Power Library - Pennsylvania's Electronic Library Pennsylvania's Electronic Library PA's
Electronic
Library

This collection contains photographs from the 1880s to the beginning of the 20th century of Central Pennsylvania College students, faculty, facilities, and grounds.

Schuylkill Seminary was established in Reading PA in 1881, moved to Fredericksburg in 1886, then returned to Reading in 1902. It was renamed Schuylkill College in more 1923, and merged with Albright College in 1928. less

The Union Seminary student newspaper. The Union Seminary was a forerunner institution of Albright College. The student newspaper was co-published by the Excelsior and Neocosmian literary more societies. Because of financial problems only three issues were published in 1879. less

This collection contains commencement documents, photos, booklets, and other materials pertaining to the history of the Altoona Area School District.

This collection is a digitized copy of the book Architecture—Practical and Theoretical by the Beezer Brothers (1894). The Beezer brothers (Louis and Michael J.) were famous more architects who originally set up their firm in Altoona, PA where they built many homes, but then moved on to Pittsburgh and eventually Seattle, WA. less

This collection contains photos documenting the history of Central Pennsylvania and the surrounding region.

The Wissahickon Valley Public Library: Ambler Gazette Collection is a joint effort with the Fort Washington Historical Society to preserve the society's collection of the Ambler more Gazette. This collection is the only extant print copy of the paper, which is a weekly newspaper that reports news from multiple communities in Montgomery County. The local news reported in the paper is, in many cases, the only record of the development of the southern half of Montgomery County. This collection contains issues from 1894-1944. less

The Charles McCollester Collection contains both physical times and textual items spanning from 1877 to 2018 with an emphasis on the 1980's into the 2000's. The more collection's subjects vary from Pittsburgh steel and union history, the founding of the Battle of Homestead Foundation, Monsignor Rice, and Pennsylvania historical markers. Though the collection focuses primarily on the state of Pennsylvania, much of the collection has national significance as well. less

The Bellwood Bulletin weekly newspaper provides a unique glimpse into the cultural, economic, political, religious and social activities of Bellwood and the surrounding areas from 1889-1946. more The format of newspaper did not vary much of the years. Each paper would normally have the following columns: Religious services and notes, Business news, Marriages and birthdays, Obituaries, People visiting and traveling to other places, Animal columns, and The Five-Minute Sermon and sporting events – especially fishing news. There was usually one page containing national and international news and local real estate transactions. The paper has advertisements for local stores and services with pictures and prices of food, clothing and banking services. Through these advertisements one can follow the introduction of technology into the community. There are advertising for washing machines, tires, typewriters, and airplane tickets. less

A collection of selected newspaper clippings concerning B.F. Jones Memorial Library and the surrounding area.

The Hopedale Moravian Church letters are the only known first-person accounts of life in the early settlement of Newfoundland in northeast Pennsylvania. When a small group more of German immigrants arrived in the Wallenpaupack Valley in the 1820s, the region was a pristine wilderness, as yet undiscovered by the tanners, mill owners and lumber manufacturers that would arrive a decade or two later. The letters shed light on a period in our rural history about which little is known and for which little documentation exists. The letters not only document the challenges of establishing a mission church along Pennsylvania’s northern frontier, they also give insight into the struggles of the families to survive in the face of so many hardships—poverty, language barrier, illness, lack of agricultural skills, seasonal floods, harsh winters, unreliable harvests, internal conflicts, absence of schools for their children—and create a thriving community. The pastors were a lifeline for the early settlers. In many ways they instrumental in guiding the settlers through those early perilous years, and these efforts are described in their correspondence. In addition, the letters include membership lists, annual reports and annual budgets which are helpful in documenting family histories and genealogy, as well as other details that may open up new possibilities for further research. As the first and only church in the Wallenpaupack Valley, the Hopedale Moravian Church pastors ministered to all who settled there, regardless of their religious affiliation. The letters also reveal connections between the German-speaking Moravian settlers and the surrounding English-speaking community. less

