NEWS AND COMMENT

BY HARRY E. WHIPKEY Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

On January 26, 1970, at 1:30 A.M. in Harrisburg Hospital, Airs. Gregory Gibson, known to the readers of "News and Com- inent" as Gail M. Gibson, introduced Mr. Geoffrey Glenn Gibson as a 7 lb. 1 ounce future historian.

HISTORICAL SOCIETIES "The Influence of Geological Features on the Campaign and Battle -of Gettysburg" was the topic treated by Dr. Arthur Socolow, Geologist of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Frederick Tilberg at the December 2 meeting of the Adams County Historical Society. At the dictation of the weather, a January "recognition night" meeting and a February talk by Ralph J. Hoffacker on "Early Banking in Adams County" had to be cancelled.

A lecture on "Allegheny Valley, the Indian Period" was pre- sented to the members of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society on February 25 by Robert I. Lucas. On March 25, Lucas discussed "Kiskiminietas Valley, the Indian Period." Daniel Lardin is scheduled to speak on "The Pennsylvania Canal in WNIestern Pennsylvania" at the Jefferson Day Dinner on April 15. A program entitled "Antique Buttons" is planned for May 27.

On January 25, members of the American Catholic Historical Society -of Philadelphia heard Paul Jones lecture on "The Irish Brigade in the Civil War," the subject of his book by the same ame.

Included in the final lecture program of Berks County Historical Society's centennial year on December 7 was the awarding of two appreciation citations. The Reading Eagle Company, publisher of the Reading Times, Reading Eagle, and Sunday Eagle, was cited for its service in reporting the history of Berks County for

169 170 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY more than a century and for its efforts to preserve the heritage of the county. Dr. John E. German, the society's director, re- ceived a citation for rendering outstanding service to the or- ganization.

At their meeting on January 24, members of the Berwick His- torical Society elected the following officers: Dr. C. A. Newton, president; Dr. Hobart Heller, first vice-president; Ben E. Crispin, second vice-president; Mrs. Edna Powell, secretary; William 0. Crispin, treasurer; and J. J. Welliver, curator. Dr. James R. Sperry and Dr. Newton discussed the "Jaimison City Boom" in a luncheon talk.

In action taken on November 25, the board of managers of the Blair County Historical Society voted to make a gift to the Lancaster County Historical Society of an 1880 picture of a Lancaster volunteer fire company.

Terry A. McNealy, who is completing his graduate work in Library Science at Drexel Institute of Technology, has 'been designated library trainee for the Bucks County Historical Society. McNealy is writing "A History of Bucks County to the End of the Revolutionary War," to be published by the Bucks County Historical-Tourist Commission. During January and February, Rider College students, engaged in inter-session studies for which they received three academic credits, gained practical experience and provided a valuable -service by cataloguing and preserving the artifacts of the Marine Collection. A field trip to the Salem His- torical Society and the Hancock House will take place on April 22.

An information sheet relating to Cambria County Historical Society's 'historical writing contest was issued on February 1. Thle purpose of the contest is to interest public and parochial senior high school students and college students in writing original papers about the noted persons or the important objects and events 'of the county's history. The winning papers in the two divisions, high school and college, will be read by the authors at the annual meeting in May. Mrs. Orange L. Mulhollen has been named curator. She -succeeds Miss Edna Lehman, who resigned in December after serving eighteen years. NEWS AND COMMENT 171

Bart Anderson, director of the Chester County Historical So- ciety for the past thirty-two years, submitted his resignation, for reasons of health, at the monthly meeting of the board of man- agers on November 4. Travis Coxe was named to succeed Ander- son, who will continue as assistant director. Meeting with the History Department of West Chester State College on March 17, members heard Donald Crownover, a graduate student at the college, read a paper on "The Stoves of Hopewell Furnace." Mrs. Ada Griffiths, a senior history major, presented a paper entitled "Eagle Forgotten-The N.R.A. in West Chester."

Mrs. Elbert R. Moses, Jr., of Clarion, explained "Pittsburgh's Part in the Oregon Trail" at the February 10 meeting of the Clarion County Historical Society.

Dr. Paul S. Schantz, president of the Historical Society of Cocalico Valley, recently explained that a program of awarding citations has been initiated in the hope of creating "a greater appreciation of the valley's rich architectural and cultural heritage." The society intends to stimulate preservation of historic sites regardless of whether or not the property is opened to the public. Recipients of the initial award are Mr. and Mrs. Morton Fry, who have restored their old (1764) Ephrata area farmhouse in a way that preserves "a historic landmark in accordance with the traditions of the original building."

The annual dinner meeting of the Columbia County Historical Society on January 10 was highlighted 'by the signing of a contract under which the large collection ;of items owned by the society wXill in the future be displayed in a museum in the Bakeless Building of Bloomsburg State College. The meeting also featured an address by Dr. Eugene C. Bertin, president of the Muncy Historical Society. Bertin's topic was "Life in the Early Amer- ican Village."

Philadelphia sculptor S. Joseph Winter has been commissioned bN the Conshohocken Historical Society to design a marker to commemorate General Lafayette's escape from the British at Barren Hill on May 20, 1778. Permanent copies of the design 172 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY are to be erected along the route taken by Lafayette and his cony mand, from Barren Hill to West Conshohocken. The markers are to be dedicated and Lafayette's exploit commemorated on May 24. The Plymouth Meeting Historical Society will take part in the ceremonies.

