Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Bowfront mahogany veneer chest of drawers in the Hepplewhite style. Four drawers have progressing depths from the top to the bottom, each with overpressed drawer pulls two per drawer. At the top center of each drawer is a brass escutcheon keyhole. The top of the chest and each drawer are decorated with satin wood inlay. Chest is supported at its base by four french feet which feature a slightly outswept bracket foot combined with a valence skirt.
Provenance
Dr. Alexander Speer (James Buchanan maternal cousin)
Lancaster Journal with notice of James Buchanan’s opening his law practice on East King Street
Description
News of the day including the progress of the War of 1812, runaway horses, slaves, etc. Notice of James Buchanan’s opening his law practice on East King Street. Local advertisements and other news of local interest. Lancaster Journal, 28 November 1812; 16 February 1813; 18 March 1813; 8 April 1813; and 12 January 1814.
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
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Copyright
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
JBMS1998.043
Other Number
JBFP Part 1, Series 6, Subseries 2, Folder 29
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.
Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, "Located between Atglen and Christiana.
The congregation of the church was organized in 1817. Church was built in 1820. It was a station on the 'Underground Railroad.' It observed its 116th anniversary in 1936. Destroyed by fire in 1937 and was immediately rebuilt with various changes in construction."
The attached images have been provided for research. The original items are restricted for preservation purposes. The digital images of the manuscript and printed material are 300 dpi JPGs; the photographs are 600 dpi JPGs.
Please contact Moores Memorial Library for a high resolution image and permission to publish:
Moores Memorial Library
9 West Slokom Avenue
Christiana, PA 17509
chrlib@christianalibrary.org
610-593-6683 or 610-593-6687
The digital master files are stored at LancasterHistory.
LancasterHistory
230 N. President Ave
Lancaster, PA 17603
archives@lancasterhistory.org
(717) 392-4633
Funds for this project were provided by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in 2001.
Credit
Christiana Resistance Collection, Series 2, Folder 13, Moores Memorial Library
Papercut or Scherenschnitte wrought by a student at Linden Hall Seminary, Lititz. Mounted on dark red balanced weave fabric on board. Design has a flowerpot base; tree with leaves, birds (including a peacock), tulips, and girl with watering can held over a plant/flower. The girl is wearing pantaloons under a full skirt.
Inscribed on reverse: "Lizzie Lauber cut this for me when (at) Lititz school I was 15 years old then we were chums" and "Cut out be (by?) a school friend of G-Mother's. Done when they were at Linden Hall- Lititz about 1818. Mother was born 1836 went Linden Hall when about 12 years."
Provenance
Typewritten inscription on reverse side of back board states: "From the sale of Anna Elizabeth Martin, 242 N. Charlotte St., Lancaster. 94 years old, 6-21-58" Perhaps written by auctioneer?
Crease down center of papercut, slight discoloration here. Two pinholes in center, near crease. 2 distinct dark stains, and a few other lesser stains. Several outer portions have folds or creases, and there are many places where the piece has torn, but the pieces are still present. One bird at the top right of the tree is in very bad shape, with missing pieces. One 'leaf' missing on the lift side of the tree. Remounted by conservator Brian Howard with a new window mat & Plexi glazing. Repairs done.
Object ID
P.91.7
Notes
All notes and descriptions prepared by Michael Martin, 24 September 1997.
