Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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2 January 1848

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to B.S. Schoonover

Discusses his presidential prospects and thanks Schoonover profusely for his support. Describes at length the faithfulness and devotion the people of Pennsylvania have shown him over the years. Mentions that if it was up to him, he would not have sought out the presidency but the support for his nomination was so great that he could not avoid it. Expresses his surprise at learning that Governor Francis Shunk's administration would oppose his nomination since he had exerted all his influence to get the governor elected.

GLC01239

13 January 1848

Polk, James K. (1795-1849)

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Samuel Howard].

Convicted of passing counterfeit coin; sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. Pardoned due to age, previous honesty, family's dependence, small amount of counterfeited money involved, and judge's request. Countersigned by Secretary of State James Buchanan. Also, includes petitions and receipt of pardon.

GLC00045.08

13 June 1848

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Jordan L. Mott's improvement in the process of chilling castings]

Signed by Buchanan as Secretary of State. Countersigned by Edmund Burke, Commissioner of Patents. Mott's written description of his improvement is signed by Edward Lewis and M. D. Van Doren as witnesses. Contains a one-page diagram of Mott's invention. Sealed and bound with faded white ribbon.

GLC07325

24 June 1848

Polk, James K. (1795-1849)

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Paterson, John Smith & Peter Johnson, convicted of larceny on high seas.

Convicted of larceny on high seas; sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and a fine of $30 each. Pardoned after serving prison sentence, as "they are seafaring men, dependent upon their monthly wages for support, have no property, and are wholly unable to pay the fine...". (c/s James Buchanan) "Duplicate" written on top.

GLC00045.09

1848/07/05

Polk, James K. (1795-1849)

Manuscript document signed

Title: Pardon of Edward King (c/s James Buchanan)

Convicted of transferring forged papers to the treasury in exchange for money

GLC06868.03

5 February 1849

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Obliges recipient's request to be introduced to Colonel Fremont and General Smith if he decides to travel to California. Assures him that the reports of abundant gold resources are true. Buchanan is unable to suggest the best route to California over land, but suggests taking a boat to Chagres, Panama, and crossing the isthmus to board the steamer for San Francisco.

GLC04575

8 February 1849

Polk, James K. (1795-1849)

Pamphlet

Title: [Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]

Message of the President of the United States, James K. Polk, including all correspondence with Secretary of State James Buchanan regarding peace negotiations with Mexico. Includes treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed 2 February 1848. Bound hardcover. House Executive Document No. 50.

GLC08640

03 March 1849

Polk, James K. (1795-1849)

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Seth B. Horton, convicted of violating a seamen protection act. Includes petitions, transmission letters and pardon receipt.

Horton, late master of the Barque "T.O. Brown," was convicted of violating a seamen protection act [3rd Section, 9th Chapter, concerning consuls and vice consuls] of Feb. 1803. Conditionally pardoned because the violation was not willful, Horton must pay court costs. (c/s James Buchanan) Signed on Polk's last day of office.

GLC00045.10

1850

O'Conor, Charles (1804-1884)

Pamphlet

Title: Dinner to the Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson at Tammany Hall, as a tribute of respect, by the Democracy, of the Counties of New York, Westchester, Kings, Queens and Richmond...

(title continues)...and his reception by the municipal authorities of the city, on the 17th of June, 1850. Printed at the office of the New York Daily Globe. O'Conor, a prominent New York attorney, served as President of the function. Includes a speech by Dickinson, United States Senator from New York 1844-1851. Also includes volunteer toasts offered by those attending, and letters of apology from persons unable to attend (including Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, Isaac Toucey, and others). Also includes a menu.

GLC00267.186

25 February 1850

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

Discusses the Compromise of 1850, the Wilmot Proviso, which he notes "is dead," and the issue of California statehood as it relates to slavery. Notes some of the measures that might make sectional compromise possible. Indicates his belief that Congress will pass a fugitive slave law. Speculates that California could be admitted along with one of the states from the land won in the Mexican War.

GLC00260

16 July 1851

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac G. McKinley

Buchanan voices his support for the Fugitive Slave Law, enacted under the Compromise of 1850. Believes the law will be the deciding issue in the upcoming election, and that the Democrats should strongly support it. He writes: "The great issue...ought to be: the maintenance of the fugitive slave law without modification." Another central issue must be "the repeal of our State law denying the use of our jails for the detention of fugitive Slaves." Worries that the South is already distressed, and will become more so if the Fugitive Slave Law is attacked.

GLC04903

6 August 1851

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. Harper

Written from Buchanan's estate, Wheatland. Discusses a recent trip to a General Bowman's home in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, where he and other guests held "meetings... which were not confined to Democrats." Referring to an upcoming judicial election, expresses his hope in the election of James Campbell, noting Campbell was the first Catholic to hold a state office. Discusses the Presidential election of 1852, seeing the Democrats/Free Soil alliance in Ohio as a bad omen, alienating Southern Democrats.

