Historical Societies: News and Highlights
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Historical Societies: News and Highlights category and the December 1975 issue Topics in this article: historical societiesLancaster Hosts Workshop
The Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies sponsor a regional workshop November 1 [1975] at the Lancaster County Historical Society.
Dr. G. Terry Madonna of Millersville State College spoke the morning on “The American Revolution in Lancaster County.”
Three historical society representatives discussed “Education Programs for the Historical Society.” They were Norwood Miller of the Historical Society of York County, Sharon Westly of Berks County Historical Society and Donald Crownover of Lancaster County Historical Society.
Harry Rinker of the Historical Society of York County discussed “Legal Problems and Solutions.” The afternoon also included presentations by: Alice Stevens, Susquehannock Area American Indian Culture Center, on “Reclaiming Indian History in Pennsylvania”; Ed Weintraub, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, on “The Pennsylvania Register of Historic Sites”; and Conrad Wilson, Chester County Historical Society, on “Fund Raising and the Historical Society.”
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Harold Durston Saylor of Mount Airy has been elected president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Mr. Saylor, a member of Fairmount Park Commission, is a former judge of the Orphans’ Court of Philadelphia.
Judge Saylor succeeds Boies Penrose, who has resigned after serving fifteen years in the position. Judge Saylor has been a member of the Historical Society’s board since 1953 and vice-president since 1962.
The society is working on the completion of the modernization and expansion of its building at 1300 Locust Street and the cooperative Bicentennial exhibition with the American Philosophical Society and the Library Company of Philadelphia to be held in 1976. The cooperative exhibition will be held in the society’s building from April through November of 1976 and will be presented free to the public.
Judge Saylor is also current president of the Germantown Historical Society, chairman of the board of Philadelphia Conservation, Inc., and president of Friends of the Wissahickon.
Cumberland County Open House
The enlarged library and museum building was the site of an open house held by the Cumberland County Historical Society in September [1975].
The society spent over $300,000 on its property, located at 21 North Pitt Street, Carlisle. A wing that doubles museum space and adds a 180-seat meeting room was completed. All parts of the building were refurbished and in some cases, given new functions. The museum was completely rearranged, and a large gallery established to exhibit major new accessions, valued at $80,000.
The society’s program plans for 1976 include:
January 15: “Highlights and Sidelights in the Life and Death of Major John Andre,” Roger B. Irwin, attorney;
February 18: “Through the Years on Cumberland County Roads,” illustrated, George R. Beyer, associate historian, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission;
March 18: “William Thompson – The General Whose Star Blinked Out,” Alan G. Crist, Colonel ARNG, retired;
May 6: “Look and Listen Program,” pictures of the forty-four historical markers in Cumberland County.
All of the programs are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in the Todd Room, new meeting place of the society.
Warren County Museum
Warren County is well on the way towards developing a countywide historical museum. The former A. J. Hazeltine house was purchased in mid-September. The house is located on Pennsylvania Avenue West, next to the Kinzua Inn Motel. The house. built 1905-07, contains twenty-two rooms.
Title to the property is held by Warren County Commissioners, but the work of preparing it as a museum and operating it as such is the task of the Warren County Historical Society.
