Daguerreotype of Harriet Lane. Full bust length view, facing right. Her hair is coiled and pinned back. She is wearing a dark jacket over a white blouse, with a white lace collar. Broach at her neck and long earrings are prominent. Gold matting around image. Image mounted inside of book-type case of black leather and red velvet inner lining. Two hook clasps.
This daguerreotype represents the earliest known image of Harriet Lane, niece of President James Buchanan. This likeness might have been photographed ca. 1845, Harriet Lane would have been about fifteen years old.
White cotton dish towel. Dirty, white, plain, with unfinished edges.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
Two linen handtowels. White and blue damask with border pattern of leaves, berries, and chain designs. Border is blue. 'HLJ' monogram embroidered in white, outlined in blue.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen top sheet. 'HLJ' embroidered in interlocking script letters in white thread at center top, 7 inches from edge. Hand-sewn hems: top is 3.5 inches; bottom is 1 inch. "E.R. Taylor" in sewn-on tag. "ERT-C" stamped on same lower inside hem at corner.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen sheet. No specific head or foot to this sheet. Both crosswise end have 1/4-inch hand-stitched rolled hems. "ERT-C" stamped twice on one hemmed edge and once on opposite hemmed edge.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen sheet- coarser than others. Hand-hemmed. 2-inch hem at top and at 1/2-inch at bottom. "HL Johnston 12-'72' " handwritten in black ink on top lupper right corner .
"ERT-C" stamped on bottom hem.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
One of six white, linen sheets. Hemmed at top 2.25' and at bottom, .75'. Monogram embroidered in white thread 5 inches from center top edge. 2 stamps "ERT-C" on lower hem.
Provenance
Belonged to Henry Elliott Johnston and Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
