A. Pillow made of stripe of blue and white ticking machine-stitched on two sides, stuffed with straw and hand-stitched to close on one end.
B. Finely crafted pillow cover of white closely-woven satiny cotton stitched on chain-link machine. Opening at one end. Entire covering edged with commercially-made 1-inch wide cotton lace.
C. & D.: Quilts: Both quilts done sewn with chain-stitch machine and consist of printed 2-inch cotton squares. Most four-block squares contain two different prints. Entire piece backed in white muslin, no batting. Top and backing stitched with diagonal 1.5-inch lines forming diamonds in white thread with a chain-stitch machine. Edging tape, white with printed flowers is stitched to the top of the quilt.
Quilt C.,18 x 17.25, is highlighted with squares of 13 different patterns of pinks and browns. Tear in a brown-striped patch near one edge as well as front and back of one patch on same row.
Quilt D.,17.75 x 25.25, consists of 26 different prints. Overall hues are brown, with some blue and two squares of pale green and white check.
E. Unhemmed hand-stitched patchwork piece, 7.25 x 10.5 overall with similar 4-block 2 x 1.5-inch squares of two different fabrics, 8 different fabrics in all. Overall tone is brown, but six faded squares may have contained a fugitive green.
F. Heavily soiled light-weight cotton floral print (flowers are faded brown). Might have been skirt of a doll's dress with a 2.25-inch hem. The single vertical seam, 4 inches from the bottom is turned under and stitched by hand to from an opening. Stiff and fragile.
Three Cotton Quilt Squares: All 9 x 9 inches. All composed of thirteen 2-inch squares, hand-stitched. All prints with white triangles along the edges. Each is composed of 2 different prints...
G. Yellow and Green
H. Brown and Blue
I. Red and Brown
J. Larger Cotton Quilt Square with applique: 17 x 17-inch white quilt square with green leaf patterned fabric applique. 11 x 11-inch ornate cut-out design with a green leaf in each corner. (Not much allowance for a seam on the corner- .25 inch.)
K. Doll blanket. 10.5-inch square. Wool, knitted in garter stitch of coral and black/white variegated yarns. Three 3.5-inch stripes, coral stripe in middle. Scalloped crocheted edging in coral.
L. Doll blanket, a 12-inch square. Wool, crocheted three-stripe doll blanket in aqua and tan yarns. 1.5-inch wide crocheted border with scalloped edge. Mended in 4 spots. 1 aqua stitch loose near tan stripe.
M. Pillow. Handmade 4.5 inches x 3.5 inches. Cotton fabric with large floral print, hand-stitched on three sides and stuffed. Red stain near edge on one side.
N. Pillow. Handmade 3.5-inch round pillow, made of same fabric as M. White cording has overcast onto the seam around the pillow. Firmly stuffed.
O. White cotton rectangles (2), 16.25 x 13.25 ins., stitched on 3 sides, turned inside out with feather-stitch chain in yellow embroidery floss stitched around all four sides.
P. Pillow case, child's. 11.75 ins. wide x 17.50 ins. long. Fine white cotton, careful mending, especially around the embroidered red heart with a yellow arrow through it. Red feather-stitch chain on hem-line, 1 inch from the opening edge.
Q. White 10.5-inch cotton square, .25-inch hem with machine-stitching on three sides. Fourth side is selvedge. Soiled overall with brown stains.
R. White 8-inch cotton square. Same fabric as Q, with .125-inch rolled hand-stitched hem on three sides. Heavily stained with dark spots and brown liquid stains.
Year Range From
1860
Year Range To
1880
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 2
Storage Cabinet
Unit 10
Storage Shelf
Shelf 3
Storage Container
Box 0477
Object Name
Accessory, Doll
Dimension Details
a. Pillow: 5 x 7; Pillow case (Including lace trim): 8 x 11
b. Small quilt: 18 x 17.25
c. Larger quilt: 17.75 x 25.25
d. unhemmed patchwork: 10.5 x 7.25
e. hemmed remnant
Condition Date
2023-03-13
Condition Notes
Varies, excellent to poor:
Excellent: Pillow is in excellent condition.
Good: Larger quilt has a defined quarter of brown acidification due to storage (maybe against wood or paper product. Both quilts have some minor fiber separation on backs.
Good: Raw-edged piece shows some fraying on edges.
Poor:Hemmed remnant print has holes and separated fibers-maybe a fugitive red dye; as well as brown and black stains.
Acknowledgment of George B. Willson that he has bought Harriet Lane Johnston’s Wheatland estate
Description
Acknowledgment of George B. Willson that he has bought Harriet Lane Johnston’s Wheatland estate for $20,000, half to be paid now and the rest in installments; sale includes plants for the garden, bookcases in library, 2 cows, one horse, all farming implements; she may continue occupying the house until 1 July next with free supply of ice, fruit, and vegetables. Approved by Harriet Lane Johnston. Written on Harriet Lane Johnston’s stationery. 120 Park Street, [Baltimore].
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
JBMS1995.412
Other Number
JBFP Part 2, Series 2, Subseries 2, Folder 2
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.
Heat sensitive fire alarm invented by Anthony Iske (1831-1920). Patented by Iske on Aug. 19,1890.
Inside the wooden case, on alarm mechanism/movement, printed in black ink: "J.A. Neiss, Sr." There is also the key to wind the alarm, loose on the floor of the holder.