A lecture on "David Mead" was presented by Ken P. Williams, managing editor of the Meadville Tribune, at the November 20 meeting of the Crawford County Historical Society. The dis- course was the first of a series on "Our Pioneer Leaders." On January 28, Dr. Wayne Merrick, professor of political science at Allegheny College, discussed "Harm Jan Huidekoper, agent for the Holland Land Company."

At a meeting on January 15, members of the Cumberland Count)- Historical Society heard Dr. Benjamin Nispel, of Shippensburg State College, talk on "Thomas Cresap and the Conejacular War." C. Richard Stover, a Carlisle banker, presented a paper on "Local Fractional Currency: Its History and Purpose" at the February 12 meeting. On March 19, Mrs. Martha C. Slotten explained "The McClintock Slave Riot of 1847."

The Historical Society of Dauphin County met on November 17 to hear Dr. Morton Glise, minister of the Paxton Presby- terian Church, speak about "The Presbyterian Elder and Lawv and Order." In December, Dr. David H. Porter, Superintendent of the Harrisburg School District, arranged a program with guest speakers from the American Field Service. On January 19, Edwin Floyd, Jr., made use of the collection of Warren Harder, who was a writer, historian, and photographer in Harrisburg, to show slides of the Pennsylvania Canal.

The Delaware County Historical Society announces that workc on the indexing of the Chester F. Baker Historical Note Books is progressing. Some 30,000 index cards have been typed. Mein- bers would like to see something done to improve the condition of the site where William Penn landed in the city of Chester.

The sixth Open House Tour sponsored by Historic Delaware County, Inc., will take place on Saturday, May 9, from 10 to 5. The areas to be covered will be Aston and Concord Townships. NEWS AND COMMENT 173

The price is $3.50. It is expected that most of the proceeds will he used for the restoration of the 1785 country home of Thomas Leiper, a Scottish patriot of the American Revolution.

The first eight-page issue of Elk Horn, official publication of the Elk County Historical Society, went to press in the middle of February. Former issues have consisted of four pages each. The paper, edited by Miss Alice L. Wessman, is widely read throughout the county, as well as in a number of states outside of Pennsylvania, and in several foreign countries.

The Ephrata Cloister Associates report that twelve letters from the Sisters ABC Book of Letters have been retouched and printed by professionals and are available for purchase. The letters are: H, K, L, M, N, O, Q, R, T, U, W, Y. Appropriate for framing they are done in a rich brown ink on ivory card stock and are faithful reproductions of the ornate-bordered hand-drawn letters. Cost for letter is $1.75. Approval has been given for the re- touching and printing of the remaining letters.

The annual meeting of the Erie County Historical Society was held on February 11 in the recently restored "Cashier's House." This structure, along with the "Old Customs House," is now a state property and will eventually be furnished as a state his- torical museum. Featured on the program were Robert Taft, Who outlined the history of the early banks for which the "Cashier's House" and the "Old Custom House" were erected, and Herbert Heidt, who described the architectural aspects of the two buildings.

Members of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania heard Dr. Don Yoder, of the Department of Religious Thought at the University of Pennsylvania, discuss "Problems in Pennsylvania German Genealogy" at the January 27 meeting. A tour-lecture on "How and Where to Find Our Collections" was presented by Frank W. Bobb, librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania, and Dr. Dorothee Hughes Carousso, chairman of the G.S.p. Library Catalog Committee, on February 24. The annual "meeting *on March 24 featured an address by Dr. Walter Muir WVhitehall, director of the Boston Atheneum, on "How a His- 174 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY torian Discovered Genealogy." On April 28, F. James Dallet, F.G.S.P., is scheduled to explain "Iconographic Sources for Genealogists."

On February 19, the Germantown Historical Society heard Donald F. Road lecture on "Witchcraft." "The Role of Alcoholic Beverages in Colonial Times" was the subject of Charles A. Brower's talk on March 19.

Edward F. LaFond, Jr., -from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Keeper of the Pennsylvania Register of Historic Sites, was the speaker at the January 15 meeting of the Goschenhoppen Historians. The Historians, hoping to preserve the Skippack Valley for future generations, heard LaFond discuss the Pennsylvania Register and the National Register. On Feb- ruary 19, Charles H. Price, of Telford, lectured on the "History of the Indian Creek Area."

At a meeting on January 22, the Harmonie Associates of Old Economy elected Mrs. Charles Andrews, president; Donald Coan, vice-president; John Bauder, second vice-president; Mrs. Steele Roberts, secretary; and Karl Urda, treasurer. In conjunction with Old Economy, the Associates, in February, sponsored "Adventures in Wool," a special programn for second grade 'students. The complete process of making woolen cloth by hand methods was shown. In March, specially selected fifth and sixth grade students took part in a "Live-In," actually living at the museum. The annual dinner on March 26 featured an address entitled "What Is It About History?" by Arthur P. Ziegler, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. In April, the Fourth Frederick Rapp Lecture will be held with Jack Strassler discussing antique glass. A spinning class, an advanced weaving class, and a needlecraft class are planned for the spring.