GLC04508

1851/11/06

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: James M.H. Beale.

Forney, a pro-slavery candidate, was "in favor of the maintenance and faithful execution of the fugitive slave laws...and of the suppression of all further agitation of the slavery question."

GLC07927

7 November 1851

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra B. Chase

Buchanan states his position on slavery and the issue of fugitive slaves. Buchanan strongly supports the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and believes it will reduce sectional strife. He is "decidedly in favor of 'the finality' of the compromise measures" and finds that the Compromise favors the North, except for the Fugitive Slave Law. Also states that the Democrats of Pennsylvania have decided to repeal the law preventing fugitive slaves from being housed in jails. Has received many congratulations from the South for his work on this cause.

GLC00529.06

13 April 1852

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Stiles

Thanks him for sending a copy of his work on the political movements in Austria of 1848-1849. Chastises him for not visiting when he was in the area. Warns against the election of Winfield Scott, the Whig party candidate, to the presidency and states that the only way to avoid this is to keep the Democrats united. Scott's election would lead to " ... a triumph of the North over the South. Thus a more dangerous geographical division of parties would be introduced." Remarks on his faith in the democratic candidates to do good instead of evil.

GLC06396

April 1853

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Header Record

Title: Collection of two items related to James Buchanan [Decimalized]

GLC00467

28 April 1853

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William L. Herst

Comments on the appointment of James Burnside to chairman of the Central Committee of the state that Herst made. Indicates that he would like to support him. Written from his estate, Wheatland, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

GLC00467.01

25 April 1854

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nahum Capen

Discusses Capen's book, The History of Democracy, and mentions people to whom he has sent it, including members of the press who have responded favorably to it. Comments that although he is doing well in England, he is looking forward to the end of his mission so that he may return home. Written as Minister to Great Britain on stationary printed with "Legation of The United States. London." With later typewritten copy of the letter.

GLC02658

1 November 1854

Pierce, Franklin (1804-1869)

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for James Buchanan to conclude a Consular Convention with Great Britian]

President Pierce directs Secretary of State William Learned Marcy to affix the United States seal. Confirms full power for Buchanan, Minister to Great Britain, to conclude a consular convention.

GLC02585

20 January 1855

Tyler, John (1790-1862)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

Written from former President Tyler's plantation, Sherwood Forest, to his son Robert. Robert transmitted a letter from Mr. Buchanan (President James Buchanan, confirmed by docket).

GLC03671

15 December 1855

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas H. Seymour

Ambassador to Great Britain Buchanan reports on the Crimean War. Comments on the Diana, Russian Admiral Putiatin's ship, which was wrecked "on the Japanese seas." Promises to relay any information concerning W. Kavalesky. Has not heard anything from Lord Wodehouse. Currently awaiting the Czar's answer to the peace terms offered by Austria and presumably accepted by France and England.

GLC05461

1856

Cluskey, Michael W. (fl. 1856)

Pamphlet

Title: Buchanan and Breckinridge. The Democratic hand-book, compiled by Mich. W. Cluskey, of Washington City, D.C. Recommended by the Democratic national committee. The success of the Democracy essential for the preservation of the Union and the protection of the integrity of the Constitution.

Compiled to disprove the "unprecedented charges against the Democratic candidate..." Selections are from the works of Democratic leaders "who represent the uniform and united opinions of the Democracy, North and South..." Includes the Missouri Compromise, a letter from Thomas Jefferson, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and an extract from the will of Andrew Jackson among others. Printed by R. A. Waters. Glued and sewn binding. Missing both covers.

GLC00267.197

1856

Democratic National Convention

Pamphlet

Title: Official proceedings of the National Democratic Convention, held in Cincinnati, June 2-6 1856. Published by order of the convention.

Describes in great detail each day's proceedings. Includes a list of delagates from every state, amendments, the minutes for all of the meetings and others. Published by the Enquirer Company Steam Printing Establishment, by the order of the convention. Noted on the title page that the superintendent of the publisher is T. Wrightson. Five gatherings with a sewn binding.

GLC00267.196

1856

Unknown

Pamphlet

Title: Words of counsel to men of business. By a man of business.

"The object of this little tract- simply and intelligibly written- is to show reflecting men, and especially citizens of Pennsylvania and the North, why they should vote for Mr. Buchanan as President of the United States." Contains a stamp of New Bedford City Library on front cover. Bound with string.

GLC00267.198

1856

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Pamphlet

Title: James Buchanan, his doctrines and policy as exhibited by himself and friends.

Attacks Buchanan as a Southern supporter using letters and speeches from Buchanan himself and his supporters. Includes editor headings as charges against Buchanan, such as "Mr. Buchanan in favor of seizing Cuba" "If you can't buy Cuba, steal it" and "Always Faithful to Slavery." Published by Greeley & McElrath at the Tribune Office. Dated as 1856 by David M. Lesser, Fine Antiquarian Books LLC. Sewn binding.

GLC00267.202

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