Anthony Iske was born in France and immigrated to the U.S. in 1847. He moved to Lancaster in 1853 and became an American citizen in 1858. Along with his son, Albert, he held over 200 patents. Most notable of his inventions was the first meat-slicing machine, a model of which is in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Heat Motor was designed to turn the energy held by heated water into rotational movement. Heating the water in the trough would cause the air in the submerged cylinders to rise. As the engine began to turn, the cylinders would rise above the water, the air inside would cool, and the cylinders would fall on the opposing side, adding to the circular motion of the engine.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
This collection has not been cataloged. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit. Please use digital images and transcriptions when available.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
This collection contains a sketchbook and copybook of Jacob Stauffer and his son, David McNeely Stauffer. The sketch of a log house and watercolor of the Mathiot House are both attributed to David McNeely Stauffer. Letters written to D. M. Stauffer refer to The Intelligencer, genealogy related to a portrait, and his collection of signatures.
Admin/Biographical History
David McNeely Stauffer (1845-1913)
Stauffer's extraordinary life began in 1845, in Mount Joy. His father was Jacob Stauffer and his mother was Mary Ann McNeely. He was raised by his stepmother since his mother passed when he was only a year old. His childhood home had somewhat of a local legend which claimed it was haunted by the unpleasant pirate who built it.
Around 1858, economic trouble forced the Stauffers to relocate to Lancaster City. His father took a job at the Lancaster Athenaeum library (on the 3rd floor of the old city hall) for small pay with the arrangement that he could establish his patent office there. David was inseparable from his father and spent more time at the library than he did at his home on North Duke Street.
From a young age David was enormously successful in school, no doubt due to his long hours at the library and absorbing the teachings of his father who was interested in natural sciences. He graduated from high school at an accelerated pace and earned his diploma at the age of 16. From there, he attended Franklin and Marshall college on a scholarship.
A crisis strikes Lancaster in 1862 with the invasion of the confederate army into Maryland. David, along with fellow classmates, were raised into a slapdash and disastrously ill prepared unit. They were eventually involved in the battle of Antietam if one uses the term "involved" loosely. Having virtually no experience or training they were kept out of the fight. After the short-lived adventure David returned to school for another year but, possibly hoping to see more action, he rejoined the service as an artillery man. Later, he accepted a job on the railways before he was offered an appointment as Master's Mate in the navy and he once again joined the military.
After his service, he returned to railroad work where he was determined to become an engineer. By 1870 he had achieved this goal, being appointed head engineer for construction of a Philadelphia street bridge. David was 25 years old. He worked diligently as an engineer for many years and finally opening his own business in New York as a consulting engineer in 1882. Stauffer was in high demand as he was considered an expert in his trade and was widely known. He was the second American to ever become a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers in London. He also became part-owner and chief editor for "Engineering News" for 23 years.
He was very active socially, largely invested in civic improvement, and belonged to numerous societies and clubs. He was also well-traveled. Appreciative of many arts, he took a particular interest in engravings which he collected. He even published a book which is critical to many collectors today: "American Engravers upon Copper and Steel".
Stauffer married rather late in life, at the age of 47, but his meeting with his wife is so extraordinary it sounds more like a sketch from a Melville novel. A shipwreck is the romantic occasion upon which these two lovers met, David and his future wife, Florence Scribner. David had been asked on an assignment for the Engineering News and Florence had been accompanying her father on a steamship when it wrecked in the Caribbean. They were married no more than a year later and set up residence in Yonkers, New York where he died in 1913.
Stauffer's passion for sketching was no doubt due to his father whose botanical sketches are still widely admired today. Of note is David's bookplate design used by Lancaster County Historical Society, which is one of many that he designed. He also left a legacy of no less than 70 drawings of early Lancaster City buildings, an unparalleled collection. Some buildings he documented still stand today; some weren't even standing when he drew them. He drew some earlier buildings that had been destroyed using only the descriptions from those who remembered them and historical documents.
Sources:
"David McNeely Stauffer". Elizabeth Clarke Kieffer. Papers of the Lancaster County Historical Society, vol. 56. 1952 no.7David McNeely Stauffer could be called many things: scholar, soldier, traveler, engineer, artist, collector, author. Clearly a man of many talents and many pursuits, in his life he seemed determined to collect a wide variety of experiences.
"Biographical Sketch of David McNeely Knox Stauffer". John W. Jordan. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 37. (Philadelphia : PA).
"David McNeely Stauffer: The Little-Known Legacy He Left to Lancaster." A Talk to the Lancaster County Historical Society by C. Eugene Moore. May 7th, 1996.
"David McNeely Stauffer Aids Today's Scholars" in Artists' Album/Lancaster County. Gerald S. Lestz. Science Press, 1983.
See also: David McNeely Stauffer drawings in the Curatorial Collection
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Patrons must make an appointment with the Director of Archival Services to view the sketchbook in Folder 1. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-369
Other Number
MG-369
Classification
MG0369
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared 2010; revised 2014, 2015.
One of two Louis XVI upholstered armchairs. Both chairs have gilt and bronze beading and foliate ornament décor on their crests, arms, uprights and aprons. All four legs are surmounted by foliate-decorated blocks transitioning to an urn-shape and ring and beaded ball turnings. They transition to reeds in the middle tapering to additional ring and ball turnings that terminate on brass casters.
One of two Louis XVI upholstered armchairs. Both chairs have gilt and bronze beading and foliate ornament décor on their crests, arms, uprights and aprons. All four legs are surmounted by foliate-decorated blocks transitioning to an urn-shape and ring and beaded ball turnings. They transition to reeds in the middle tapering to additional ring and ball turnings that terminate on brass casters.
Grand Army of the Republic badge. "In Union There Is Strength" on top pin. "D. H. Nissley Post, No. 478 / G. A. R. / Mount Joy, PA." G.A.R. emblem in center of badge. Badge is black with gold letters and gold braided trim on bottom with metal fringes.
Bag made of stiff black leather with a rolled leather handle at top. The handle is attached to a brass-plated iron frame with side hinges. The leather bag opens at the top, is 8.5" deep and has two interior pockets.
