Shorts

Doylestown’s Mercer Mu­seum, a concrete castle built by Henry Chapman Mercer and containing more than fifty thousand objects and artifacts, will be the site of a reading and discussion program, “Women, Work and Family,” on Tuesdays, March 2, 16, 30, 1993. Conducted by Nancy C. Culleton, the programs will begin at 7 P. M. For more information, write: Mercer Museum, Bucks County His­torical Society, 84 South Pine St., Doylestown, PA 18901; or telephone (215) 345-0210. Registration is required.

On Sunday, May 3, 1993, from 1 to 4 P. M., the Museum of Indian Culture, adminis­tered by the Lenni-Lenape Historical Society, will conduct an authentic corn planting ceremony. Additional infor­mation is available by writing: Museum of Indian Culture, Lenni-Lenape Historical Soci­ety, Fish Hatchery Rd., R. D. 2, Allentown, PA 18103-9801; or by telephoning (215) 797-2121. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Forty paintings and twenty­-five prints by one of the na­tion’s most respected artists will be on view in “Karl Schrag: A Retrospective Exhi­bition” at the Sordoni Art Gallery, from Sunday, January 17, through Sunday, March 7, 1993. With landscape the primary source of Schrag’s inspiration, the artist is known for his works in vivid colors and with bold brushwork. An illustrated catalogue will ac­company “Karl Schrag: A Retrospective Exhibition.” For further information, write: Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University, 150 South River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766; or telephone (717) 824-4651 or 831-4325.

Opening Saturday, March 27, 1993, at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford is an exhibition devoted to the work of artist Albert Winslow Barker. The exhibition, which continues through Sunday, May 23, will showcase Barker’s early twentieth century litho­graphs and drawings which document his career in south­eastern Pennsylvania. Barker sought to capture these land­scapes for posterity in re­sponse to the region’s increasing – and intrusive­ – development. For more infor­mation, write: Brandywine River Museum, Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317; or telephone (215) 388-7601 or 459-1900. There is a charge for admission.

On Tuesday, April 27, 1993, a workshop entitled “An Intro­duction to Genealogical Re­search in Philadelphia Catholic Records” will be offered by The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Christine Mc­Cullough, assistant archivist of the Archdiocese of Philadel­phia’s archive and historical collections, will discuss the records maintained by the archives, their genealogical content, and the ways in which they can be easily ac­cessed. The program will begin at 1 P. M. For additional information, write: The Gene­alogical Society of Pennsylva­nia, 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107; or telephone (215) 732-6200.

An exhibition of vintage calendars designed by Grif Teller and issued by the Penn­sylvania Railroad at the Rail­road Museum of Pennsyl­vania, Strasburg, has been extended through Wednesday, June 30 [1993]. “The Spirit of the Railroad: Pennsylvania Rail­road Calendar Art, 1925-1958” showcases thirty-four calendars and an original oil paint­ing by Harold Brett, Speed and Security, which appeared on the Pennsylvania Railroad’s first calendar in 1925. Addi­tional information is available by writing: Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, P. O. Box 15, Strasburg, PA 17579; or by telephoning (717) 687-8628. The museum is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHM C). There is a charge for admission.

An open house wi11 be hosted by The University of the Arts (see “Philadelphia­ – As They See It” by Josey Stamm in the fall 1991 edition) on Saturday, March 27, 1993, from 12:30 to 4:30 P. M. Exhi­bitions and performances will be offered. For additional information, write: The Uni­versity of the Arts, 320 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102; or telephone (215) 875-4808. Admission is free.

“A Feast for Philadelphia: The History of Reading Termi­nal Market,” celebrating the centennial of the farmers’ market, is on view through August 1993 at the Atwater Kent Museum in Philadelphia. The market originally served the sixty thousand daily com­muters that passed through on their way to and from work. For more information, write: Atwater Kent Museum, 15 South Seventh St., Philadel­phia, PA 19106; or telephone (215) 922-3031. Admission is free.

