Buchanan: James Buchanan Collection, 1816-2008
The items in this collection can be viewed in the James Buchanan Presidential Library https://www.lancasterhistory.org/research/james-buchanan-presidential-library/
Object ID: MG0096
3 boxes 84 folders, 1 scrapbook, 1 oversized item 4 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory (Organization); PV7
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 3
Scope and Content Note: The James Buchanan Collection contains material that pertains to the life and legacy of James Buchanan and his Lancaster home, Wheatland. The collection contains correspondence of James Buchanan and letters written by his niece, Harriet Lane Johnston. Newspaper articles discuss Buchanan’s life and Wheatland, tell the story of Buchanan’s romance with Ann Coleman, and report on commemorative events. Legal and personal business are represented by deeds, financial matters, and Buchanan’s probate records.
Political papers include the Presidential appointment of Buchanan as Minister to Russia, certification to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, and a series of letters regarding the Atlantic slave trade in 1819 and Liberia in 1858. In letters, Buchanan outlined his reasons for not wanting to run for Governor, wrote about the confidence bestowed on him by the Democratic Party, and established a fund for the city of Lancaster to purchase wood and coal for poor women during the winter. After the Crimean War, Buchanan wrote to the ambassador to the United Kingdom and observed that Russia seemed to be intent on recovering its military prestige and had made vast naval preparations.
There is an assortment of ephemera, such as programs for memorial celebrations, material related to John Updike’s play Buchanan Dying, commemorative stamps, sheet music, and invitations. Souvenir pamphlets from Wheatland provide history about Buchanan’s home and the museum. Speeches range from those given by Buchanan to several that honor his life and Presidency. A scrapbook describes the establishment of Wheatland as a museum and contains newspaper articles about archaeology on the site in 1948.
Creators: LancasterHistory (Organization); Buchanan, James (1791-1868)
Conditions for Access: Please use the digital images provided in the Collections Database. Transcriptions are provided for some items. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact research@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.
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Language: English
Source of Acquisition: Items collected by LancasterHistory. Known sources are noted at the item level.
Custodial History (Provenance): These documents were collected by LancasterHistory.
Accruals: Further accruals are expected.
Preferred Citation: James Buchanan Collection, MG0096, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Subject Headings:
Ambassadors
Historic houses
Legal documents
Legislators–United States
Letters
Memorials
Monuments
Personal correspondence
Presidents–United States
Russia
Slavery
Statues
Wheatland (Lancaster, Pa.)
Search Terms:
Ambassadors
Buchanan Collections
Historic houses
James Buchanan
James Buchanan Presidential Library
Legal documents
Letters
Memorials
Monuments
Personal correspondence
Presidents
Russia
Senators, United States
Slavery
Statues
Wheatland
Related Material in this Repository:
James Buchanan Family Papers (JBFP)
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm in the LancasterHistory Research Library
LancasterHistory Library collection
Photograph collection
Curatorial collection
Wheatland Mansion
Associated Materials in Other Repositories:
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
Processing History: This collection was cataloged prior to 1997. Items have been added and the finding aid has been updated periodically since 1997. This collection has been documented, preserved and managed according to professional museum and archives standards. The finding aid was updated using DACS conventions.