James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1 Papers of James Buchanan, Series 5 Ephemera
Description
James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 1 Papers of James Buchanan, Series 5 contains ephemera from his personal life and political career. The materials in this collection range from 1833 to 1860.
The materials include invitations to different events and dinners, a facsimile of his petition for membership in Lodge No. 43, Free and Accepted Masons in Lancaster, a list of guests invited to a dinner in St. Petersburg in Russia during Buchanan's time as the ambassador, admission tickets, menus for dinners, bills of fare, and embossed valentines. Some of the organizations mentioned were the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art, Seamen's Hospital Society, the Royal Astronomical Society Club, the Democratic Citizens of the City of Philadelphia, and the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers, and Commerce.
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]
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
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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.
Christmas card. Green paper. On front reindeer in PA German style wreath. Printed "Anno 1949." Printed with hand watercoloring. Inside written "Merry Christmas from Zoe and Henry Kauffman." Printed on front "Z. Kauffman." Printed on back "Motif from Pennsylvania chalk figure."
Three watch papers, 2 of Moyer and one of Beiler, printed with advertisement on small paper discs, used between pocket watch works and case to protect works:
A. Thin paper disc w/ small cuts around periphery, printed within double-line outside border is "ABRAHAM S. BEILER, / Watchmaker, / LEACOCK, LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa."
No inscription. Dia: 2".
B.Thin paper disc, small cuts around periphery, printed with "B.D. MOYER, / WATCHMAKER / AND / JEWELER / BIRD IN HAND". Pen inscription on reverse: "July / 8756 / Cleaning & / Repairing / J. Hoover". Dia: 1.375". See Notes.
C.Paper disc, small cuts around periphery, printed with double-line outside border has "B. D. MOYER / Enterprise, Lancaster Co." and within center is "WATCHMAKER / AND / JEWELLER." Pen inscription on reverse: " 4455 / To(?) Cleaning / & / Repairing / Jacob Hoover / ,75c", indicating cost for service. Dia: 1.875". See Notes.
Provenance
FIC
Abraham S. Beiler (1851-1909)
Benjamin D. Moyer (1825-1890) married to Elizabeth
A. Light overall soil with minor losses/folding at periphery.
B. Overall heavy soil and dark blotches of stain; some paper losses at periphery and folding.
C. Overall heavy soil and dark blotches of stain; much of periphery paper is missing & remainder is tattered & folded.
Object ID
2016.999.2
Notes
Benjamin Moyer listed as watchmaker, age 43, in1870 Census for E. Lampeter.
Abraham S. Beiler, born 1851 died 1909 in Upper Leacock.
Watch papers were originally used as a packing between the inner and outer case of a watch to protect its works. The watch papers which have become the most popular with today’s collectors are those engraved papers used as an advertising medium by watchmakers or as labels are often usually attractive. Many well-known American artists engraved them so that they may have real esthetic value.
By the beginning of the 19th century, watchmakers realized they could use small, round papers in the back of a watch as an advertising medium. It soon became the custom, when they cleaned and repaired a watch, for watchmakers to insert their own papers, perhaps showing an engraved scene with their name and the location of their shops. On the reverse of the paper the watchmaker might note the price and date of repairs.
Watch papers were both printed and engraved on white, cream, buff, orange, blue, green, yellow or rose paper. They vary in size from 1 1/2 inches to 21/2 inches in diameter, but the common size seems to be about 2 inches in diameter. Though watch papers also varied in thickness, the earliest ones are on thicker and higher-grade paper. - See more at:
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay. Orders include: Poor Children, Almshouse, Bridges, Coroners' Inquests, Prisons, Roads, Court House, and Tax Exonerations.
System of Arrangement
The record group is organized chronologically, then arranged by order number within each year.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay. Orders include: Poor Children, Almshouse, Bridges, Coroners' Inquests, Prisons, Roads, Court House, and Tax Exonerations.
System of Arrangement
The record group is organized chronologically, then arranged by order number within each year.