Regionally significant history of the Borough of Edgewood, Pennsylvania. This collection includes bound book, personal recollections and a multitude of photographs.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was originally formed as a town in 1800. The city has experienced three major floods throughout its history and later became the site of more the Cambria Iron Company. In the 1860s, the Cambria Iron Company was the leading steel and iron producer in the United States outproducing larger steel and iron companies in bigger cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland. This collection contains a corpus of books that highlight the historical significance of Johnstown. less

The Homestead Newspaper Collection consists of scanned microfilm of various newspapers from the Steel Valley between 1881 and 1979. Titles included are: The Local News, The more Homestead Times, The Mirror, The Homestead Eagle, The Daily Messenger, Penny Shaver, The Messenger, and The New Daily Messenger. These papers circulated in Homestead, Munhall, Whitaker, Mifflin Township, Six Mile Ferry, Hays Township, Brown's Station, and Squirrel Hill in the city of Pittsburgh. less

Pittsburgh’s heritage is strongly rooted in iron, steel, mining and related industries. This section of the Pittsburgh Iron & Steel Heritage Collection is a compilation of more almost two dozen 19th and 20th Century journals about mining, manufacturing, and the state-of-the-art technical developments of their day used by our region's businesses and industrial researchers. Through this collection, we strive to preserve the culture, heritage and knowledge of our region's industrial past, while enhancing the public's understanding of what made Pittsburgh the "Workshop of the World." less

Complementing the original Iron & Steel Collection, the Iron & Steel Photographic Collection features individual images of places and personalities intrinsic to Pittsburgh's development as the more world's leading producer of iron and steel.  Photos include Titans of Industry such as Charles Schwab and Andrew Carnegie as well as mill workers, trainmen, secretaries, and Iron Puddlers. The collection also includes mill fronts, railroads and the factory floor. less

Pittsburgh’s heritage is strongly rooted in iron, steel, mining and related industries. The Pittsburgh Iron & Steel Heritage Collection is a digital compilation of books, journals, more photographs, trade catalogs, and related literature. Through this collection, we strive to preserve the culture, heritage and knowledge of our region's industrial past, while enhancing the public's understanding of what made Pittsburgh the "Workshop of the World." less

This collection contains primary resources about Carnegie's bequests along with supporting explanatory text, that teachers will be able to use a part of their curriculum.

Photo album put together by John Blair Linn (1831 – 1899) consisting of 72 black and white images of his immediate family, his extended family, and more his friends from his days in Lewisburg, PA, and Bellefonte, PA. less

Bellefonte has been home to seven governors, five of whom were Governors of Pennsylvania. This collection features correspondence, documents, and manuscripts of their authorship as well more as other artifacts connected to their respective terms of office. The collection is held by Centre County Library & Historical Museum. less

History of the Miles-Potter-Humes House in Bellefonte, PA from 1815 to the present and of its owners through photographs, other images, and documents.

This collection was created by Alexander W. Scott (1926-1999) a Cheltenham principal and resident for many years. The 771 images (originally slides) show the people, homes, more and neighborhoods of the Cheltenham communities in Montgomery County. The photographs are categorized around multiple themes and the descriptions were written by Mr. Scott and are copied verbatim from his Index. less

The six letterpress books of West Chester resident A. D. Sharples document his many business and philanthropic interests, and a number of letters also include news more of the Sharples, Paschall, and Darlington families.  The volumes cover the years 1899-1900 and 1905-1915. Alfred D. Sharples was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 1844, the son of Mary A. Paschall and Philip P. Sharples.  In 1863, A. D. married Rachel Roberts, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Roberts, and they had six children, including Elizabeth (Bessie), Henry, Mary, and A. Roberts. Sharples began his career farming, but being known for his accounting skills, he was persuaded to become the accountant for the Philadelphia and West Chester Railroad.  In 1880, when he lost that position after the railroad was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad, he re-opened the brick making business begun by his great-grandfather William Sharples in 1801.  Sharples Brickworks is the business with which most people connect him.  While still involved in brick making, he also audited financial records for other businesses, including the Denney Tag Company, the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of West Chester, and the borough of West Chester.  In 1907, Sharpless put the Brickworks business up for auction. In addition to his professional work, an elder of the Birmingham Friends Monthly Meeting, Sharples was a trustee of the Quaker’s Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and helped to overseer the Friends’ George School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  He was also involved with the Friends’ Boarding Home of West Chester, the West Chester Friends’ Burial Company, and was named executor of a number of decedents’ estates.  A. D. Sharples died on October 19, 1919, at his home on Dean Street. less

