Shorts

The Westmoreland Mu­seum of Art will open a major exhibition, “Penn’s Promise: Still-Life Painting in Pennsyl­vania, 1795-1930,” on Satur­day, May 28 [1988]. On exhibit will be works by members of Phila­delphia’s illustrious and pro­lific Peale family, William Michael Harnett, Joseph Peto, John F. Francis, Severin Roesen, A. F. King, George Hetzel, Charles Demuth and Charles Sheeler. “Penn’s Promise” will remain on view through Sunday, July 31 [1988]. For more information, write: West­moreland Museum of Art, 221 North Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601-1898; or telephone (412) 837-1500.

“Antiques: In the Age of Victoria,” the sixth antiques forum conducted by the Cum­berland County Historical Society, Carlisle, will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 29-30 [1988]. The forum will offer nationally recognized speak­ers, exhibits and tours. Speak­ers will discuss technologies in nineteenth century cabinet­making, the popularity of designs by maker Halland Meeks, Victoriana and the current market, the furniture of John Henry Belter, and the Victorian-period garden. To obtain additional agenda in­formation and registration forms, write: Cumberland County Historical Society, 21 North Pitt St., P. O. Box 626, Carlisle, PA 17013; or tele­phone (717) 249-7610. Registra­tion is required.

Local collectors – and the owner of the nation’s largest collection of Lincoln memora­bilia and artifacts – have collab­orated with the Dauphin County Historical Society, Harrisburg, to present an exhibit, “Abraham Lincoln in the News,” on view through the month of April [1988]. The ex­hibit probes the many assassi­nation attempts that plagued Lincoln’s presidency and fea­tures newspapers, litho­graphs, photographs, handbills and numerous re­lated objects. For more details, write: Dauphin County His­torical Society, John Harris Mansion, 219 South Front St., Harrisburg, PA 17104; or tele­phone (717) 233-3462. Admis­sion is charged; special group tours are available.

Forty antique American weathervanes, drawn from private collections, will com­pose an exhibit, “Courting the Winds,” which will be held in conjunction with the annual Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Antiques Show, from Saturday through Wednesday, April 9-13 [1988], in Philadelphia. The exhibit features outstanding examples of the nineteenth century folk art form. More information regarding both “Courting the Wind” and the HUP antiques show is available by writing: HUP Antiques Show, Public Information Office, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104; or by telephoning (215) 662-2560 or 687-6441. There is an admis­sion fee.

More than ninety craftsmen will demonstrate eighteenth and nineteenth century skills during the fifteenth annual Mercer Museum Folk Fest on Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15 [1988], from 9 A. M.to 5 P. M. on the grounds of the museum. Demonstrations will include sheep shearing, spinning, candle dipping and basketry, while costumed guides will demonstrate book binding, white-smithing, flax breaking, cooking and tile making. The Mercer Museum, a towering structure of reinforced con­crete, features an outstanding collection of forty thousand tools, many of which will be referred to during this year’s event. Additional information is available by writing: Mercer Museum, Bucks County His­torical Society, Pine St., Doy­lestown, PA 18901; or by telephoning (215) 345-0210. The society administers the museum.

An annual exhibition fea­turing the work of several regional painters, “Perspec­tives From Pennsylvania” will be on view at the Carnegie­-Mellon University Art Gal­lery, Pittsburgh, from Sunday, April 24 [1988], through Sunday, May 22 [1988]. Visiting hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Saturday, 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.; and Sunday, 1 to 4 P.M. Admission is free. For more information, write: Carnegie-Mellon University Art Gallery, 407 South Craig St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213; or telephone (412) 268-3110.

Exploring many items from Chester County households that have, during the past two centuries, displayed man’s fascination with creatures both real and fantastic, “The Hid­den Zoo: Animals Images in the Society’s Collection,” is on view at the Chester County Historical Society, West Ches­ter, through June [1988]. The exhibit focuses on images used by craftsmen and artists during the past two hundred years and highlights why animals are of such interest as decora­tions in furniture, patterns in textiles and figures in paint­ing. To obtain additional infor­mation, write: Chester County Historical Society, 225 North High St., West Chester, PA 19380-2681; or telephone (215) 692-4800.

On Saturday, March 26 [1988], the Center for Canal History and Technology and Lafayette College, Easton, will sponsor the seventh annual Canal History and Technology Sym­posium. Presentations will analyze the history of towpath canals and their related tech­nologies, including civil engi­neering and the coal, iron and early railroad industries. Reg­istration information is availa­ble by writing: Center for Canal History and Technology, Canal Museum, P. O. Box 877, Easton, PA 18042; or by tele­phoning (215) 250-6700. Ad­vance registration is required.

