News and Comment Historical Societies
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NEWS AND COMMENT BY DONALD H. KENT Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission HISTORICAL SOCIETIES The Adams County Historical Society held its annual business meeting on October 5 at Old Dorm on the Seminary campus. Reports of committees and officers were presented, and problems and plans for the future were discussed and reviewed. Dr. Robert Bloom of the history department of Gettysburg College spoke on "How the British Press Viewed the American Civil War." On November 2 the society held a joint meeting with the Daughters of the American Revolution, with Dr. Frederick Tilberg, retiring senior historian of Gettysburg National Park, as speaker on the subject, "The Lincoln Address Platform-Where Was It?" In October the Beaver Falls Area school board allocated one hundred dollars to the Beaver Falls Historical Society for use in preparing for the celebration of the centennial of Beaver Falls in 1968. On October 17 at the Historical Society of Berks County, the Freedoms Foundation awards were presented by Kenneth D. Wells, II, vice-president of the Foundation, to Col. Wayne E. Homan, one of the associate editors of the Historical Review of Berks County, for his historical writings in 1964; to Clifford Yeich of the Reading T1imes for a photograph entitled, "Freedom of Worship"; and to Miss Betty Evans for her class at Thirteenth and Union School, which prepared a booklet of essays and drawings. The society's annual meeting was held on October 28, when Fred deP. Rothernmel gave an illustrated talk on "Changing Sea- sons in Berks County." At the reorganization meeting of the board of directors, Terrence V. Connor was re-elected president and the other officers were re-elected. On November 1.4, William C. Brum- 76 NEWS AND COMMENT 77 ha-h presented an illustrated lecture, "Wild Flowers of Berks C.illnty." The Berwick Historical Society presented a special exhibit of atI.iques and historical items on October 29 at the East Second Street headquarters of the society. Emphasis was placed on the old Berwick Academy, which once stood on Market Street. At the invitation of the Blair County Historical Society, Dr. Irwnin Richman of the Museum staff of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission evaluated the internal arrangement of the Baker Mansion, the society's museum at Altoona. Ways and means of improving the appearance, attractiveness, and authenticity of the several rooms of this 1860 ironmaster's residence were sug- gested. Means of better displaying miscellaneous collections were also reviewed. Jesse L. Hartman, the society's president, reports that a long-range project of implementing the Richman report has been started. In October the Bucks County Historical Society was host to the Germantown Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Dutch Group of Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton counties. On the invi- tation of past president Franklin C. Wood, the Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians held their autumn lecture and dinner meeting at the society. Thirty-four members of the Bucks County society visited the Historical So- ciety of York County, where they were warmly welcomed by Lay- ton Horner, director, and Robert P. Turner, president of that society. The Bucks County society's fourth annual Christmas open house was held on December 15, with a preview on December 14 or the membership. The Bucks County Historical Society has announced with regret that Leonard G. Johnson is no longer its executive director and cirator of the Mercer Museum. Mr. Johnson has been executive rector and curator since September, 1962, when he replaced Jack C. Potter. On its annual fall tour on October 16, the Cambria County His- orical Society visited the Baker Mansion museumn of the Blair ouunty Historical Society at Altoona. Dr. James T. Sheep of 78 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY Johnstown, secretary of the Cambria County society, was in charge of the tour, which concluded with a dinner at Roaring Spring. At the regular meeting of the Chester County Historical Sc- ciety on October 19, Herbert F. Schiffer discussed "Inheritedl China in the Philadelphia Area-Delft to Majolica." The annual banquet on November 16 featured a talk by Edwin Wolf, 2nd," librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia, on "Penn's Greene Countrie Towne." On October 12 the Women's Com- mittee held a fall trip to the Buten Museum of Wedgwood, and on November 9 Mrs. John C. Russell of the Philadelphia Art Museum spoke to them on "The Development of a Guide Service." At the annual meeting of the Clarion County Historical Society on October 12, Dr. James F. Lovell of Slippery Rock State Col- lege gave an illustrated lecture under the auspices of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Officers elected for the ensuing year include William D. Gilbert, president; George W. Cole and Mrs. Helen F. Becker, vice-presidents; Merle