Episode 23: The Making of the First Lady — Harriet Lane

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail!America's most forgotten First Lady was Harriet Lane. The niece of President James Buchanan, she joined him on a diplomatic mission to the Court of St. James where she met Queen Victoria. Her charm, grace, and sensibility made her popular in both England and America alike. In March 1857, Harriet moved into the Executive Mansion of the United States alongside her uncle. She hosted dazzling receptions, entertained dignitaries, and won the admiration of all politicians and the public alike. Newspapers declared her "America's First Lady", calling her the most popular hostess since the days of Martha Washington. This princess of the Republic endured incredible tragedy in her life yet dedicated her later life to helping others. Because of her generosity, the National Gallery of Art and Harriet Lane Clinic at Johns Hopkins University exist.Come along with us as we explore Harriet's fashion taste, social calendar, and philanthropy through history and astrology for our 1 year anniversary episode!! Articles:“Harriet Lane: American Princess” by Sarah Fling (https://www.whitehousehistory.org/harriet-lane) “Harriet Lane, First Lady: Hostess Extraordinary in Difficult Times” by Homer T. Rosenberg (https://www.jstor.org/stable/40067251?seq=1) “Harriet Lane Johnston and the Formation of a National Gallery of Art” by Homer T. Rosenberg (https://www.jstor.org/stable/40067721?seq=1) "The Long Blue Line: Harriet Lane—first lady of the Coast Guard and the U.S.!" by William H. Thiesen (https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/2960475/the-long-blue-line-harriet-lanefirst-lady-of-the-coast-guard-and-the-us/)“A Marriage in High Life” by Stephanie Celiberti (https://www.lancasterhistory.org/winter-wedding-at-wheatland/) "The remarkable Harriet Lane" by Colin K. L. Phoon (https://hekint.org/2021/09/17/the-remarkable-harriet-lane/)Books:Harriet Lane: America's First Lady by Milton Stern Digital Media:"Episode 27 | Tea with President James Buchanan and First Lady Harriet Lane: The Remarkable Life of a Bachelor President's Niece" (https://www.rosenbach.org/podcast/episode-27) Primary Sources:  Letter from Harriet Lane to Lily Macalester, September 13, 1857 (https://archives.dickinson.edu/document-descriptions/letter-harriet-lane-lily-macalester-0) Ten years in Washington: Life and scenes in the National Capital, as a woman sees them by Mary Clemmer “White House Wives: The Place They Have Occupied in the History of the Nation. Women of Force and Some of Them of Heroic Lives” in Philadelphia Times, August 21, 1887 Websites:"Booking It Through History: First Ladies — Harriet Lane" (https://thehistorymom.com/2024/03/20/booking-it-through-history-first-ladies-harriet-lane/)“Harriet Lane” (https://www.whitehousehistory.org/harriet-lane) "Harriet Lane Clinic" (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns-hopkins-childrens-center/what-we-treat/specialties/general-pediatrics/harriet-lane-clinic) “Harriet Rebecca Lane Johnston” (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6460751/harriet_rebecca-johnston)“Lecompton Constitution Senate Speeches” (https://ozarkscivilwar.org/archives/1426) Support Us!Patreon: patreon.com/MakingMythPodcastKofi: https://ko-fi.com/makingmythpodcast