SOLD Harriet Lane Sends Mrs. O’Conor Her and James Buchanan’s Respects

Buchanan was a bachelor, and during his term of office his niece Harriet Lane acted as first lady. She was very popular. Women copied her hair and clothing styles, parents named their daughters for her, and a popular song (“Listen to the Mockingbird”) was dedicated to her. While in the White House, she used her position to promote social causes, such as improving the living conditions of Native Americans on reservations. She also made a point of inviting artists and musicians to White House functions. For both her popularity and her advocacy work, she has been described as the first of the modern first ladies. She retired with her uncle to his Wheatland estate at Lancaster, Pa. in 1861 and assisted him with his correspondence.

Autograph Letter Signed, Wheatland, Lancaster, March 27, 1862, to Mrs. Charles O’Conor. “You have no doubt thought me very inattentive to your request, but I assure you I have not neglected it, for I commenced my searches for a good likeness of my uncle immediately after receiving your kind note. The one I now enclose [alas, absent now] has been just received and although poor enough, is the best of several that have been sent me at different times. You will see the impossibility of putting the autograph on the back as you requested, the publisher having entirely appropriated that part of the card to himself. I feel much gratified that you should desire to place me among your collection of friends & have much pleasure in enclosing a carte de visite of myself [also absent]. Mr. Buchanan joins me in kindest regards to Mr. O’Conor & yourself & hoping you may like the photographs…” A scarce letter of Lane with the original envelope still present, bearing the free frank of President Buchanan and a postmark from the Lancaster, Pa. post office. This letter and envelope remained in the possession of the O’Conor descendants until 2007 when we acquired it.