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The Pfaltzgraff Company of York, the oldest working pottery in the United States, W!’IS established by German potter Johann George Pfaltzgraff, who immigrated to this country from Hesse in the early nineteenth century. The company, owned and oper­ated by the same family since its founding, produced distinc­tively decorated stoneware. Various markings have been found on pieces made by members of the Pfaltzgraff company until 1896, when the firm was named the Pfaltzgraff Stoneware Com­pany, Ltd. In January 1906, a fire destroyed the operation, which was reopened as the Pfaltzgraff Pottery Company the following August. For ongoing research, the company is seeking early and unusual examples of its decorated pottery, as well as photo­graphs, catalogues, advertising pieces, correspondence and miscellaneous ephemera. Please write: David Walsh, Curator, or Polly Stetler, Researcher, Corporate Archives, Pfaltzgraff Com­pany, 140 East Market St., Box 2026, York, PA 17405-2026; or telephone (717) 848-5500.

Writers and historians are being sought for a compact ency­clopedia, The War of the American Revolution, which will be pub­lished by Garland Publishing Company, New York, in 1989. To demonstrate recent historical scholarship, articles – ranging from fifty to two thousand words – are needed on the military and naval aspects of the years between 1763 and 1783, including battles, campaigns, skirmishes, frontier fighting, prominent commanders, weaponry and maritime exploits. Potential contrib­utors should write: Richard L. Blanco, Professor of History, State University of New York (SUNY), College at Brockport, Brock­port, NY 14420; or telephone (716) 395-2377.

Historic Bethlehem wishes to borrow reproductions of all types of eighteenth century clothing, particularly from early religious communities, for use in a fall 1988 exhibit illustrating variations in colonial period clothing and accessories. The period clothing will also be compared to that worn by members of Beth­lehem’s Moravian community. Correspondence should be di­rected to: Mary Catherine Smith, Curator of Museum and Educational Services, Historic Bethlehem, 459 Old York Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18018; or telephone (215) 868-6311.

A portrait of Josephine McDermitt Porter, wife of Gov. David Rittenhouse Porter and mother of Gen. Horace Porter (who found the body of John Paul Jones in an unmarked Paris grave and returned it to a place of honor in Annapolis, Maryland), was recently acquired by the Huntingdon County Historical Society. Curators believe that the painting, measuring seventeen by nine­teen inches, may be one of a pair, and that Governor Porter’s likeness is also extant. The reverse of the damaged canvas is inscribed Dec. 21st/Gov. Porter’s/Sunday/1843/Christmas/New Year’s/1844, leading historians to conjecture that the Porters may have spent the Christmas holidays at their old residence in Hun­tingdon before moving to Harrisburg. The historical society seeks help in locating portraits of Porter and his family which might aid in learning the identity of the artist or the circum­stances surrounding this portrait. Individuals and institutions able to assist are asked to write: Nancy S. Shedd, Huntingdon County Historical Society, P. O. Box 305, Huntingdon, PA 16652; or telephone (814) 643-5449.

The Johannes Schwalm Historical Association is a nonprofit organization devoted to collecting, researching and disseminat­ing information relating to German auxiliaries to the British Crown who fought in the American Revolution. For continuing research and genealogical study, descendants of Hessians are encouraged to write: Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, P. O. Box 99, Pennsauken, N. J. 08110; or telephone (609) 663-8292.