Bicentennial News
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Bicentennial News category and the March 1975 issue Topics in this article: United States BicentennialState DAR Project
The state Daughters of the American Revolution have adopted a Bicentennial project that will result in a meditation room in the form of a Quaker meeting house during William Penn’s time.
The room, to be located in the William Penn Memorial Museum, will thus be available for all Pennsylvanians to enjoy.
The project stems from an idea of Mrs. Coray Miller, DAR state regent.
Gov. Shapp Presents Medal Collection
A Bicentennial memento made for Gov. Milton J. Shapp and presented by him to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is now on display at the William Penn Memorial Museum.
The 50-State Bicentennial Medal Collection, a solid sterling silver proof set struck especially for Pennsylvania’s chief executive, is displayed on the ground floor lobby area of the museum.
Franklin Mint formally presented the collection to Governor Shapp in November of 1973. The medals will become a permanent part of the museum collections.
Livingston Papers Sought
The papers of William Livingston, a Bicentennial project under auspices of the National Historical Publications Commission, The New Jersey Historical Commission, and the New Jersey American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission, is interested in learning of any William Livingston documents that are now in private hands or small historical collections.
William Livingston, a member of the Continental Congress and the U.S. Constitutional Convention, was governor of New Jersey from 1776 until his death in 1790. Anyone knowing of the location of letters and other documents to or from Livingston spanning the years 1770 to 1790 is asked to communicate with Prof. Carl E. Prince, editor, Papers of William Livingston, Department of History, New York University, Washington Square, New York, N.Y. 10003.
DAR Honors in History Month
“A Patriot of the American Revolution” was the 1975 subject for the annual essay contest, held by the Harrisburg Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Twenty-eight students from thirteen Harrisburg area schools were honored at a special program held Feb. 17 [1975] in the William Penn Memorial Museum. Teachers and parents of the students were also present.
During the program, the chapter honored Mrs. Ferne Smith Hetrick, chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Mrs. Hetrick received the award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for her outstanding promotion of Bicentennial celebrations in Pennsylvania. Miss Ruth McCullough Walzer, chairman of the DAR-USA Bicentennial Committee, made the presentation.
Gov. Milton J. Shapp proclaimed February as American History month in Pennsylvania. The Governor’s proclamation follows:
Proclamation – American History Month – February, 1975
“The month of February contains the birth dates of two of America’s great Presidents – George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, has since 1955 sponsored the month of February as “American History Month” in honor of these Presidents and in order to stimulate interest in our American heritage.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is rich in historical points of interest, and our citizens are conscious of the importance of an understanding of American history.
Therefore, I, Milton J. Shapp, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim February, 1975, as AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH in Pennsylvania and urge all citizens, schools and organizations to emphasize the study of the history of our country during this observance.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the City of Harrisburg, this tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five and of the Commonwealth the one hundred and ninety-ninth.”
