Executive Director’s Message

With this issue, we are pleased to present to our “friends” of history and of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission the redesigned version of Pennsylvania Heritage. It is our hope that all who see and read it will become part of the broader audience we are seeking to serve through a more diversified and colorful magazine. The process, however, has only begun; we shall constantly strive to make Heritage the most interesting and informative magazine possible on all aspects of Pennsylvania his­tory, culture and preser­vation. As we progress, we will continue to rely on com­ments from our readers to guide us in making the magazine responsive to your needs.

This development of Pennsylvania Heritage, how­ever, is but a small part of a much larger thrust on the part of the Commission to serve the vast community of Pennsylvanians who have an interest in preserving our common heritage. The Preservation Fund of Penn­sylvania, Inc., another of our projects, is now operating to save endangered historic properties throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage readers to assist the Fund by identifying endangered landmarks throughout the state.

On another front, the Commission will soon have associate groups at all of its major historic sites and museums enabling interested citizens to participate in the development and enhance­ment of these valuable resources. As with other programs, we hope readers will seek out the closest site or museum and become actively involved.

With the assistance of a major grant ($213,500) from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the PHMC will be able to work during the next two years with all counties throughout the Com­monwealth to evaluate the status and condition of local government historical records. We urge readers to assist our archivists in locating these records and in planning for their preservation.

With continued assistance from the Department of the Interior, we have been able to expand our efforts to assist in the preservation of wide­-ranging historic properties and archaeological sites. Identifying such properties in all corners of the Com­monwealth is yet another way readers can contribute to our work.

Finally, we are pleased that our Friends of the Penn­sylvania Historical and Museum Commission is now in place. This statewide, non-profit organization will provide members not only with the “new” Pennsylvania Heritage but also with in-depth infor­mation on the development of Commission programs and opportunities to participate in meaningful efforts to preserve our past.

We trust you will share our hopes for the future as fully as our common enthu­siasm for understanding and appreciating the past.

Larry E. Tise
Executive Director