Historical Societies: News and Highlights
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Historical Societies: News and Highlights category and the Winter 1982 issue Topics in this article:Lenni Lenape Museum Relocates
The Lenni Lenape Historical Society is a non-profit organization which maintains a multi-facility museum and dedicates itself to programs and exhibits relating to the Lenni Lenapes, more commonly known as the Delaware Indians. In addition to a collection of artifacts, the special museum contains a traditional village and gardens and sponsors ceremonies, lectures, and arts and crafts workshops. Special interest programs are also offered on a variety of topics and arrangements can be made to bring them to interested groups upon request.
Currently, the society is moving ahead with plans to relocate in the 132-year-old Bieber house on the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown. Architectural plans to renovate their new home have been approved by the state Department of Labor and Industry, but funds are still needed for materials and labor to complete the project. Those interested in contributing to help preserve the history of a culture which spans back over 2,000 years should contact the Lenni Lenape Historical Society, Fish Hatchery Road, Allen town 18103, or call (215) 434-6819.
York’s Victorian Gem: The Horace Bonham House
The Victorian era was characterized by a variety of styles, all of which emphasized clutter, intricacy, ornamentation and diversity. It was an age of comparative great wealth so the average person began to think of ornamentation and decoration rather than function. One of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in York is the York County Historical Society’s beautiful Horace Bonham house. Newly refurbished and decorated, the Bonham house reflects the finest of all periods of Victoriana.
The original house was built in 1800 with two stories, an attic and a small back wing. In September 1875, Horace Bonham purchased the property, greatly enlarged and remodeled it, and added a third floor, stained-glass windows and parquet floors. The house and its furnishings were left to the society by Miss Elizabeth Bonham, daughter of Horace Bonham. in 1965.
Today, the society has opened two floors of the house as display rooms of York’s Victorian age. The garden has been redesigned to reflect the Victorian style, complete with fountain and urns. Visitors to York will certainly want to include a visit to the Bonham House and enjoy a journey back into an age of elegance and genteel living.
Historical Society Notes
The 75th annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies will be held May 7-8, 1982 and will be hosted by the Delaware County Historical Society in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of William Penn’s landing at Upland (Chester). Further details will be announced later.
The Institute of Museum Services has awarded 204 grants for general operating support to history museums and historic houses for Fiscal Year 1982. This amounts to 36 percent of the general support funds which are being distributed. Of the museums receiving support, those with operating budgets under $100,000 received 25 percent of IMS grants, between $100,000 and $500,000 received 31 percent, and over $500,000 received 40 percent. In addition, IMS awarded 400 grants of $600 each to museums for the Museum Assessment Program which supports outside professional assessment of museum operations. For further information on how your organization can benefit from future grants programs, write the Institute of Museum Services, Department of Education, 300 C St., S.W., Room 4008, Washington, D.C. 20202.
Dr. Larry E. Tise, who has been executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission since April, was appointed as executive secretary of the Pa. Federation of Historical Societies on September 18 [1981].
The Museums and Historical Organizations Programs of the National Endowment for the Humanities has set a second deadline for grant applications for the 1982 Fiscal Year. Applications are due on January 15, 1982 for projects beginning July 1, 1982. This deadline is being called provisional, however, and ultimately depends upon Congressional Fiscal Year 1982 appropriations for the NEH.
