Executive Director’s Message
Written by Larry Tise in the From the Executive Director category and the Spring 1986 issue Topics in this article:The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, I am pleased to report, is reaching out to assume its proper role as a cohesive, statewide force to influence the appreciation and preservation of history, heritage, art and culture throughout the Commonwealth. The indications of this role are many – and tangible.
We have recently completed an intensive survey of the records of each of the Commonwealth’s sixty-seven counties. Significantly aided with a major grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, nine archivists were dispatched to every courthouse and county records storage place to identify the location, status and condition of all existing records of the various offices serving county and local governments. These computerized data are now available to help researchers locate all historical local records. The data are also proving useful in the creation of archives and records programs – as well as storage facilities – for our counties. We are very excited about the accomplishments in Chester, Lancaster and Northampton counties, and are encouraged by the progress in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties. We are distressed with the conditions in Allegheny and Luzerne counties. But we invite the active involvement of county officials and citizens interested in preserving these historic and vital local government records.
We are now seeking the involvement of local governments in our successful statewide historic preservation program. Local governments wishing to play a role in identifying historic properties, nominating them to the National Register of Historic Places, assisting in the review of projects affecting historic properties, and promoting the preservation of such buildings, sites or structures can now participate in the Commission’s Certified Local Government Program.
Small grants are available to local governments wishing to help renew, revitalize and rebuild Pennsylvania’s cities and towns. Through our program – facilitated by the use of federal investment tax credits for rehabilitation of historic properties-nearly two thousand buildings have been rehabilitated in Pennsylvania, encouraging a total investment of more than one and a half billion dollars! Pennsylvania claims the largest number and greatest investment in historic rehabilitation projects of any state in the nation. Philadelphia leads the country with nine hundred and fifty million dollars and Pittsburgh ranks third with nearly two hundred and ten million dollars in investment opportunities. All of this is made possible through our historic preservation program and the involvement of cities in the Certified Local Government Program. We invite inquiries.
It feels good to be playing our designated role on a statewide basis. It feels especially good to know that we are touching the lives, buildings and environment of many communities. And we ask you to join us in these efforts to keep Pennsylvania historicand beautiful.
Larry E. Tise
Executive Director
