Name/Title
Scrapbook ContentsEntry/Object ID
2018.003.0012Scope and Content
1 folder ; 9 5/8" x 11 7/8"
The scrapbook was in poor shape, so the contents were transferred to sleeves and a clamshell three ring binder box. The bulk of the material is the letters of Lafayette Buckler and Victoria Buckler, originals and transcriptions. The letters were published in the Chronicles in March, April, and May of 1982. The letters are numbered. The material is in the order it was found, so pages 1-18 come before the letters and pages 19-28 come after the letters.
P. 1 Top=Back of a small old photo of a farmhouse that is identified as "Farm St.Mary's Co." Bottom=postcard text from Martin & Allardyce of San Antonio, TX announcing the firm could supply colored version of Buckler and Payne coats of arms
P. 2 Top=Small old photo of a farmhouse behind a white picket fence Bottom= Note of date on postcard and amount sent and Bessie Payne's address in Baltimore, Md.
P. 3 Reproduction of a photo of two girls, unidentified. One guess is the standing girl was Nellie Buckler
P. 4 Blank
P. 5 Beautifully colored map, possibly from National Geographic, of Delaware and Maryland's eastern shore with some older plantations highlighted
P. 6 Top=Black and white copy of a photo of about 59 children, probably a Sunday School Bottom=Original of the top photo on broken board and sepia tones. It is larger than the top photo, without identification of any children or the location.
P. 7 Black and white photo of an adult white male without identification
P. 8 Top=photo of a painting of a large house, possibly Laurel Grove Bottom=circular image of a young woman with dark hair and large eyes. This was a copy of a tintype.
P. 9 Photo of a family group of nine on the steps of a porch. The male in the front center, seated in a chair, does not look at all well. The family dog could not sit still.
P. 10 Top=photo of a single male, maybe 20 years old, in a uniform, perhaps for the Weems line Bottom=family group of five
P. 11 Top=copy of a photo of a family group of 6--they may all be children Bottom left=2 young men in uniform, likely part of a steamboat crew Bottom right= Bessie Bowen Payne 4 years old. She has a narrow nose and mouth and large ears.
P. 12 Copy of a photo of two older unidentified women. The woman on the left is the older.
P. 13 Washington Herald's masthead for February 25, 1912
P. 14 News article about Mr. and Mrs. Z. S. Buckler's 50th wedding anniversary party
P. 15 News article about the will of Annie Vernon, who left money to charity and to Victoria Buckler or her daughter Nellie
P. 16-17 Envelopes for letters to Victoria Buckler, mostly sent to Baltimore
P. 18 Admission card for the graduation ceremonies of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery for 1886
Cover sheet for Lafayette Buckler's letters, with a list on the verso of dates of the letters
Letter no. 1 7 1/8"h x 5 5/8"w pale cream single sheet with embossing in the upper left corner, text on each side, March 26, 1859
Letter no. 1 Transcript Buckler arrived too late to call that evening, but asked to see her the next day, Sunday.
Letter No. 2 7"h x 8 7/8"w divided into 4 panels, 3 of which were used. August 1, 1859
Letter No. 2 Transcript Buckler had offered Victoria a ring with her likeness in it, but she refused it and wanted her likeness back.
Letter no. 3 9 7/8"h x 7 3/4"w 4 pages on 2 sheets September 18, 1859
Letter no. 3 Transcript Buckler doesn't understand why Victoria is so cold and unkind
Letter no. 4 7 7/8"h x 10"w divided into 4 panels. This is not a complete letter, so no date
Letter no. 4 transcript Apparently Buckler was surety for someone and that person did not meet his obligations, so Buckler lost all his assets. A friend had offered him a place to have a wife and family and try to get back on his feet.
Letter no. 5 7 7/8"h x 9 7/8"w divided into 4 panels. The letter was not signed and may be incomplete. February 24, 1860
Letter no. 5 Transcript Buckler learned that Victoria was sick and had left Baltimore to go home. He was worried about her.
Letter no. 6 8"h x 9 7/8"w divided into 4 panels, of which 3 were used. March 8, 1860
Letter no. 6 Transcript Buckler was in Baltimore, but Victoria was not, so he missed her.
Letter no. 7 8"h x 6 3/9"w 4 pages on 2 sheets July 30, 1860
Letter no. 7 Transcript Victoria was not in Baltimore, but apparently there was gossip floating around about Lafayette; he vigorously defended himself.
Letter no. 8 This is only a photocopy. 7 3/4"h x 5 3/4"w single sheet written on both sides. The envelope is also copied. September 5, 1860
Letter no. 8 Transcript Apparently Victoria responded fiercely to the gossip and Lafayette tried to placate her.
