A British Lord in the Pennsylvania State Archives / Art of the State 2018
Written by Sean Adkins in the PHMC Highlights category and the Fall 2018 issue Topics in this article: Art of the State, Bucks County, crafts, Dauphin County, Harrisburg, Maria Maneos, Morrisville, Nathanael Ming-Yan Wei, opioid crisis, painting, Pennsbury Manor, Pennsylvania Charter, Pennsylvania State Archives, photography, sculpture, State Museum of Pennsylvania, William Penn, William Penn's Great Law
Lord Wei, left, discusses Penn’s 1681 Charter of Pennsylvania with David Carmicheal, director the State Archives, right.
PHMC / Photo by Don Giles
A British Lord in the Pennsylvania State Archives
In April 2018 a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom visited the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, to study documents related to Pennsylvania’s founder and first proprietor William Penn in hopes of learning more about issues of tolerance.
Nathanael Ming-Yan “Nat” Wei of Shoreditch was introduced in the House of Lords in 2010, remaining its youngest member until 2016. Dedicated to social reform in the UK, Wei has taken on such problems as poverty and injustice.
During a recent business trip to the United States, Wei reached out to the Pennsylvania State Archives requesting a tour of the building and access to the commonwealth’s most treasured documents, such as Penn’s 1681 Charter of Pennsylvania and the 1682 Great Law.
“It’s been fascinating to come and visit this site and to learn about Penn’s vision of history and how he wanted to create a new form of government,” Wei said. “Penn was a very strong proponent of religious tolerance and that is something that is still a hot topic in the UK. We are always looking for ways to govern that really, over time, relieves power and gives people greater liberty, both rigorously and in other ways.”
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds more than 250 million documents. “We don’t keep these records as curiosities. We keep them so that they may be applied to present day issues,” said David Carmicheal, director of the State Archives. “We have deeds that go back hundreds of years that are used in current court cases. When I heard Lord Wei was coming, I thought that this would be a great example of using older records to think about present day problems. Anytime somebody comes who has public recognition, it’s a good thing for the State Archives. We are always trying to convey to the public why we keep these records.”
Wei described his time at the State Archives as a successful fact-finding mission that furthered his understanding of tolerance. “This is especially true when looking at Penn’s peace treaties with the Native Americans . . . having respect for those who were already here,” Wei said. “How do you resolve disputes? We’ve got a lot to learn in this day and age.”
During his visit to Pennsylvania, Wei also toured Pennsbury Manor, the PHMC Pennsylvania Trails of History site built on the grounds of Penn’s country estate in Morrisville, Bucks County. “There is so much learning to be done between our two countries, building on the common heritage that we have, to share history and share culture,” Wei said.
Maria Maneos of North Wales installs her work 5535-2017(5535 Opioid/Heroin Deaths in Pennsylvania in 2017), which received first prize in sculpture.
PHMC / Photo by Don Giles
Art of the State 2018
More than 600 guests packed the first floor of The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, on June 24 for the opening of Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2018. The annual juried exhibition, cosponsored by the museum and Jump Street, a nonprofit in Harrisburg, showcases 103 works of art by 99 artists from 27 counties across the commonwealth. At the opening, 15 artists received awards in five categories: painting, photography, craft, sculpture and work on paper. The State Museum selected a Purchase Award and presented the William D. Davis Memorial Award for Drawing. In addition, Jump Street presented its Spirit of the Arts Award, and The State Museum’s Art Docents Corp. presented its Art Docents’ Choice Award.
Most artists hope that their works will initiate conversations, especially when it comes to sensitive subjects. One such artist is Maria Maneos of North Wales, Montgomery County. Her work 5535-2017(5535 Opioid/Heroin Deaths in Pennsylvania in 2017) won both first prize in sculpture and the Purchase Award. The piece is an eye-catching, ceiling-to-floor chandelier in which crystal beads represent individuals who lost their battle with opioid/heroin addiction in Pennsylvania in 2017. Maneos’ son’s struggle with heroin addiction served as the impetus behind the sculpture. His recreational use of opioids in his late teens led to his eventual dependency on heroin. “Once that happens, your entire family is just destroyed,” Maneos said. Later, Maneos met other young people who struggled with opioid and heroin addiction, leaving her saddened by the ravages of drug dependence. She started a nonprofit that introduces art to those who have been incarcerated for drug use. “This work of art shows how we view beauty and terror at the same time,” Maneos said.
Sean Adkins is social media manager for PHMC. Look for his updates at Pennsylvania Trails of History on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
