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
Senator James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to General Garret D. Wall regarding the education of his orphaned niece Harriet R. Lane, whom he raised.
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-70
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
Senator James Buchanan writes four letters on a number of different topics, including Congressional legislation on bankruptcy, banks, the Tariff bill, the 1844 Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, and political conditions in Pennsylvania. Buchanan, as the United States Minister to the...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes a total of six letters to Robert Tyler expressing his opinions on various contemporary political developments. Topics include the campaign of Judge Campbell, Simon Cameron as a political opponent, Colonel William King as Vice President nominee, Buchanan's "onerous" duties...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
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
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
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
Harriet Lane writes Lily Macalester with gossip about mutual acquaintances and discusses Wheatland. Lane lives with her uncle, James Buchanan, in Pennsylvania. Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2001-5
Subject: 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 writes eight letters from London to James L. Reynolds on a number of different subjects, including life as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, the Vienna Conference, the Crimean War, the Nebraska Bill, and the 1856 Presidential election. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Harriet Lane writes to her friend Mrs. Christopher L. Ward in December 1853. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F16
Subject: Personal and Family Life
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
Harriet Lane writes to Lily Macalester and discusses her voyage to London. She will be presented to Queen Victoria later that week. In addition, Lane notes that she attended the opera with a Mr. Peabody and sat in a box opposite of the Queen. Lane is living with her uncle, James Buchanan, who...
Location: I-Friends-2001-5
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism, Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan, the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, writes four letters to General James Watson Webb regarding Buchanan's experiences living in London and international affairs, including the Ostend Manifesto, the Vienna Conference, and the prospects for peace. Buchanan also notes...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
First Lady Harriet Lane writes to Lily Macalester about the going ons of Washington D.C., her trip to Pennsylvania, Macalester's trip to West Point, as well as various bits of gossip. Lane also comments on several political figures, including Secretary of War John B. Floyd and Senator Stephen...
Location: I-Friends-2000-8
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Harriet Lane writes to a Mr. Childs from the White House in 1859 regarding changes to a publication about her uncle President James Buchanan. Besides making corrections, Lane also wants Mr. Childs to use a different portrait of President Buchanan. The portrait that Mr. Childs had selected is, as...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F16
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Lily Macalester writes her father, Charles Macalester, regarding her stay at the White House with her friend, First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily describes a dinner hosted by Lord Richard Lyons, the British minister to the United States, that a number of prominent officials attended, including General...
Location: I-Friends-2000-2
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Lily Macalester writes her father, Charles Macalester, regarding her stay at the White House with her friend, First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily describes the dinner party with Japanese delegates as a "great success." "My friend the young Prince Stkahara Jugoro, is very bright" and, as Lily explains...
Location: I-Friends-2000-5
Subject: International Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Lily Macalester writes her father, Charles Macalester, regarding her stay at the White House with her friend, First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily also discusses plans for a friend's wedding and a trip to Arlington. In addition, Lily comments on recent political news. "I understand that [Abraham]...
Location: I-Friends-2000-6
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
President James Buchanan writes to Charles Macalester asking for advice regarding North Carolina Bonds. Buchanan also mentions that he misses Macalester's daughter, Lily, who is friends with Buchanan's niece. An envelope postmarked 1857, which was addressed to Lily Macalester, was donated along...
Location: I-LaskyR-2000-1
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Two letters from former President James Buchanan to Jessie Magaw regarding his health, Jessie's education, and news regarding their extended family. "Your Cousin Harriet [Lane] was married to Henry E. Johnston" and they are "happily married," as Buchanan notes. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Harriet Lane writes to her friend Lily Macalester on the birth of Lily's child. Lane also notes that her uncle, former President James Buchanan, "would no doubt have some messages of love and congratulation if he knew I was writing."
Location: I-Friends-2007-1
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Former President James Buchanan discusses his administration's policies, his health, and other personal matters in a letter to Reverend Henry Slicer. "I would not, if I could, change any portion of the policy I pursued in view of the then approaching troubles," as Buchanan explains. Buchanan,...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F7
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
