl-way-aged-89/
Date Range
1932-1987
Year Range From
1932
Year Range To
1987
Date of Accumulation
1932-1987
Creator
Way, J. Earl, 1907-1997
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 04
People
Acker, Ralph
Barzda, Joe
Bennet, W.
Bob, Gert
Bob, Joe
Bonmoyer, Herry
Brubaker, Allen
Chittwood, Joe
Cooper, Joe
Cooper, Russel
Culp, Dutch
Dotter, Clyde
Emery, E.
Emery, L. D.
Fritz, Ben
Gable, Bill
Gasta, Al
Gensler, Le Roy
Graham, Ray
Greer, Adam
Greer, Wilbur
Hamilton. Les
Heister, Duer
Herman, George
Holland, Bill
Horn, Ted
Keenig, Len
Kelcher, Ammon
Kline, Ted
Kolas, Fred
Light, Mark
Martin, Jack
Matera, Johnny
McClanagan, Don
Menke, Bill
Meyer, Newt
Miller, Paul
Mowery, Earl
Myers, Chares
Shollenberger, Ray "Dutch"
Shoop, Bill
Spahr, Russel
Stine, Ottis
Trissler, John
Way, Ardella
Way, Betsy
Way, Betty
Way, Fern
Way, John Earl
Way, Steven
Wentz, Walt
Wilt, Dave
Wolf, M. J.
Young, Paul
Subjects
Advertisements
Automobile racing
Automobile racing drivers
Automobile racing--Accidents
Automobiles
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Programs (Publications)
Racetracks (Automobile racing)
Stock car drivers
Search Terms
Advertisements
Automobile racing
Automobile racing drivers
Automobile racing--Accidents
Automobiles
Bird-in-Hand, East Lampeter Twp.
Bird-in-Hand Speedway
Bishop's Café
Cars
Central Speedway
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Columbia
Finding aids
Greer's Motor Dome
Landisville, East Hempfield Twp.
Landisville Speedway
Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Manuscript groups
Newspaper clippings
Lancaster Fairgrounds
Pennsylvania Casualty Company
Programs
R. R. Graybill's Garage
Racetracks
Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Russ Cooper's Riley Special
Sambler Special
Speedways
Star Beer Special A V8 Ford
Statistics
Stock car drivers
Williams Grove Old Timers
Wyomissing, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Young Bros.
Extent
1 box, 7 folders, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0137
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Auto Racing Collection (MG0137), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-137
Classification
MG0137
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by AS, 1999. Finding aid typed by KS, March 2013. Added to database 25 September 2021.
Documents
Less detail