The Haverford Township Historical Society met on February 26 to hear E. Neilson Brown deliver an illustrated lecture on "4,000 Years of Glass." An exhibit of photographs, paintings, and maps was prepared for February showing in the Free Library of Haverford Township. Scheduled for April 23, the annual meeting will feature the election of officers and directors. NEWS AND COMMENT 175

The Bell Telephone Company provided its full-time woman lecturer, Mrs. Jean Wrote, and a supplemental series of color slides entitled "Song of the Allegheny" at the January 27 meeting of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

The Lackawanna Historical Society heard Reverend Garford F. Williams discuss "Early Settlements in Susquehanna County" at a meeting held on November 11. "A History of the Diocese of Scranton" was the subject of Father John P. Gallagher's talk on December 11. At the January 15 meeting, Dr. John Feller lectured on "The History of Photography through the Daguerreotype Period in the 19th Century."

An illustrated talk entitled "The Story of a Country News- paper" by Frank Naddeo highlighted the February meeting of the Lancaster County Community Historians. Scheduled for April is an illustrated account on "Last Summer's Field Trips." Field trips are planned to Lancaster's "inner city and around" in May, the borough and township of Strasburg in June, Bowmansville and Boerknock in July, and northern Mt. Joy township in September.

On January 13, members of the Lancaster County Historical Society heard James Kinter speak on "History As It Was Never Written." "Pennsylvania Folk Art" was the topic of an illustrated lecture delivered by Richard Flanders Smith on February 10. The March 10 meeting featured a talk on the "History of Egg Decorations" by William D. Andes, Sr. A Women's Guild has been formed to assist in the changing of exhibits, to handle social functions, and to create interest in the society's welfare. Groups of Junior Historians from the high schools in the county are invited in each Saturday to work with members.

The Lancaster Mennonite Conference Historical Society plans to hold its annual meeting at Krall Meetinghouse in Lebanon County on June 27-28. The Hans Herr House, erected in 1719, is being purchased to serve as a shrine and museum piece. Covering the period 1960-1969, the Mennonite Research Journal, with index, is bound and available. The price, including postage, is $21.36. The quarterlies making up the bound volume are devoted to gen- 176 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY eral history, church history, book reviews, genealogy, cemetery records, and "What have you."

The 11th Annual Christmas at Landis Valley was observed by the Landis Valley Associates on December 16. Attired in mid- 19th century costumes, members of the Lancaster Opera Work- shop, under the direction of Robert Snyder, led the "community sing" of traditional Christmas carols. Featured also was the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir, conducted by John Keehn. A brief Christmas message was offered by Reverend William Matz of the Moravian Church of Lititz.

At the January 26 meeting of the Lebanon County Historical Society, the following officers were elected: Donald S. Harpel, president; Charles C. Russell, Jr., vice-president; Dean Aungst, second vice-president; Ray S. Bowman, secretary-curator; Miss Agnes Haak, assistant secretary; Miss Olive Kreider, treasurer; Gerald Collins, librarian; Mrs. Robert Clarke, genealogist; Jean High, trustee; and Mrs. Harold Mohn and Michael Schropp, ex- ecutive committee. The program of the evening featured an illustrated talk by William H. Shank on "Indian Trails to Super- highways." A weekly featured illustrated column entitled "Lebanon County Antiques: A History of the County As Seen Through Its Artifacts" appears in the Lebanon Daily News. Written by Michael Schropp, the column brings much of the society's work to the attention of the public.

The Lehigh County Historical Society held its January dinner meeting on the 28th. Almost two hundred members and guests heard an illustrated lecture entitled "Spatterware" by Dr. Robert L. Schaeffer, Jr., professor of biology at Muhlenberg College. Scott A. Trexler, Lee A. Walck, and Melville J. Boyer have taken the initiative in inventorying the thousands of vouchers and invoices found in the attic of the old Lehigh County Courthouse. These records, dating from 1813 to 1845, pertain to -such matters as the construction and repair of bridges, the laying out of new roads, the payment of teachers, and the building of the first county courthouse and the first county jail. It is expected that the findings will eventually be published. NEWS AND COMMENT 177

The Lower Merion Historical Society celebrated Washington's Birthday by having a party at the home of the president, Mrs. William A. Clementson.

A program on "Identifying Antiques" was presented by Chuck and Rich Roan at the February 19 meeting of the Lycoming County Historical Society. The meeting on March 19 featured a lecture by Paul G. Gilmore on "Highlights of Local History." John W. Strawbridge, III, will give a program on "Wildlife in Lycoming County: A Natural History" at the annual member- ship meeting on April 16.

The Marple-Newtown Historical Society, Inc., has completed the restoration of the Bartram covered bridge.

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commemorated in a two-way celebration the 348th anniversary of the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving. The celebration began with the annual meeting and Pilgrim Dinner at the Over- brook Golf Club on November 21. A presentation entitled "The Courtship of Myles Standish," with apologies to Longfellow, was featured. Charles B. Barclay, Governor of the Society, presided at the meeting. On Sunday, November 23, Dr. E. Bradford Davis was chairman of the service held at Gloria Dei (Old Swede's) Church. Preceding the service, a pageant called "The Fruits of the Field" was presented.

