Part of a four-piece dress. Blue velvet laced belt; white mesh stiffener; lined in navy satin. 5/8" wide navy woven tape with tubular metal clamps at both ends for lacing belt closed using 10 round hand-stiched edged buttonholes, 3 metal stays, one in back, 2 at front opening. Velvet tab attached to inside folds across lacing hoes in front. Lower edge tapers to a slight "v" in the back and a deeper "V" in front.
Part of a four-piece dress. Blue velvet bodice with pointed lower front edges. Raw edges at collar, sleeves, and along waist/ bottom edge. Fronts have two bust darts. Right front has 21 buttonholes finished in buttonhole stitch. Left front has threads where buttons (now missing) had been sewn on. Front has batting between velvet and lining. Finely finished interior with 11 places for contour stays -4 have stays; 2 each front and 1 behind each underarm seam. 4 1/2 inch long brown fabric piece with 5 hooks inside right front; piece with 5 eyes on inside left front, attached at waist to reduce strain of buttons/ buttonholes. Brown twill tape as backing for buttons.
With garment are two lined tabs, tacked together. Metal pieces inside tips. 3-parallel lines of stitching around outline of both tabs. Top edges are raw, unfinished edges, White mesh stiffener between velvet and lining.
Part of a four-piece dress. Jacket: Short sleeves with cuffs. Dark blue velvet fully-lined in cream-colored silk with batting between two fabrics. 2 small leather-lined pockets on left inside. Hand-stiched strip on linging at lower edge right front. 3 hooks and thread-covered eyes at waist front. Parallel lines of sticthing on body at sleeve openings and at waist and on 3 bands around neck as well as front and silk at opening. Blue velvet strips have buttons in back and at tabbed ends on front. 4 tabbed front closure peices have buttons. Machine and hand-stitching.
Metal plate, brass colored on reverse, tarnished silver on front corners cut on diagonal. Two 1/16-inch holes, 1/4" from side edges. Between these holes, engraved in 1/4-inch high block shadowed letters, all capitals: "Buchanan"
Nameplate had been placed on pew at First Presbyterian Church. (L. Flick 3/12/1991)
Provenance
James Buchanan- Dr. Samuel Welchen [friend of JB's]- Miss Frances Welchen- Foundation
Tan card stock covered composition book with drawing of Wheatland on the front and Weights and measurement equivalents and multiplication table on back. Brown tape spine. White with blue lined paper pages stitched inside. Corners are rounded. Cover state
Provenance
Used by donor as a school girl in Lancaster in 1939-1941.
Japanese Embassy Print 1860 Black wood framed print of water-colored May 26, 1860 Harper's Weekly Print of 'The Landing of the Japanese Embassy with Treaty in a box at Navy Yard Washington.' Large steam-paddle ship in background with crowds on it and in
Japanese Embassy Reception Print 1860 Black wood framed print of water-colored May 26, 1860 Harper's Weekly Print of 'Reception of the Japanese Embassadors by the President at the White house, May 17, 1860.' Inside large hall with mirrors and chandeliers
Part of four-piece dress. Skirt: Deep royal blue velvet skirt. Machine and hand stiching. Vertical seams are machine-stitched as are parts of satin band/ tape at waist edge.
Closure back: 2 hooks and eyes one waist edge. 5 shaps on pleated placket.
Decortative band (7/8 inches wide) sewn on with 3 parallel rows of stitching. Interiror seams in back of garments have bound edges. Some other seam edges appear to have been overcast. Hem is lined with 20 inch (at rear of skirt) to 8 1/2 inch (at front) of navy satin. Back panel appears to be a different fabric. 2 black tape tabs sewn onto inside waist.