This group of sixteen letters of unknown ownership and whereabouts were copied on 19 July 1937 by F. A. Henry, American Consulate, Melbourne, Australia. Whether he owned the letters is not clear.
Letter 1. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry concerning family financial matters including Harriet’s loss in the stock market. Wheatland. 3 November 1863. Letter 2. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry following up on letter of November 3. Wheatland. 4 November 1863.
Letter 3. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry discussing the power of Congress to issue paper currency and the financial matters of family and Miss Hetty. Wheatland. 22 April 1864.
Letter 4. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry praising Miss Lane’s cooking, some financial matters, and the publication of his book. Wheatland. 29 September 1865. Letter 5. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry doubting the truth of Mrs. David Lynch’s contention that her daughter, Isabella, ought to be move from the convent to home because of illness, asking for money for the trip and some other financial matters. Wheatland. 2 March 1866. Letter 6. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry inquiring about the removal of Miss Lynch from the convent; complaining about the “pegging away” of her mother, who “might not be in her right mind”; Mr. Schell’s silence; Harriet in Cuba; and financial matters. Wheatland. 12 March 1866 Letter 7. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry commenting on the poor performance of his household staff, financial matters, Miss Hetty’s relationship with others, Andrew Johnson’s poor selection of cabinet members, and how the South should be treated. Wheatland. 16 March 1866. Letter 8. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry concerning rents, deeds, the marriage of the O’Neal sisters, and travel to Baltimore after voting. Wheatland. 4 October 1866.
Letter 9. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry praising his handling of the Leonard affair, his visit to Baltimore, visiting Harriet and the Johnston family, and mention of visits from Mrs. Ellis and the James Shunk family. Wheatland. 10 November 1866.
Letter 10. Letter from James Buchanan to Cornelius Vanderbilt introducing James Buchanan Henry. Wheatland. 13 December 1866.
Letter 11. Letter from James Buchanan to Mrs. Robert Walsh introducing James Buchanan Henry. Wheatland. 9 January [1866]. Missing.
Letter 12. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry hoping for a visit from him and Mr. Schell at Christmas, present visitors, and financial matters. Wheatland. 14 December 1867.
Letter 13. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry desiring to buy some prints from Mr. Buttre, financial affairs, and the “Murillo affair.” Wheatland. 7 February 1868.
Letter 14. Letter to James Buchanan from J. C. Buttre quoting prices for prints. Wheatland. 25 January 1868.
Letter 15. Letter from James Buchanan to James Buchanan Henry enclosing repayment for prints bought and other financial matters. Wheatland. 15 February 1868.
Letter 16. Letter to James Buchanan Henry from [Harriet Lane] concerning the borrowing of jewels, Confederate raids, Miss Hetty, Robert [Magrainy] and others at the party. Wheatland. 22 August 1864.
James Buchanan Papers, Penn State University Libraries,
https://libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/1458.htm
Related Item Notes
James Buchanan Family Papers
MG-96 James Buchanan Collection
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm
Photograph collections
Curatorial collections
Wheatland Mansion
Notes
May 2020 PastPerfect Conversion
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. Please contact archives@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
JBMS1995.694
Other Number
JBFP Part 1, Series 1, Subseries 1, Folder 7
Description Level
Item
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.
James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 3 Papers of James Buchanan Henry, Series 3 Ephemera
Description
James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 3 Papers of James Buchanan Henry, Series 3 contains ephemera. The materials include a complementary ticket from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, calling cards, newspaper clippings, invitations to various events and weddings, a handwritten note from James Buchanan Henry, a business card of John Book, and a dinner menu of the Watch Hill House. The dates range from 1855 to 1907.
Admin/Biographical History
James Buchanan Henry, also known as Buck, was born on March 1, 1833. Just like his cousin, Harriet, Buck lost both of his parents and was taken in as James Buchanan's ward in 1840. During his early years, he attended several boarding schools and eventually graduated from the College of New Jersey. Though his interests remained with the arts, Buck went on to read law under an attorney named John Cadwalader. When James Buchanan assumed the presidency, he called for Buck to join him as his private secretary, a position known today as the Chief of Staff. While Buck worked at Washington, he found himself in frequent conflict with his Uncle. This conflict came to a head in 1858 when Buck proposed to his sweetheart, Mary Nicholson. Upset that Buck hadn't consulted him on the proposal, James Buchanan disapproved of the match. Buck left his position as private secretary and went on to marry Miss Nicholson. The couple would have two children, one of whom would survive into adulthood.
Soon after the birth of their second child, Mary Nicholson died of consumption, leaving Buck a widower. Later on, he married Louisa Anderson, and the two had six sons. After fourteen years of marriage, Louisa died. Buck would marry for a third time much later in his life to a woman named Margaret Grote Elliman. Buck was 71 and Margaret was 24. The two had no children and enjoyed 11 years of marriage before Buck died on February 17, 1915. [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
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
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 eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20.
The cup has a painted winter scene of a man and dog with a bridge and house in background. The sides and back are pink with a gilt rim, cup interior, handle and foot trim. Bottom has designer's signature.
Made by the Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. Demitasse saucer has central gold medallion and gilt cavetto below a wide pink band within a gilt edge. On bottom is the decorator's signature.
Made by Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. This service bowl has a floral center painted in a naturalistic palette in shades of yellow, green, blue and tan within a gilt cavetto below a wide pink band within a gilt edge.
Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. This service bowl has a landscape scene with a castle, a waterfall and two people fishing in shades of green, blue and tan within a gilt cavetto below a wide pink band within a gilt edge.
Made by Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. This dessert dish has a floral hand-painted scene in a natural palette in shades of red, orange, yellow, blue and green within a gilt cavetto below a wide pink band within a gilt edge.
Made by Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. A small oval-shaped platter with a central gold medallion and gilt cavetto below a wide pink band within a gilt edge.
Made by Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. This soup bowl has a central gold medallion and gilt cavetto below a wide pink band with a gilt edge.
Made by Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
One of eleven pieces from James Buchanan's French Parisian Pink dinner service. Designed and decorated by Jean-Pierre Feuillet in Paris at his studio on rue de la Paix no. 20. This soup bowl has a central gold medallion and gilt cavetto below a wide pink band with a gilt edge.
Made by Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