The birthplace and boyhood home of Major General Frank Ross McCoy (1874-1954), 17 North Main Street, Lewistown, is soon to be the home of the library and museum of the Mifflin County Historical Society. The property, owned by the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, is presently being restored by the Penn- sylvania Historical and Museum Commission. John Milner, noted restoration architect, has been retained for the project. When completed the home will contain a number of rooms restored with McCoy family furniture, while other portions of the large building will be equipped to display the society's Frank R. McCoy Me- morial Collection of memorabilia, including pictures, decorations and citations of McCoy's career as soldier and statesman. It is 178 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY anticipated that within a year restoration will be completed and the transition of the library, museum, and Memorial Collection realized. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will open the home as one of the shrines on its "Trail of History."

At a Novemi-ber meeting of the Historical Society of Mont- gomery County, G. Edwin Brumbaugh, noted architect from Gwynedd Valley, explained how the use of photographs could make possible the reconstruction of a grist mill at Spring Mill. Erected in 1690, the mill was destroyed by fire in 1967. Bruin- baugh, who has helped to restore more than 100 buildings, re- ported that he was able to reconstruct Washington's headquarters at Brandywine through photographs. The 89th anniversary of the founding of the society was celebrated at the annual meeting on February 21. The speaker of the day, a member and a Norris- town dentist, was Dr. Kenneth E. Neiman, who -summarized his recently completed "History of Dentistry in Montgomery County." The full text of Neiman's work will be published in a future issue of the society's Bulletin.

The Montour County Historical Society announces the publica- tion of (1) History of Montour County 'by Fred W. Diehl and (2) My Danville or Where the Bright Waters Meet by Arthur Toye Foulke.

The Muncy Historical Society has fallen heir to a collection of some fifty volumes from the library of one of Muncy's earliest and most eminent citizens, the Honorable William Cox Ellis (1787-1871). The collection was a gift from Ellis' great-great- great-granddaughter, Elizabeth L. Haag of Phoenix, Arizona.

At the November meeting of the New Brighton Historical So- ciety, J. Raymond Warren discussed Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler, "the Bird's Eye Artist."

Having found the sale of used books financially successful, the New Hope Historical Society is planning to use the basement of the Parry Mansion as a permanent salesroom. The renovation of this interesting old-time cellar will be accomplished this summer. The society nets over $3,000 a year on the sale of used books. NEWS AND COMMENT 179

On March 19, members of the Newville Historical Society heard Wilbur J. Gobrecht discuss "Jim Thorpe-Carlisle School Indian." "Vanderbilt's Folly" will be the subject of a talk by William H. Shank on May 21.

An illustrated lecture by James Lee entitled "History of the Morris Canal" was featured at the annual meeting of the North- ampton County Historical and Genealogical Society on January 21.

The Octorara Area Historical Society has reelected the officers who organized the association in 1968. The officers are: Maris W. Mullen, president; Hugh Douglass, vice-president; Mrs. Harry Hery, secretary; LaVerne Retter, treasurer; Mrs. Alvin Mast, publication secretary; Miss Mary Reid, Walter R. Miller and Norman Fidds, directors. At a February meeting, LaVerne Retter presented a paper entitled "Andrew Jackson Melcher. The marker committee is planning to erect its first marker in the spring. It will be placed at the birthplace of George Morris Philips in Atglen.

The annual meeting of the Pennsylvania German Society will be held at Juniata College in May.

The Pennsylvania Historical Junto's first meeting in 1970 was held in the Conference Room in the National Archives on Jan- uary 16. The speaker, Milton Rubincam, lectured on "When Con- necticut, Maryland and Virginia Claimed Pennsylvania." A found- ing member and a past president of the Junto, Rubincam, now serving as Chairman of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, has also been president of the National Genealogical Society and president of the American Society of Genealogists. On February 20, Paul J. Wessthaeffer, an expert on Pennsylvania's railroad history, spoke on "Thomas A. Scott: A Brief Biography."

At a meeting of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania on January 9, Charles F. Hummel, curator of the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, gave an illustrated talk on "Floor Coverings Used in America Before 1850." The society is to re- ceive $50,000 from the Ford Foundation to catalogue its untapped 180 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY sources, both manuscript and printed, of Afro-American material. The project will take three years to accomplish and will require the services of a special staff recruited for the purpose. At a January auction of duplicate books at Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., $2,500 was realized by the society for Allen Ramsay's The Geuinle Principles of the Ancient Saxon or English Constitution (Phila- delphia, 1776). A copy of this work, which contains the first printing of the Declaration of Independence in book form, sold in Philadelphia for $110.00 in 1956.

The Polish Historical Commission of the Central Council of Polish Organizations of Pittsburgh is compiling historical data pertaining to Polish immigrants who settled in Erie and adjoining counties. The Commission is particularly interested in Polish fraternals and civic organizations in the city of Erie. Anyone having brochures or programs pertaining to any Polish organiza- tions is asked to forward them on a loan basis to Joseph A. Borkowski, Chairman of the Central Council of Polish Organiza- tions, 4291 Stanton Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201.

A review by Robert Currin of E. N. Woodcock's Fifty Years a Hunter and Trapper was featured at the annual meeting of the Potter County Historical Society on January 30.

What has been called "one of the finest antique automobile collections in the world" was viewed by the members of the Potts- town Historical Society at the meeting held in the Pollock Museum on January 26. The display of more than forty cars, in- cluding the only two Chadwicks of the original ones made ill Pottstown, was described by William Pollock.