The life of Quaker minister Susanna Morris will be exam­ined at Hope Lodge, Fort Washington, in a special inter­pretation during March [1988] enti­tled “Women’s History Month at Hope Lodge: The Life of Susanna Morris.” Susanna Morris was the mother of Samuel Morris, who owned the historic property in the mid-eighteenth century. For more information regarding visiting hours and admission, write: Hope Lodge, 553 Beth­lehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA 19034; or telephone (215) 646-1595 or 646-1641.

A survey of outstanding newspaper cartoon art – from incisive Victorian era artist Thomas Nast to contemporary cartoonist Gary Trudeau – will be on display at the Erie Art Museum from Sunday, March 13 [1988], through Sunday, April 17 [1988]. Entitled “Masters of Cartoon Art,” the exhibit includes ex­amples of both vintage and current cartoon characters, such as Yellow Kid, Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Krazy Kat and Garfield. The pieces were drawn from the collections of the Museum of Cartoon Art, Eye Brook, New York. For more information, write: Erie Art Museum, 411 State St., Erie, PA 16501; or telephone (814) 459-5477. There is an admission charge, except Wednesday, when the public is invited free.

“The Book and the Cook,” on display in the main lobby of the Central Library of Phil­adelphia, Nineteenth and Vine Streets, features rare and vintage cookbooks, as well as literary references to the prep­aration of food. The exhibit continues through Sunday, April 24 [1988]. For more informa­tion, write: Free Library of Philadelphia, Logan Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103; or telephone (215) 686-5422. Admission is free.

The annual Shad Festival­ – commemorating the yearly shad run in Monocacy Creek, one of the spring highlights for Bethlehem’s early Mora­vian settlers – will be held Sunday, May 1 [1988], in the city’s eighteenth century industrial area. This year’s festival in­cludes demonstrations of shad smoking and boning, lectures on the life cycle of the fresh­water fish, and tours of re­stored historic buildings and structures administered by Historic Bethlehem. For more information regarding reserva­tions and tickets, write: His­toric Bethlehem, 501 Main St., Bethlehem, PA 18018; or tele­phone (215) 691-5300.

“Lamb to Loom Spin-In,” the demonstration and display of sheep-shearing, carding and spinning of wool, yarn dyeing, and weaving, will be hosted by the Westmoreland County Historical Society on Sunday, May 15 [1988], at Old Han­na’s Town. Old Hanna’s Town, a historic site administered by the society, is located three miles north of Greensburg. For more information and traveling directions, write: Westmoreland County Histori­cal Society, 102 North Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601; or telephone (412) 836-1800.

Dr. William M. Klein, direc­tor of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylva­nia, will present a lecture on Wednesday, April 20 [1988], entitled “From Victorian Estate to University Arboretum: Pre­serving the Past, Enriching the Future.” The lecture, part of a series examining the ideas and innovations which created the rich garden landscape of Vic­torian America, will begin at 3 P.M. at the Morris Arboretum (located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia) and at 8 P.M. at the University Mu­seum (located on the campus of the University of Pennsylva­nia). The Morris Arboretum is marking the centennial of Compton, the estate of John and Lydia Morris, which now serves as one of the foremost university-based public gar­dens in the world. For more information about the arbore­tum’s on-going programs, write: Morris Arboretum, 9414 Meadowbrook Ave., Philadel­phia, PA 19118; or telephone (215) 247-5777. Admission is free, but reservations are re­quired.

Works by Philadelphia artists are currently on view during the 1988 Philadelphia Drawing Competition at the Philadelphia Art Alliance. The show continues through Friday, April 15 [1988]. More infor­mation may be obtained by writing: Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 South Eighteenth St., Philadelphia, PA 19103; or by telephoning (215) 545-4302. Admission is free.

The Boal Mansion, a Cen­tre County historic mansion noted for its authentic six­teenth century Spanish chapel once belonging to the family of Christopher Columbus, will present “Music at the Man­sion” on Saturday, May 7 [1988]. Reservations are required. For more information, write: Boal Mansion, Boalsburg, PA 16827; or telephone (814) 466-6210.

Bringing together a signifi­cant number of illustrators that gave recognition to the pen medium as a separate art form during the peak years of American illustration, “Mas­ters of the Pen in American Illustration” opens at the Brandywine Rivet Museum on Saturday, April 23 [1988]. Draw­ings by Edwin Austin Abbey, Howard Pyle, Arthur B. Frost, Edward Kemble and many others show not only these artists’ outstanding technical skills, but also the diversity and richness achieved through this modest medium. “Mas­ters of the Pen” continues through Sunday, May 22 [1988]. To obtain further information, write: Brandywine River Mu­seum, P. O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317; or telephone (215) 388-7601. There is an admission charge.

