Butler's desk with bookcase, cherry, Federal style. Secondary wood is poplar. Bookcase section is 54.5" high, has restrained cornice over frieze over two large double-panelled doors. Doors rails are through-tendoned into stiles. Interior bolt at bottom of left drawer missing. Stamped eagle lock escutcheon likely a replacement. Interior side dadoes support four original shelves w/ molded front edge; A fifth shallower shelf is a later addition.
Desk section is 43 1/2" high. Butler-type top drawer over three lower graduated drawers w/ diagonally striped veneer facings and cockbeaded edges that have been planed flat. Stamped oval brasses replace original round pulls (marks visible underneath). Lock escutcheons are brass insets. Large butler's desk drawer hinges down to reveal interior w/ center bank of pigeon holes under a single long center drawer, all flanked by vertical manuscript drawers which are in turn flanked by four stacked, graduated drawers at each side. Most drawers are numbered on bottom and most fitted with tiny brass pulls. Reeded quarter columns at front and back corners. Applied strips of reeding at front and side edges of top. Four turned feet with reeded cuffs.
Inscriptions: inside central drawer above cubby holes are pencilled names in modern cursive: Barbara Fisher/ Ellie McMellen, Sadie McMellen/ ( ? ) McMellen."
Maker unknown.
Provenance
According to John J. Snyder, Jr., secretary was owned by James Buchanan's physician, Dr. Henry Carpenter. Original owner was likely either father-in-law John Mathiot (elected sheriff of Lancaster Co. in 1818 and Mayor of Lancaster City in 1831) or his father Henry Carpenter (1773-1835), a surveyor and merchant. Passed down within Carpenter family until 1977 when Snyder, Jr. purchased it at public auction. Donated to Buchanan Foundation May 6, 1988 in memory of Snyder's spaniel Sukey. Transferred to HCLC due to lack of space at Wheatland.
Carpenter, born in 1819, was one of the community's leading physicians. He was founder of the Lancaster County Medical Society in 1844. Dr. Carpenter lived in a brick house on the west side of the first block of South Queen Street.
Sound;refinished. Several wide horizontal cracks at sides of desk. Scars overall; deep dent to top front edge of chest, just right of center; large burn mark at left as well as dark stains. Bottom of top drawer repaired and patched along lower edge, especially at left. Drawer hardware replaced, inside bolt on left door missing; several small interior drawer pulls missing with some large holes.
Object ID
G.04.28.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Usage
Carpenter family
Credit
Gift of James Buchanan Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
