Oval portrait photo, painted in color, of a young man with brown hair and brown eyes. He is wearing a dark suit coat, white shirt and black bow tie. The photo is under domed glass.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 43
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Drawer
Bin 2-J
Object Name
Photograph
Oither Names
Portrait
Height (cm)
10.795
Height (ft)
0.3541666667
Height (in)
4.25
Width (cm)
7.62
Width (ft)
0.25
Width (in)
3
Dimension Details
Framed: 9.5 inches wide x 11.5 inches long
Photo is oval.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-05-26
Condition Notes
Most of nap from velvet surrounding the central oval/photo is gone. some holes in fabric.
A piece of the photo is missing on lower right edge.
Photo in sepia tones of young mid-19th century woman, standing with left wrist draped over a wooden chair back. She wears leather gloves and is holding a riding crop in her right hand; a floor-length skirt matching, long-sleeved top, a wide white collar and ascot tie. A hat is tied with a bow under her chin.
A gold oval mat surrounds the full-length portrait and the framed photo has a stand on the back. The back has been nailed to the frame.
Easgles Nest completed conservation on the image and frame.
Height (cm)
36.195
Height (ft)
1.1875
Height (in)
14.25
Length (cm)
6.985
Length (ft)
0.2291666667
Length (in)
2.75
Width (cm)
41.275
Width (ft)
1.3541666667
Width (in)
16.25
Dimension Details
Dimensions are for frame
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-07-21
Object ID
W.1995.015.001
Notes
Based on the pointed waistline of her bodice, this photograph was likely taken in Washington DC while she was the First Lady and before the year 1860. This style was at the height of fashion in the mid-1850s and quickly disappeared in the year 1860, when the straight waistline came into fashion.
Photograph of Harriet Lane. Harriet Lane in studio photo facing 3/4 front to her right. Head turned front. Hands clasped at front, holding white handkerchief. Hair braided at sides, wrapped at back. Wearing silk gown, medium colored, with white collar. Mounted in an American 1850 scoop picture frame with a rustic tree branch motif.
Photograph on display in Wheatland is a digital reproduction. Original photgraph moved to archives for conservation purposes.
To be removed from frame and stored in archival safe folder.
Object ID
W.1989.082.001
Notes
Original photograph removed from frame on 27 July 2009 - placed in archival storage for conservation purposes. (East Attic, flat files). Photograph and frame both bear the number 89.82.
Photograph of Harriet Lane. Oval picture showing Harriet 3/4 front to her right. Hair is arranged on top of her head, ears exposed. No jewelry. Off-the-shoulder dress with flowers at bosom, dress tinted bluish-white. Hair is silvery. Chair at back with s
Photograph has been removed from frame. Framed by the 'Eagles Nest' in 1987. Donor was ___________ of Harriet. (Cousin?) Received part of her estate, probably source of this artifact.
Bronze medal awarded to Professor B. Kevinsky for meritorious service in the civil war. On face, scene of wounded or dying soldier, bordered by, "We Give Our Wealth for those who give their health for us" On reverse, "Great Central Fair for the US Sanitary Commission held at Philadelphia / June 1864"
Stored in leather covered case. See Journal minutes, February, 1925.
Passport for Samuel Ashmead, June 25, 1846. Signed by James Buchanan. Framed between two pieces of glass with narrow black wooden frame. Two small metal eye hooks with picture wire at top of frame.
Provenance
Samuel Ashmead was a botanist from the Germantown, PA area. He was the donor's husband's great-great grandfather. Passport hung in the donor's husband's grandfather's house for as long as she could remember.
Framed between two pieces of glass. Top right corner has 2 rips in paper caused by humidity and too small of frame. Paper has been folded into fourths with small hole at center of sheet. Also folds horizontally into thirds. Brown spots or stains all over
Object ID
W.MSS07.4.2
Place of Origin
Washington, D.C.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Commemorative ribbon of James Buchanan. Black and white printing on silk with James Buchanan's profile. Ribbon has frayed ends. Gold and white matting. Black oblong frame.
Provenance
Ownership unknown. Contemporary framing by Joseph Libhart / The Eagle's Nest, Marietta, PA.
Studio tintype photo of Civil War soldier, full length, holding his rifle.
Sticker on back reads: "Zaloudek 10-28-72" (original date of donation). Handwriting on back in faint pencil is: "Benjamin McComsey 61 to 65."
Benjamin McComsey volunteered to serve in the Civil War. He was killed Nov. 7, 1862 in Berlin, MD. This item transferred to Objects collection from Archives. See Notes for typed biographical info.
This item transferred to Objects collection from Archives. Accompanying this tintype is a perforated paper bookmark with cross-stitched "A Present for Bennie." Typed biographical info is:
"This is the chief treasure of the McComsey family. Young son Benjamin volunteered to serve in the Civil War, and these letters (In Archives) tell the story of the remainder of his life.
Benjamin was the son of William McComsey, who was City Treasurer of Lanc. in the late 1880's. A descendant of Mathias McComsey, who was born in Manor Township in 1787. Benjamin's mother was Mary Dorwart, daughter of Henry, a tailor in Lancaster.
Benjamin died Nov. 7, 1862 in Berlin, Md. in the 18th year of his life. He is buried in the McComsey plot at Lancaster Cemetery."
Additional items given by this donor are 1972.026.1-.5. This includes a wedding hat, pair of lady's snow glasses and three shawls.
Two ID tags for Robert C. Myers with next of kin and address listed. "Robert C Myers/33513055/Emma M Myers/128 N Ann St/Lancaster PA" stamped on two rounded rectangular metal tags that are attached to a clear, plastic cord.
Identification tag for Robert C Myers, stamped with "Myers Robert C/ 33513055 T43 44 A." Small tag with three religious figures added to ball chain. Tag opens to signature of R. C. Myers. Obverse "I am a Catholic. Call a Priest." and religious imagery.
Lithograph? 2-part marriage certificate in black ink with gold border elements. 2 printed colored flowers are visible through 2 oval cutouts. Certificate announces the marriage of Alice Fisher and John B. Herr.
