This dress is made of Blue silk and black velvet designs. There is a lace collar and a large bow in the back. It was worn at James Buchanan's inauguration in 1857 at the capital in Washington D.C. The lady who wore it was Mrs. Streeter, married to Judge Farris B. Streeter who was a friend of Buchanan's. They were from Towanda, P.A. where the donator was from, Mrs. Connie Humphreyville. We are assuming in our Research that they lived there after the inauguration because Mr. Streeter may have traveled before this time for political reasons. Streeter went to Franklin academy and became a lawyer before becoming a Judge sometime after 1860. We are not sure of the exact connection between Buchanan and Streeter, but it is possible they met at Franklin Academy, which is now Franklin and Marshall.
James Buchanan had been working on his statements at Wheatland leading up to his departure from Lancaster. Crowds cheered his departure from the Lancaster Depot. The Inauguration included the first procession ever seen in Washington including more people in the capital then there had ever been before. Buchanan spoke of slavery being on its way out and how the country should at last be at peace with it's movement away from slavery. The number of people was so tremendous that many could not see the newly elected President. It would have been a rather exciting event to attend, including banners and loud cheering. We are not sure of where this woman stood as she slightly or fully heard Buchanan give his speech, but this dress represents an event that changed the course of American history, as all presidential elections do.
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