Letter no. 9 9 1/4"h x 7"w folded once October 14, 1860
Letter no. 9 Transcript All was well between Buckler and Victoria and he teased her a little.
Letter no. 10 9"h x 7"w folded once to be 4 pages December 16, 1860
Letter no. 10 Transcript Buckler was quite sick with something that sounded like a bad flu. Venue for marriage was mentioned for the first time.
Letter no. 11 9"h x 7"w single sheet December 25, 1860
Letter no. 11 Transcript Even though it was Christmas, Buckler was miserable in mind and body.
Letter no. 12 9 3/4"h x 7 3/4"w with just a couple of sentences on the back January 20, 1861
Letter no. 12 Transcript Buckler had not had a letter from Victoria in a long time and he was not happy about it.
Letter no. 13 This is a very bad photocopy that includes the envelope 10"h x 7 5/8"w 2 pages with 3 used February 17, 1861
Letter no. 13 Transcript Once again, someone spread rumors about Lafayette's being unfaithful to Victoria. He came to Baltimore to marry her, but she was not there.
Letter no. 14 9 3/8"h x 7 3/8"w blue paper with lines folded once for 4 panels February 21, 1861
Letter no. 14 Transcript Miss Victoria was ready to get married, so Buckler asked her to pick the day and sent her $10 to get the marriage license for Pennsylvania
Letter no. 15 Another very bad photocopy of 2 sheets 10 3/4"h x 10 1/4"w Victoria wrote to Lafayette from Baltimore July 7, 1862
Letter no. 15 Transcript It was very hot in Baltimore, but mostly she missed her husband.
Letter no. 16 7 7/8"h x 9 3/4"w folded once into 4 panels September 8, 1864
Letter no. 16 Transcript Lafayette wrote letters Victoria did not receive. He gave directions for returning home and what to buy for his store, the first time it is mentioned.
Letter no. 17 7 7/8"h x 9 7/8"w folded once into 4 panels September 9, 1864
Letter no. 17 Transcript Lafayette sent directions again for travel and for store purchases. He mentions receiving quinine from someone.
Letter no. 18 9 3/4"h x 7 1/2"w folded once into 4 pages No date
Letter no. 18 Transcript The weather had been stormy; steamers had been damaged, and Forrest Wharf was destroyed. Soldiers had been in the area to supervise the national election. This is the only mention of the war.
Letter no. 19 9 5/8"h x 7 5/8"w folded once into 4 panels of which 3 were used. May 25, 1865
Letter no. 19 Transcript Victoria had gone to Pennsylvania and he did not expect her back until August. She was pregnant. Buckler talked about the farm and the store.
Letter no. 20 9 3/4"h x 7 5/8"w folded once into 4 panels, of which 3 were used. June 2, 1865
Letter no. 20 Transcript Buckler sent a long list of things to buy for the store
Letter no. 21 9 5/8"h x 7 5/8"w single sheet with faint blue lines June 2, 1865
Letter no. 21 Transcript Buckler sent an evening letter with more money and directions about what to buy. Lafayette bought another farm.
Letter no. 22 7 1/2"h x 4 3/8"w folded once to make 4 small panels, of which three were used. The ink bled badly, making it difficult to read the letter August 13, 1865
Letter no. 22 Transcript Buckler refers to Victoria as his little plump wife, so she is pregnant.
Letter no. 23 7 7/8"h x 9 5/8"w folded once into 4 small panels December 3, 1865
Letter no. 23 Transcript Buckler wanted to get his wife and baby home, but could not leave yet because of all the farm chores.
Letter no. 24 11 3/8"h x 7 1/4"w single sheet August 17, 1865
Letter no. 24 Transcript Buckler talked a lot about a camp meeting
Letter no. 25 9 5/8"h x 7 5/8"w single sheet with unfortunate ink bleed through August 20, 1866
Letter no. 25 Transcript Wherever she was, Victoria had been sick. Buckler wrote about a camp meeting and drought.
Letter no. 26 9 5/8"h x 7 5/8"w single sheet with unfortunate ink bleed through August 21, 1866
Letter no. 26 Transcript Buckler offered an opinion about going to cooler places to feel better.
Letter no. 27 7 3/4"h x 9 3/4"w folded once to make 4 small panels Another letter from Victoria to Lafayette. July 11, 1868
Letter no. 27 Transcript It was hot and unpleasant in Baltimore.
