Buchanan: James Buchanan Family Papers, Part 7 Papers of Jonathan Messersmith Foltz, Series 1 Correspondence, 1831-1858

Call Number:  JBFP, Part 7, Series 1

1 box     49 folders, 58 items, 185 pages     .5 cubic feet

Scope and Content Note:  This collection contains correspondence from Dr. Jonathan M. Foltz—the majority of which are addressed to James Buchanan. The letters are arranged in chronological order, with one letter to a folder.  Most of the letters date from 1848-1858, with the earliest letter from 1831. No items from Foltz’s childhood or later years (after retirement) are included, as well as materials from the early parts of his Naval career. The collection does document two of Foltz’s deployments in some detail—his time on the Mexico-Texas border and the three years spent in South America. When writing to Buchanan, Foltz focused more on the political details he observed, rather than military activities. Some letters in the years and months leading up to the 1848 election document Foltz’s involvement in the selection of a Democratic candidate for President. The materials do not include much about Foltz’s family life, other than a few mentions of his wife and their wedding. 

The digital collection is available at James Buchanan Presidential Library.