The papers of James Buchanan (1791-1868), representative and senator of Pennsylvania, secretary of state, and fifteenth president of the United States, and those of his niece and White House hostess Harriet Lane Johnston (1830-1903) contain approximately 1,600 items dating from 1825 to 1887. James Buchanan’s papers include correspondence, notes, drafts of remarks, commissions, land patents and other papers relating chiefly to Buchanan’s career in the United States Senate, as secretary of state, and as minister to Great Britain prior to his presidency. Subjects include politics in Pennsylvania and nationally, sectional disputes, nullification, the National Bank, relations with Mexico, the Oregon question, trade treaties, tariffs, and the Ostend Manifesto. Harriet Lane Johnston’s correspondence relates primarily to fashion, social affairs, family matters, and the selection of a biographer of James Buchanan.

The complete Abraham Lincoln Papers from the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress consist of approximately 20,000 documents. The collection contains a letter written by James Buchanan to Lincoln on October 21, 1861, concerning books that Buchanan left in the White House. It is the only letter in the collection written by Buchanan to Lincoln. In addition to this letter, the Abraham Lincoln Papers contain more than forty items to, from, or referring to James Buchanan.

Historic American newspapers selected and contributed by state partners in the National Digital Newspaper Program. Search this collection to find newspaper articles about James Buchanan.

This collection consists of over 15,000 pieces of sheet music registered for copyright during the years 1820 to 1860, including six songs related to James Buchanan.

The Printed Ephemera collection comprises 28,000 primary source items dating from the seventeenth century to the present and encompasses key events and eras in American history.