The Reverend Frederick M. Schalow has been named Records Researcher of the Presbyterian Historical Society. He succeeds Milton Kenin, who resigned. Schalow will be responsible for ar- ranging the archives and coordinating the records management program. A former missionary and educator in China, he recently completed requirements for the M.S.L.S. at Drexel University.

At a dinner meeting on February 24, members of the Quaker- town Historical Society viewed the movie "Washington Cross- NEWS AND COMMENT 181 ing the Delaware." Plans for the spring and early summer include a bus trip to New Castle, Delaware, and the presentation of the Annual Arts Festival.

The annual meeting of the Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was held on March 7 at the Union League in Philadelphia. John F. Harbeson, former Asso- ciate Professor in Design and Chairman of the School of Archi- tecture at the University of Pennsylvania, discussed the Octagon House. This historic structure, located in Washington, D. C., served as the temporary residence of President Madison and was the place where the Treaty of Ghent was signed. The Biennial Convention of the General Society of the War of 1812 will be held in Philadelphia on September 24-27, with headquarters at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel.

The Susquehanna County Historical Society has completed plans for a reprint of Blackman-History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The introduction will be brought up to date with a picture and a more complete biographical sketch of Miss Black- man. A foreword, acknowledgments, and a completely new name index for forty-two pages will be added. The index has been compiled by Mrs. Herbert Brewster.

The Historical Society of Trappe has scheduled its first semi- annual dinner meeting for June 14.

On December 6, the Valley Forge Historical Society heard Orrin W. June tell about Anthony Wayne's urging of General Washington to make his encampment at Valley Forge. June now owns and 'has restored Wayne's ancestral home, "Waynesborough," where correspondence between Washington and Wayne has been discovered. Color slides of the "Waynesborough" restoration were presented.

A program-meeting of the Warren County Historical Society on January 28 was highlighted by Dr. William M. Cashman's illustrated talk on "One Hundred Years Ago in Warren." Mrs. Frances Ramsey recently presented a program on "Cornplanter" 182 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY before the Venango County Historical Society. She has also ad- dressed several local groups regarding the early history of North- western Pennsylvania and Warren County.

At the January meeting of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, the following members were elected to the board of trustees: Mrs. C. Stanton Belfour, Roy A. Junt, Jr., and James M. Walson. C. V. Starrett was elected president, and Cleveland D. Rea became vice-president. Meeting on February 4, members heard Robert C. Alberts, editor and author from Pitts- burgh, deliver an illustrated overview on his new book, The Golden Voyage, The Life and Times of William Bingham, 1752- I804. On March 4, Dr. Homer T. Rosenberger discussed "The Pennsylvania Germans in Western Pennsylvania."

The Western Pennsylvania Research and Historical Society has published a book entitled The Negro in the United States. Presented in paper-back form, the volume has been adopted by the Pittsburgh Board of Education for use in the libraries of its public schools. In cooperation with the Pittsburgh Board of Education, an essay contest with the theme "Contributions Made by Negro Americans to Their Country" has been concluded. Bernard Morris, executive director, has written an article for the Carnegie Magazine entitled "Avery College, A Symbol Worth Preserving." Members recently visited historical sites in and around Erie. A tour to Mt. Vernon, Virginia, and Washington, D. C., is being planned.

The results of recent archaeological activity at the site of his- toric Hannastown were presented and explained at the December 2 meeting -of the Westmoreland County Historical Society. On February 3, members took part in an "audience participation" program.

The new officers of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society are: Harry B. Schooley, Jr., president; Harrison H. Smith, vice-president; Mrs. Charles Frantz, vice-president; J. Campbell Collins, secretary; First National Bank of Wilkes- Barre, treasurer; Ralph L. Hazeltine, director; and Mrs. Catherine NEWS AND COMMENT 183

H. Bryan, assistant to the director. The 112th annual meeting was held on February 14. The featured speaker, Dr. Henry H. Glassie, III, Assistant Professor of History at the Capitol Campus of Pennsylvania State University, lectured on "Folklore and the Present Day." On March 12, Theodore Sewall Abbot, formerly with the Department of Languages at Wyoming Seminary, dis- cussed "Joseph Priestley-Rebel and Man of Science." Luke A. Sarsfield is scheduled to talk on "Matthias Hollenback-Frontier Entrepreneur" on April 16. Sarsfield, a graduate student at New York University, made use of the society's collection of Hollen- hack papers in preparing his master's thesis. It is expected that Volume IX of the Susquehanna Company Papers will be pub- lished in May.

