Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
James Buchanan was a graduate of Dickinson College, Class of 1809, who went on to become the fifteenth president of the United States. The majority of this collection is comprised of correspondence between Buchanan and his business and political associates; over four hundred letters penned by...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Economics and Finance, Education, International Affairs, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Books and Pamphlets, Engravings and Illustrations, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Newspapers and Magazines, Reports, Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939, 1940-1959, 1960-1979, 1980-1999
Collection Inventory: 
mc1998.10.pdf
James Buchanan Henry writes to his uncle, US Senator James Buchanan, and describes some of his experiences at his new school. "Last evening I looked at the moon through [my teacher's] telescope and I saw the mountains quite plain" as well as "Jupiter's moons and saturns belt," as Henry explains...
Location: I-Friends-2010-4
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew James Buchanan Henry about the formers efforts to help the latter enroll in the sophomore class at Princeton University. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F22
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew James Buchanan Henry and informs him that Mr. Bolman will supply his pocket money for Princeton. In addition, Buchanan relays news of family and friends, and advises him against using only his initials when signing. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F22
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, to discuss a recent school report. "In Scholarship you are 93.9; not so high as formerly," as Buchanan notes. In addition, Buchanan comments on his niece, Harriet Lane, and mentions the recent death of a Mrs. Pleasanton....
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Hetty Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, writes to James B. Henry, Buchanan's nephew. Parker reports news of various Buchanan family relatives and friends, including Miss Ward, Mr. Lane, Miss Harriet, and many others. Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2010-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, and congratulates him for good grades in mathematics as well as offers advice for an upcoming exam. Buchanan also mentions his niece Harriet Lane, who is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but expected to return in the coming...
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-8
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes his nephew and legal ward, James Henry, to ask about "the results" of a class meeting at Princeton and discuss plans for an upcoming vacation. Buchanan also includes a brief report on their family, including how "Harriet [Lane] returned from Pittsburgh ten days ago in good...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry. Buchanan is pleased with the news of Henry's success from his last letter. Buchanan also reports that Miss Hetty [Parker], his housekeeper, "says she has not heard any news for year that has pleased her so much." However,...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to his nephew James Buchanan Henry after returning from a trip to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Buchanan encloses $15 to Henry "according to [his] request," but has "no time to write [him] at length."
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-6
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, regarding how Henry has not confirmed whether he received the $15 mailed on the 11th. Buchanan hopes that Henry is not negligent on this account and that, instead, the letter was lost.
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Economics and Finance, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Hetty Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, writes to James B. Henry, Buchanan's nephew. Parker discusses Buchanan's travels and mentions that "President Pierce is anxious to have your Uncle Secretary of State but wether he will except or not I can not say." Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2010-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, regarding commencement at Princeton and Henry's plans for after graduation. "I shall certainly attend your commencement, should your position in the Class be such as I fondly hope & expect," as Buchanan explains. While...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, regarding Henry's request for "the 'wherewithal' to return home" from Princeton College. Buchanan, who sends $10, notes that "Miss Clemens & Mrs. [Rose O'Neal] Greenhow & Florence [Greenhaw] are yet here" but...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to Mr. Lane and James L. Reynolds regarding paying bills, political appointments, and Buchanan's political future. "I shall not be a candidate for the Presidency, & would not wish to become President" because, as Buchanan explains, "it has lost its charm." Transcript...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan describes his experience working and living in London as United States Minister to the United Kingdom and comments on the latest political news from the United States. George Plitt is a Pennsylvania attorney. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F14
Subject: International Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to Lily Macalester and describes his life in London as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom. "I should be far happier in retirement at Wheatland than amidst the gaiety of London," as Buchanan notes. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F15
Subject: Health and Medicine, International Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Former President James Buchanan writes to his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, regarding Isabella Lynch, the daughter of one of his late friends. As Henry is an attorney, Buchanan asks him to look into Lynch's situation at the Convent of Visitation in Brooklyn. "The letter of Isabella Lynch gives a...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Former President James Buchanan's letter to his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, includes a list of individuals who have discharged their bonds or mortgages since April 1. Buchanan also provides instructions on various financial matters as well as a note about a "Tin Box." Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F8
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Former President James Buchanan writes James Buchanan Henry and includes payment for stocks that Henry purchased on behalf of Harriet Lane. Buchanan also asks Henry "to take out my will" as "it is neceseary or rather proper that I should make some changes in it on account of changes in my...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F8
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Former President James Buchanan writes his nephew James Buchanan Henry and asks him to bring several financial documents when he visits Wheatland, Pennsylvania. Besides "my certificate of Virginia Loan for $11,000," Buchanan tells James Henry that he "will find a policy of insurance on the this...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F13
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