Letter no. 28 9 3/4"h x 7 7/8"w folded once to make 4 pages November 22, 1868
Letter no. 28 Transcript No real news. Money was very scarce.
Letter no. 29 9 7/8"h x 7 3/4"w folded once to be 4 pages. It was in pencil and very faint. August 25, 1869
Letter no. 29 Transcript Blanche Morgan died, so Buckler mused about life and eternity. He referred to Victoria as his "big wife," which meant she was pregnant again.
Letter no. 30 9 1/2"h x 7 5/8"w for one page and 13 1/2"h x 7 5/8"w for another page August 28, 1969
Letter no. 30 Transcript Buckler complained of drought. He acted as if Victoria were expecting twins this time.
Letter no. 31 9 7/8"h x 7 3/4"w folded once to make 4 panels, of which 3 were used August 29, 1869
Letter no. 31 Transcript Buckler complained again of drought and said he could not come for the birth of the baby or babies.
Letter no. 32 9 3/4"h x 7 5/8"w Single sheet September 1, 1869
Letter no. 32 Transcript Buckler was very worried about his crops.
Letter no. 33 9 7/8"h x 7 3/4"w folded once to make 4 panels September 5, 1869
Letter no. 33 Transcript Buckler was discouraged and lonely and worried about his wife.
Letter no. 34 9 7/8"h x 7 3/4"w single sheet September 8, 1869
Letter no. 34 Transcript The baby was born and proved to be a girl; Buckler had hoped for a boy.
Letter no. 35 7 3/4"h x 4 7/8"w single sheet September 9, 1869
Letter no. 35 Transcript Buckler sent a shopping list for the store, as if Victoria could do any shopping
Letter no. 36 10 1/4"h x 7 1/2"w single sheet December 18, 1872
Letter no. 36 Transcript Victoria was pregnant again. Buckler was sending meat for the family.
Letter no. 37 10 7/8"h x 7 3/8"w single sheet January 11, 1873
Letter no. 37 Transcript Victoria had a baby or maybe two; it was a difficult labor. The weather had been bad.
Letter no. 38 11"h x 7 1/4"w single sheet January 24, 1873
Letter no. 38 Transcript This letter talks about twin boys, but Buckler said Victoria could name them.
Letter no. 39 10 3/4"h x 7 3/8"w single sheet February 14, 1873
Letter no. 39 Transcript Victoria was lobbying to come home, so Buckler said he would come the next Tuesday.
Letter no. 40 7"h x 4 3/8"w in pencil December 19, 1873
Letter no. 40 Transcript This time Victoria was in Laurel Grove and Buckler was in Baltimore and Washington.
Letter no. 41 9 5/6"h x 7 3/4"w single sheet October 27, 1875
Letter no. 41 Transcript Victoria was to visit Washington and Baltimore. Buckler needed rain for his wheat.
Letter no. 42 8 3/8"h x 5 1/2"w Mansion House stationery March 6, 1884
Letter no. 42 Transcript Buckler refers to Victoria as his "big wife," so she was pregnant again. He complained that he fell on the snow and ice in Baltimore.
P. 19 March 14, 1880? Pages 1 & 2 of a letter from Virginia Buckler to Uncle Edward about the illness and death of George Buckler
P. 20 Pages 3 & 4 of the same letter Typhoid in the house
P. 21 Pages 5 & 6 of the letter
P. 22 Pages 7 & 8 of the letter
P. 23 Pages 9 & 10 of the letter
P. 24 Pages 11 & 12 of the letter
P. 25 Pages 13 & 14 of the letter
P. 26 Page 15 of the letter
P. 27 McGinley genealogical chart. The dates of the Buckler children in the letters do not match this chart.
P. 28 Printed copy of a contract between Benjamin Buckler and George Washington
P. 29 Note from Uncle Phil to Lafe declining to visit George Buckler in his final illness. He preferred to remember the elder Buckler as hale and hearty.Collection
Buckler Family CollectionArchive Items Details
Date(s) of Creation
1859 - 1958Location
Container
Buckler Family Collection, Box 3Shelf
Rack 12, Shelf 1Rack
Rack 12Wall
East wallRoom
Archives 1Building
Tudor HallRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Buckler, BenjaminPerson or Organization
Buckler, George L.2Person or Organization
Buckler, George W. L.Person or Organization
Buckler, Victoria McGinleyPerson or Organization
Buckler, Zach S.Person or Organization
McGinley, SusanPerson or Organization
McGinley, VictoriaPerson or Organization
Murphy, Jeanne PaynePerson or Organization
Payne, Bessie Bowen BucklerPerson or Organization
Washington, George (1732-1799)