Information relating to the second society-sponsored European tour, scheduled for September 26 to October 12, was given at the January 20 meeting of the Historical Society of York County. Color films of the five countries to be visited were presented. Destinations will include Vienna and Salzburg, Austria; Lucerne, Switzerland; Stras'burg, France; The Rhine River Valley of Ger- many; and Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Holland. On January 27, Arthur Hecht, archivist with the National Archives and Records Service, explained "York County Postal History in the National Archives." The annual "Fastnaclht" party, sponsored by the Women's Auxiliary, was held on February 10. A production by Colonial Williamsburg entitled "Time to Begin" was one of four films comprising the February 17 program. On Marth 12, Brother C. Edward, Associate Professor of Biology at Manhattan College, lectured on "The Middle States Signers of the Declaration of Independence." A valuable ledger, concerning trade goods issued by agents of the Penn family in 1784 and 1785 to Delaware and Wyandot Indians and other tribes of the Six Nations, has recently been contributed to the society by Edward Holloway of R. D. 2, New Freedom.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION The Beaver County Commissioners have given firm evidence of their concern for historic preservation by formally naming Mrs. Gladys L. Hoover, of Beaver, as County Coordinator of His- 184 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY torical Research. Mrs. Hoover, who also serves on the Advisory Board of the Beaver Campus of the Pennsylvania State Univer. sity, is to have the assistance of adequate staff personnel. Historic Bethlehem, Inc., announced on December 10 that it has awarded a $167,000 contract for restoration of the city's 208-year-old tannery. Restoration, made possible by a Preserva- tion Fund drive held in the spring of 1969, will cover both the exterior and interior of the building in the Monocacy Creek in- dustrial complex. Architect John Milner, of Media, is the director of the project. Milner is also supervising the restoration of the Goundie House, the 1810 dwelling on Bethlehem's Main Street. The City Council of Reading has been requested by the His- toric Preservation Trust of Berks County to enact historic zoning legislation to protect five adjoining buildings located on the west side of South Fifth Street. One of the structures, apparently erected prior to 1764, is perhaps the oldest house still standing in the city. Appraisals on properties in the Mount Etna Furnace historical complex were sent to the state in Decemnber. This action was taken by the Blair County Commissioners and the Pennsyl- vania Historical and Museum Commission in the expectation that the original Etna plantation will be purchased and restored under Project 70. A vote in support of this plan was given by the board of managers of the Blair County Historical Society at a meeting held on November 25. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 'has completed restoration of the stone farmhouse in which Robert Fulton was born in 1765. After months of research and archeo- logical investigation by the Commission's Bureau of Historical Sites and Properties and at a total cost of about $130,000, the birthplace, located 22 miles south of Lancaster and 7 miles south of Quarryville in Lancaster County, was restored to its 18th century appearance. The property is a Registered National His- toric Landmark. In November, the 177-year-old Fulton Opera House in Lan- caster officially became a Registered National Historic Landmark. This recognition is a result of the determined efforts of the Fulton NEWS AND COMMENT 185

Opera House Foundation, an organization of private citizens operating -on contributions from local individuals, industries, and associations. Firmly established in 1962, the Foundation purchased the old theatre in 1964 and has spent nearly $150,000 on restora- tion and maintenance. According to Dr. Murray H. Nelligan, of the National Park Service, the Opera House, still-as always- a "working" theatre, is "the finest surviving example of a small theatre used by professional performers in the late 19th century."

In cooperation with the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and the Department of the Interior's Historic American Engineering Record, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation is involved in a project to record the Point, Manchester, and Brady Street bridges before they are demolished. The Point Bridge, built about 1927, and the Manchester, of 1915 vintage, must be razed to allow the completion of Point State Park. The Brady Street span, con- structed about 1896, is to be replaced by a new bridge. With matching funds provided by the Historic American Engineering Record, the two Pittsburgh organizations have joined forces to photograph the bridges, produce measured drawings of them, compile their histories, and write physical descriptions of them. It is expected that the records of these landmark structures will be of considerable interest to historians and students of engineer- ing and architecture. The Historic American Engineering Record plans to publish this material in a book for national distribution.

In a report issued in December, Dr. S. K. Stevens, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, stated that the transfer of the manision house at Curtin from the Roland Curtin Foundation to the Commonwealth could be ex- pected in the spring of 1970. The Pennsylvania Historical and MIuseum Commission is proceeding with plans for the restoration of Curtin Village and is in the process of hiring an architect.

OF MEN AND MANY THINGS The Local Government Records Committee, authorized by the Municipal Records Act" of 1968, held its initial meeting in the Board Room of the William Penn Memorial Museum Building in 186 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

Harrisburg on January 29. The Honorable Joseph W. Barr, Jr., Secretary of Community Affairs, is chairman of the committee Dr. S. K. Stevens, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania His- torical and Museum Commission, is secretary. With the ati- thorized cooperation and assistance of the Pennsylvania His- torical and Museum Commission, the committee is empowered to and 'has the responsibility of establishing schedules for the re- tention and disposal of public records in cities of the third class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of the first and second 'class, and any municipal authority created by any of these municipalities. The Commission is presently 'sponsoring "a study 'of the kind and character of municipal public records." As a re- sult of this study and at the -direction and supervision of the committee, the Commission's Division of Archives and Manu- scripts (the State Archives) will formulate schedules for retention and disposal, which may or may not be accepted by municipal officials. While certainly not mandatory, these schedules will be aimed at assisting local authorities in overcoming their "paper problem," their "space problem," and their problem of properly identifying and safeguarding records which have or may become of historical value.

The objectives of (1) developing more effective records man- agement systems and (2) the preservation of valuable materials of the Local Government Records Committee are identical to those of the County Records Committee. Created by Act No. 407 of the General Assembly in 1963 and altered in structure and func- tion by legislative amendments in 1967 and 1968, the County Records Committee 'has the primary responsibility, with the cooperation and assistance of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, of developing a records retention and dis- position schedule for each county office in counties of the second A and third to eighth class. The Honorable Samuel J. Roberts, Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, is chairman of the committee. Dr. S. K. Stevens is secretary. Retention and disposition schedules, prepared by the Commission's Division of Archives and Manuscripts and accepted by the committee, have been issued for prothonotaries and clerks of courts. With the understanding that they "authorize and recommend and do not NEWS AND COMMENT 187 require," the schedules are gaining acceptance. At a meeting held on February 6, the committee discussed plans and priorities re- lating to the drafting of schedules to benefit county commissioners, county controllers or auditors, district attorneys, county trea- surers, sheriffs, registers of wills, and recorders of deeds. Cer- tainly those who are interested in the preservation of the valuable historical records of county government are to be benefited.