Beginning with the 1719 Hans Herr House, participants in this year’s Lancaster County Spring Pilgrimage will visit several privately owned his­toric residences and structures in the region’s rural areas on Saturday, May 7 [1988]. The historic properties include historic sites with industrial associa­tions, as well as restored struc­tures, farmsteads and an Amish-related attraction. To obtain additional information, write: Hans Herr House, 1849 Hans Herr Dr., Willow Street, PA 17584; or telephone (717) 464-4438. Hours for the one­-day event are 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.

A lecture by Madeleine Ford on the collecting of an­tique dolls will be given on Tuesday, April 19 [1988], at 7:30 P.M., as part of the Springfield Historical Society’s yearly program. The speaker, a col­lector of antique dolls, has repaired many examples. For additional information, write: Springfield Historical Society, Old Central School, Saxler Ave., Springfield, PA 19064; or telephone (215) 544-2713. The meeting is open free to the public.

The Dear Friends, a musi­cal group dedicated to the preservation and presentation of nineteenth century Ameri­can music, will give a concert entitled “Where the Allegheny Flows” on Sunday, April 24 [1988], at the Cathedral of Learning on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Selections to celebrate the bicentennial of Allegheny County will include “In the Valley Where the Alle­gheny Flows,” “Allegheny Cotillions,” “Mrs. Pitt’s Minuet,” “Greater Pittsburgh March,” and “Smokey City Polka.” Admission is charged. For more details, write: The Dear Friends, Stephen Foster Memorial, University of Pitts­burgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260; or telephone (412) 624-4100.

For the annual dinner meet­ing of the Lackawanna Histor­ical Society, Scranton, on Wednesday, May 11 [1988], society director Dorothy Allen will present a talk entitled “His­toric Residential Architecture of Lackawanna County.” The program begins promptly at 6:30 P.M. Information regard­ing reservations is available by writing: Lackawanna Histori­cal Society, Catlin House, 232 Monroe Ave., Scranton, PA 18510; or by telephoning (717) 344-3841.

“Philadelphia Open House,” offering tours of the city’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods, including Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Germantown, will be held from Sunday, May 1, through Tuesday, May 17 [1988]. In addition to city neighbor­hoods, specialized tours will offer participants the opportu­nity to examine sculpture, gardens and historic farm­steads in Montgomery and Bucks counties. A number of historic attractions – City Hall, the picturesque Main Line, Overbrook Farms – will be visited on topical tours. For more information, write: Phil­adelphia Open House, Box 40166, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

“Native American Day,” celebrating the contributions of the Indians, will be ob­served by the University Mu­seum, Philadelphia, on Saturday, March 26 [1988], with a film festival, crafts demonstra­tions and special events. For additional information, write: The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Thirty-Third and Spruce Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19104; or telephone (215) 898-4045 or 898-3024. There is an admis­sion charge.

“Firefighting in Lancaster County,” an exhibition of an­tique and vintage firefighting and related equipment, acces­sories, and memorabilia will open to the public on Tuesday, April 26 [1988], at the Heritage Cen­ter of Lancaster County in center-city Lancaster. Continu­ing through November, the exhibit also addresses the social and economic impacts of firefighting organizations in the county. For additional information regarding visiting hours, write: Heritage Center of Lancaster County, Penn Square, Box 997, Lancaster, PA 17603; or telephone (717) 299-6440. Admission is free.

The Commonwealth’s elev­enth annual Conference on Black History will be held Friday and Saturday, May 6-7 [1988], in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Keepers of the Story,” and the sessions will deal with the church and church records, cemeteries and burial grounds, family history and family reunions, photographs and establishing a Black his­torical society. For additional information, write: Kristin S. Bailey, Black History Confer­ence Coordinator, Pennsylva­nia Historical and Museum Commission, P. O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026.

“How to Read a Building,” a one day seminar focusing on the identification and research of a historic or older building, will be conducted on Satur­day, March 26, at Valley Forge National Historical Park. On Saturday, April 16 [1988], the Park will conduct a workshop enti­tled “Researching Your Mili­tary Ancestor,” offering tips on available resources and ave­nues of research. Both ses­sions require advance registration. To obtain addi­tional details, write: Valley Forge National Historical Park, P. O. Box 953, Valley Forge, PA 19481; or telephone (215) 783-7700.