B. Eberlin, correspond- ing secretary: Bird E. Riley, financial secretary; and Mrs. Amy C. Davis, treasurer. At the meeting of the board of directors on October 21, standing committees were appointed and plans made for the year's program. The Clearfield County Historical Society held its annual ban- quet on October 29 and re-elected five directors. Dr. Arthur H. Reede of Pennsylvania State University spoke on the background of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Russell A. Shaw reported on improveements made to the Clearfield County Museum and its grounds. Charles Mann of the Library of the Pennsylvania State Uni- versity discussed rare books at the annual banquet of the Clintoin County Historical Society on October 11. The society decided to complete the renovation of several rooms of the Heisey Museum. authorizing the expenditure of all the money remaining in the building fund for papering the rooms with period wallpaper. This will not complete the full plan of renovation, however, and ; NEWS AND COMMENT 79 c<<anpaign is planned to raise money for continued improvement the building after it is opened to limited public use. The Colonial Philadelphia Historical Society met on October at the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, 427 Chestnut Street. P Welles Henderson spoke on the old harbor of Philadelphia, ard Peter Schauffler, deputy director of commerce for the Port ai Philadelphia, gave an illustrated talk on today's port. The Corry Area Historical Society met on October 12 at Nichols Lodge in Mead Park. Committee reports and outlines of future activities were presented. Frank Grice, the society's president, reported that donations of historical articles and money had been received, and that work will begin to evaluate the items and pre- pare them for display in the museum building. The newly formed organization already has a total of 109 members. On September 30 the Cumberland County Historical Society and the Hampden Township Woiomen's Club sponsored a special meeting at the "Peace Church" at St. John's and Trindle Roads, by courtesy of its owners, trustees representing St. John's Lu- thleran Church, Shiremanstown, and St. Paul's United Church of Christ. These congregations once used the structure jointly, but built separate buildings in nearby towns before the Civil War. The Women's Club had the church lit with candelabra, and ar- ranged to have hostesses in late eighteenth-century costume. Mrs. A. Glenn Boyles, organist of St. John's, played the Christopher Doll organ, bought in 1806 and still operable. Robert Grant Crist presented a paper on the history of the church and the German- speaking congregations which preceded and founded it. Pastors Albert Brinker and Carl Berkobin participated, and Dr. Milton lower, president of the Cumberland County society, presided. Al-re than five hundred persons attended. At the meeting of the society on November iS, Roger Todd ,i e an illustrated talk on local historic sites, based on the so- c- 'yescollection of old and present-day photographs of the area, 0. which he is curator. It is expected that the January meeting be held in the new library room of the annex to the society's bLilding, which is almost completed. go PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY The Historical Society of Dauphin County resumed its monthIN meetings on Septenmber 20, when William H. Work, state archivist Division of Public Records, Pennsylvania Historical and Museun Commission, spoke on 'Peunsylvania's Military Systems Duriig the Revolutionary War." On October iS, Dr. Eugene P. Bertin, president of the tmuncy Historical Society, gave an interesting talk on "The Early American Village." Ralph D. Huston of tie Bell Telephone Company gave an illustrated talk on "Harrisburg -My Home Town" at the November meeting. At the November 2 meeting of the Donora Historical Society, Miss Edna Pipes spoke on "Thomas Jefferson," and Mrs. Melvin Naser showed slides of "Historic Spots in Old Virginia," a film- strip loaned through the courtesy of the Humble Oil Company. The Elk County Historical Society is in its second year, and recently issued the third number of its bulletin, The Elk Horn, with articles on the Ridgway waterworks, the Mill Creek Rod and Gun Club, Mount Zion Church, and other topics of local interest. On its annual tour on October 16, the Erie County Historical Society visited the headquarters of the Warren County Historical Society in Warren as well as the Kinzua Dam. At the society building Mrs. Robert Israel discussed the varied and extensive program of the Warren group. At a luncheon which followed at the Penn Laurel Motel, Mrs. Frances Ramsey presented high- lights of Warren County history, and Kenneth Stratton, president of the Warren County Historical Society, discussed the co- operative activities needed to tie the historical societies of north- western Pennsylvania more closely together. To prepare for the visit to the Kinzua Dam, Lawrence P. Sowles, chief project engineer at the dam, told of its construction.