“Architecture as Elemental Shelter: Recent Thoughts and Work of Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates” will be on view from February through April 1993 at the Institute of Contemporary Art. The ex­hibit explores the philosophi­cal underpinnings of work by the important theoreticians Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, Philadelphia, whose slogan “less is a bore” sounded the end of minimal modern architecture. For more information, write: Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, 118 South Thirty-Sixth St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-3289; or telephone (215) 898-7108.

“Charter Day,” commemo­rating the granting of the terri­tory now known as Pennsylvania to founder Wil­liam Penn by England’s King Charles II in 1681, will be cele­brated by the twenty-eight historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsyl­vania Historical and Museum Commission on Sunday, March 14, 1993. In addition to offering free admission to the attractions which make up the Pennsylvania Trail of History, “Charter Day” features special activities and events at selected sites. For more information, write: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, P. O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026; or telephone (717) 783-9882.

“A Taste of Lancaster” is the theme of this year’s gourmet gala which will be hosted by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County on Sun­day, April 25, 1993. For reser­vation information, write: Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, Sehner­-Ellicott-von Hess House, 123 North Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603; or telephone (717) 291-5861.

“Lancaster County Week at Rock Ford Plantation” will be hosted by the eighteenth cen­tury Georgian-style residence of Gen. Edward Hand from Thursday, April 1, through Sunday, April 4, 1993. Built about 1792, Rock Ford Planta­tion was the home of General Hand from 1793 until his death on September 3, 1802. Addi­tional information may be obtained by writing: Rock Ford Plantation, Box 264, 881 Rock Ford Rd., Lancaster, PA 17603; or by telephoning (717) 392-7223. Admission is charged.

On Monday, April 19, 1993, Peter Swift Seibert will give a talk entitled “Furniture of Dauphin County” at the His­torical Society of Dauphin County, Harrisburg, in con­junction with a related furni­ture exhibition. The program will begin at 7 P. M. at the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, which is adminis­tered by the historical society. Further information may be obtained by writing: Historical Society of Dauphin County, John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, 219 South Front St., Harrisburg, PA 17104; or by telephoning (717) 233-3462. There is no admission charge for the lecture.

One of Pittsburgh’s oldest and most celebrated traditions, the spring flower show at the historic Phipps Conservatory, will be open to the public from Saturday, March 13, to Sun­day, April 18, 1993. The theme of this year’s show is “People, Places, and Plants-The Spices of Life.” Visiting hours are 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. daily. For more information, write: Phipps Conservatory, Schen­ley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; or telephone (412) 622-6914. There is a charge for admis­sion.

The Westmoreland Mu­seum of Art in Greensburg will stage its annual regional invitation exhibition, “Win­terlude Regional Invitational: Paintings and Sculpture,” from Saturday, February 13, through Sunday, March 21, 1993. Ad­ditional details are available by writing: Westmoreland Mu­seum of Art, 221 North Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601; or by telephoning (412) 837-1515. Admission is charged.

The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation’s popular Colonial Fair will be held during the weekend of May 14-15, 1993. The annual event features crafts and entertainment in the manner of the eighteenth century. To obtain more infor­mation, write: Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, Ridley Creek State Park, Media, PA 19063; or telephone (215) 566- 1725. There is an admission charge.

Since 1961, the month of March has been recognized as Youth Art Month, and in 1993 the Pennsylvania Art Educa­tion Association will coordi­nate a statewide student art exhibition entitled “The Art of Special Populations: Our Cul­tural Diversity.” The exhibition will be mounted in two parts. The exhibit representing stu­dents from eastern Pennsylva­nia will be on view at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania from Monday, March 1, through Friday, March 19 [1993]. Carlow College will host the exhibition of works of art by students from western Pennsylvania from Saturday, February 27, through Sunday, March 14 [1993]. For more informa­tion, write: 1993 Youth Art Month, Pennsylvania Art Education Association, Box 148, R. R. 1, Paxinos, PA 17860; or telephone (717) 648-9507.