The 63rd meeting of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies will be held at the Holiday West Hotel in Harrisburg on May 9. The theme of the meeting will be historical society participation in the forthcoming bicentennial celebration of the American Revolution. A tour of the Zimmerman Antique Auto- mobile Museum is planned.

A Bicentennial Regional Conference was hosted by the Historic Foundation of Montgomery County on December 17. Representa- tives of ten counties in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware region were in attendance to discuss plans for participation in the observance of the nation's 200th birthday. Serving as the keynote speaker, Lt. Governor Raymond Broderick outlined the establishment and the policies of the State Commission for the Bicentennial, of which he is a member. The State Commission, Broderick made clear, would "cooperate with and assist the Phila- delphia 1976 Bicentennial Corporation in having Philadelphia designated as the focal point of the national celebration in 1976." According to the Lt. Governor, Philadelphia would serve as a "magnet" to attract visitors from all parts of the nation and the world to view the many places and items of historic interest which are evident throughout the Delaware Valley and the entire state.

A museum to house the 'collections of the Pennsylvania Canal Society is to be located at Easton. Clayton P. Yoder, of Nazareth, will be curator.

On January 17, William A. Hunter, Chief of the Division of History of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, addressed the annual luncheon meeting of the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His subject was "The Delaware Indians, Our Pioneer Settlers." 188 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's 14tli Institute of Pennsylvania Life and Culture will be conducted at the Pennsylvania Farm Museum from June 23 to 26. Eight in- formal but professional seminars, four practical workshops, and a variety of special social events are scheduled. The theme of the three day meeting is "Our Folk Culture Heritage: Material and Spiritual." The subjects of the seminars will be: "Folk Art in the Pennsylvania German Material Culture," "Experiments in Indian Culture," "Pennsylvania Antiques-1970 Edition," "Sec- tarian Cultures," "Pioneer Domestic Life," "Tools and Teclh- nology," "Farm Architecture," and "Powwowing-Past and Present." Workshops will be conducted in "Patchwork and Quilt- ing," "Theorem Painting on Velvet," "Techniques of Wood Turning," and "Working at the Forge." An all-inclusive registra- tion fee of $35.00 covers tuition, luncheons on all three days, dinners on June 24 and 25, and all special social activities and entertainment. It does not include accommodations. For brochure and additional information contact: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Institute, Box 1026, Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania 17108.

The Pennsylvania Federation of Junior Historians will hold its 28th Annual State Convention at Mt. Airy Lodge, in the heart of the Pocono Mountains on April 16, 17 and 18. James Deal, social studies teacher at Riverside High School in Ellwood City, will serve as chairman. The theme for the meeting is "Recreation- Youth Physical Fitness." Highlights will include the Third Comn- monwealtlh History Fair Reception, a "Mock Political Conven- tion Campaign Party," various seminars ranging from historical perspectives on physical fitness to a special session on antiques, and the concluding annual banquet. Some 700 high school students and advisers are expected to attend.

The American Association for State and Local History honored two Pennsylvanians and three Pennsylvania organizations when it announced the recipients of its 25th annual National Awards of Merit and Certificates of Commendation in December. The Pennsylvania Historical Association received an Award of Merit, conferred for "superior achievement and quality," for its "annual NEWS AND COMMENT 189

Research Conference, stimulating scholarly research and writing oln state and local history." Co-hosted by the Pennsylvania His- torical and Museum Commission, the Research Conference was initiated in 1967. Dr. Lawrence Henry Gipson, who celebrated ;is89th birthday in December, received an Award of Merit for "integrating local and regional history into a perspective of na- tional and imperial scope during a long lifetime of distinguished scholarship and publication." The January 1969 issue of PENN- SYLVANIA HISTORY was a "tribute" to Dr. Gipson. Lancaster television station, WGAL-TV, was singled out for a Certificate of Commendation for its "outstanding contributions to interest in state and local history in Central Pennsylvania, through volun- tary television coverage of historical activities and presentations of historical programs." The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation was granted a certificate for "utilizing the significant architecture of two urban areas as a means to renewing com- munities formerly in decay, by restoring buildings and civic pride and yet incurring minimal dislocation." Miss Elizabeth Nearhoof, of Tyrone, was commended for her comprehensive historic study Echoes Front Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania, and Surrounding Areas, a 417 page illustrated volume published by the author.

Located 10 miles east of Hazleton, in the anthracite coal region, the village of Eckley is now a state owned coal museum. The community was the principal location site during Paramount Picture Corporation's filming of "The Molly Maguires." The filhn Was premiered in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre on January 27. On this same date, Eckley was deeded to the state.

