The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Collection: Digitizing the Artifacts, Letters, and Documents of America's 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison, including artifacts from his grandfather William Henry Harrison and other family members.

Material Description

The Presidential Site collection includes artifacts from 21 US Presidents. Artifacts relating to Benjamin Harrison V (1726-1791), William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901), Caroline Scott Harrison (1832-1892), and Mary Lord Harrison (1858-1949) span the decades and connect to various other family members, politicians, and famous people. Other Presidents represented in the collection include George Washington, John Quincy Adams, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt. The materials represent a wide range of mediums: historic photos, letters, documents, political memorabilia, household goods, clothing, and other personal items. The letter collection dates from 1777 to the 1940s. Historical figures in the letter collection include George Washington, Robert Todd Lincoln, James Whitcomb Riley, Helen Keller, John Hay, William T. Sherman, and Booth Tarkington. Documents date from 1759 to the early 1900s. Political memorabilia includes ribbons, medal, and trinkets for William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison, as well as campaign fabrics for the latter. White House memorabilia includes calling cards, White House invitations, White House menus, and artifacts from the inaugurations of both Benjamin Harrison and William Henry Harrison. Harrison was the centennial president 100 years after George Washington; artifacts from that celebration include a walking stick, programs, medals, and photos. Historic photos include pictures of family members, White House interiors, Harrison's summer home in the Adirondacks, and family photos from a European tour. Items from Harrison's 1891 "Tour Through the South and West." The grand transcontinental train trip took Harrison through 19 states and 72 cities for a total of 9232 miles. Artwork includes original watercolors and china painting by First Lady Caroline Harrison and several Tiffany & Co. artifacts. Autographs of performers and several notes come from late Victorian early 20th Century performers, including Richard Mansfield, Will Rogers, and Ruth Page. The collection of newspapers dates from the 1840s through 1901.