Continuing on view through Saturday, April 3 [1993], at the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester is a major exhibition entitled “Sports Legacy.” The exhibi­tion, featuring nearly one hundred striking photographs, recalls countians’ participation in sports between the 1880s and the 1930s. For more infor­mation, write: Chester County Historical Society, 225 North High St., West Chester, PA 19380-2691; or telephone (215) 692-4800. Admission is charged.

The prestigious Philadel­phia Antiques Show, the nation’s foremost display of American antiques and fine and decorative arts, will be held at the 103rd Engineers Armory at thirty-Third and Market streets, from Saturday, April 17, through Wednesday, April 21, 1993. This year’s event will feature an exhibition of antiques reflecting the world of children, “Seen But Not Heard.” The exhibit will include a variety of rare dolls and dollhouses, children’s jewelry and furniture, paint­ings, needlework, toys, and decorative objects enjoyed by children from the seventeenth century through the Victorian era. For more information, write: 1993 Philadelphia An­tiques Show, The Hospital of the University of Pennsylva­nia, 3400 Spruce St., Philadel­phia, PA 19104; or telephone (215) 977-7383. Admission is charged.

On Monday, March 1 [1993], Pe­nelope Hobhouse will present a talk entitled “Gardening Through the Ages” at Long­wood Gardens in Kennett Square. The program will begin at 7:30 P. M. For more details, write: Longwood Gar­dens, P. O. Box 501, Kennett Square, PA 19348-0501; or telephone (215) 388-6741. Registration is required.

In honor of portrait artist Charles Willson Peale, Inde­pendence National Historical Park will offer a number of programs discussing his life and work. Peale, born in April 1741, was the patriarch and mentor of the prodigious Peale family of Philadelphia. For more information, write: Inde­pendence National Historical Park, National Park Service, 311-313 Walnut St., Philadel­phia, PA 19106; or telephone (215) 597-8974. Admission is free.

“One Dozen Glazed: New Clay Art from the Region” will be on view at the Erie Art Museum from Saturday, Janu­ary 31, through Sunday, March 14, 1993. New works of art by twelve outstanding artists working clay will be featured. For additional information, write: Erie Art Museum, 411 State St., Erie, PA 16501; or telephone (814) 459-5477. There is a fee for admission.

Stephen Miller, curator of agriculture for the Landis Valley Museum, will present a talk entitled “Pennsylvania Germans and Their Seeds” for the Strasburg Heritage Soci­ety, Lancaster County, on Monday, March 15, 1993, at 7:30 P. M. The society will hold the program at the First Presbyterian Church, 101 South Decatur Street, Stras­burg. For more details, write: Strasburg Heritage Society, P. O. Box 81, Strasburg, PA 17579. Admission is free.

On Friday, February 12, 1993, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will host a Silent Movie Night, featuring classic films such as Buster Keaton’s General, A Girl and Her Trust, Barney Oldfield’s Race for Life, and The Great Train Robbery. The film festival begins at 7:30 P. M. For more information, write: Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Box 15, Stras­burg, PA 17579; or telephone (717) 687-8628. Admission is charged.

The Historical Society of Berks County, headquartered in Reading, will present a quilt fabric lecture on Sunday, April 18, 1993, to coincide with its exhibition, “Berks County Quilts: A Burst of Color,” on view from Saturday, February 13 through August [1993]. For more information, write: Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, PA 19601; or telephone (215) 375-4375.

William Woys Weaver, well known food historian and author of Sauerkraut Yankees: Pennsylvania German Foods and Foodways, will discuss tradi­tional Pennsylvania German foodways and cooking on Monday, March 15, 1993, at the Hershey Museum. The lecture begins at 1 P. M. For more information, write: Hershey Museum, 170 West Hershey­Park Dr., Hershey, PA 17033; or telephone (717) 534-3439. The program is free with regular museum admission.