Meeting on January 12, members of the Union City Historical Museum Commission elected the following officers: Wilbur Arlet, president; Harold Maynard, vice-president; Kathy Babcock, sec- retary; Dick Steadman, treasurer; and Edward Sherred, museum Supervisor. The Commission is endeavoring to start a Union City historical Society.

The Historical Methods Newsletter is a quarterly publication Of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of History. Focusing "on the quantitative analysis of social, economic, and political de- 190 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY velopment, the Newsletter serves to disseminate information on the uses of quantitative methodology in historical research. Each issue includes articles, book reviews, announcements and a bibliography of research in progress. Those wishing to be added to the mailing list should write to: Historical Methods Newsletter, Department of History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.

Professor B. F. Cooling of P.M.C. College has been appointed director of research for the Cruiser Olympia Association. The association is responsible for preserving the historic U.S.S. Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship at Manila Bay in 1898 and bearer 'of the Unknown Soldier home from France after World War I. A fund raising program aimed at expanding the research, preservation, and publication programs of the association is now in progress. Captain F. Kent Loomis, U.S.N. (Ret.), assistant director of naval history in the Department of the Navy, announces the pub- lication of Volume 4 of Naval Documents of the American Revolu- tion. The present volume treats the American Theatre from Feb- ruary 19 to May 8, 1776, and the European Theatre front February 1 to May 25, 1776. The University of Delaware's first Military Affairs Institute will be held from June 16 to July 21. The purpose of the institute is to enable students, under the guidance of the regular 'staff members and guest lecturers, to explore the history of warfare in its broadest sense. Special emphasis will be given to such prob- lems as security, decision making, and strategy. James M. Merrill has been named the institute's director and Raymond Callahan will serve as assistant director. Eugene S. Ferguson, professor of the history of technology at the University -of Delaware and curator of technology at the Hagley Museum, has been awarded the 1969 Abbott Payson Usher Prize of the Society for the History of Technology for his book entitled Bibliography of the History of Technology. The Shaker Collection, 1808-1969, housed in the George Arents Research Library at Syracuse University, includes approximately 300 primary and secondary source materials providing informa- NEWS AND COMMENT 191 tion about the sect which was officially called The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. While not yet cat- alogued, the collection is accessible through bibliographies avail- able in the Rare Book Room of the George Arents Research Library. The papers of Samuel W. Pennypacker are presently being processed at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Governor Penny- packer's executive correspondence, 1903-07, relating to such inter- esting matters as the creation of the Pennsylvania State Police, the establishment of the State Highway Commission, the Bullitt "Ripper" Bills, the Press Libel Bill, and the construction and dedication of the New Capitol Building, is featured in the collec- tion. Included also are letters and documents concerning Penny- packer's service as Judge in the Court of Common Pleas No. 2 of Philadelphia, personal correspondence covering the period from the early 1870's to 1916, and much that describes his involvements in the activities of numerous historical societies. The author of Settlement of Germantown, The Autobiography of a Pennsyl- vanian, and over fifty other books and papers, Pennypacker was president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania from 1900 to 1916. Papers relating to the history of public transportation and urban development formerly belonging to the Philadelphia Transporta- tion Company have been acquired by Wilkes College. Included is (1) the correspondence files of the company from 1896 to 1912 and (2) approximately 75 volumes of newspaper clippings on matters concerning public transportation. The papers are avail- able for research. Please contact Professor Harold E. Cox, Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18703. The Harding Era by Robert K. Murray, professor of history at Pennsylvania State University, was made a February selection for the History Book Club. Murray's book has also received an Ohio research award and nomination for several historical prizes. Dr. Robert E. Carlson, chairman of the department of history at West Chester State College, has authored The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Project, i82I-I83i. The volume is published by Augustus M. Kelley, New York. 192 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

A. Hunter Rineer, Jr., director of the General Library Bureau, Pennsylvania State Library, announced on January 30 that he is providing a number of free publications to the historical societies in Pennsylvania for their use in their respective educational pro- grams. The publications are: History Filmstrips and Slides, Visual Aids in the Pennsylvania State Library, Resources and Services, Tracing Your Family Tree, and Years Work in Pennsylvania Studies. The State Library would like to receive or purchase publications issued by historical societies.

In June, 1970, the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Folklore Society will move from the campus of Lycoming College to Point Park College in downtown Pittsburgh. Dr. Robert H. Byington, executive secretary of the society, has accepted a position as Pro- fessor of English at Point Park College. President Blum of Point Park has offered not only to provide a home office for the society, but, on behalf of the college, to underwrite the publication costs of The Keystone Folklore Quarterly.

Tape-slide units dealing with history in Northwestern Pennsyl- vania are now available for distribution to elementary and junior high schools. Teachers from Crawford, Erie, and Warren counties, participating in a PACE Title III Project, developed the curric- ulum enrichment materials. The fourteen units included the fol- lowing: "Pennsylvania Canals," "The History of Oil in North- western Pennsylvania: Drake Oil Well," "The History of Air Transportation in Northwestern Pennsylvania," "How to Do a 'Dig,' " and "The Battle of Lake Erie." The units are available through the Northwest Regional Instructional Materials Center, Edinboro State College.

NOTE E. James Ferguson is editing the papers of the Revolutionary financier, Robert Morris, under the sponsorship of the National Historical Publications Commission and would be grateful for any information about documents in obscure places or in private hands. Please -send any information to him at the Department of History, Queens College, Flushing, New York.