This digitized diary of Abigail Speakman opens with entries from November 1871 spanning several pages. Nothing further is recorded until July 1882, introducing the bulk of more the volume which describes a trip by Speakman to Scotland and England. Abigail Speakman, known informally as Abbie, was one of eight children, born on May 17, 1842, to Nathan (1791-1860) and Ann Thomas Speakman (1797-1874) at their family home at Brandywine Summit in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Speakman spent most of her adulthood in Wilmington, Delaware, and traveled widely in the United States and Europe. In the 1920 census, Speakman was living in West Chester, Pennsylvania, as a boarder with the M. B. Hickman family. That same census lists her occupation as “editorial contributor to a magazine.” Speakman died in West Chester in her 90th year on January 22, 1932. She is buried in Concord Friends Cemetery, Concordville, Pennsylvania, where her family were members of Concord Friends Meeting. Speakman did not marry. The earliest entries in the diary reference the last days and death of Speakman’s mother along with other family news including the efforts of her brother Edward to save the inventory in his bookstore in Chicago during the fire in October that year. Entries regarding a trip to Scotland and England begin July 1, 1882; subsequent entries are rarely dated, and the descriptions end while Speakman is in London, around July 20. She wrote about shipboard life, including comments on other passengers, dealing with seasickness, and the celebration of the Fourth of July. The group was in Glasgow on July 13, and visited the Highlands, Stirling, Edinburgh, and Melrose. There is also a quick visit to York before proceeding to London. Speakman comments on places visited; the varying quality of the tour guides; her impressions of the landscapes; a run-in with beggars on the return from Dryburgh Abbey and the noise of Covent Garden. A number of items are laid into the volume, including several cyanotypes, one of which was taken aboard ship. Printed material laid into the volume includes a list of passengers on the ship S.S. Circassia; a list the tour group of which Speakman was a member; advertisements for several hotels; track charts of Anchor Line steamships, and some engravings of places visited. Dried plants are attached to some pages. Also laid into the volume are writings which are possibly drafts of travel articles, including one that describes Speakman’s visit to Dryburgh Abbey. The volume closes with an undated article describing a trip by steamship on the St. Lawrence River from Kingston, Ontario, to Quebec. less

The digitized papers of Charles J. Pennock consist of a small number of letters, most by or addressed to Charles J. Pennock; two bird log books; more a manuscript copy of a bird book by Charles L. Bonaparte; and a notebook of geology notes. Materials date from 1791 to 1927, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1860 to 1927. Charles John Pennock was an ornithologist who lived most of his life in Kennett Square, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Pennock was born to a Quaker family in 1857, the son of Deborah Yerkes and Samuel Pennock. He was married twice, and had two sons and two daughters. He was a tax collector, magistrate, and businessman in Kennett Square, but his chief love was for birds. Pennock collected specimens and took notes on the birds he spotted around Chester County. He was a member of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, serving as president 1901-1903; the American Ornithologists’ Union (A.O.U.); and the West Chester Bird Club. He also studied birds in Delaware and was named its state ornithologist. He amassed a significant collection of books about North American birds, and his collection of birds and eggs was given to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. After attending an ornithological meeting in Philadelphia on May 15, 1913, Pennock did not return home. Police were alerted and a search for him was instigated, but he was not located. However, in 1919, Dr. Witmer Stone, curator of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, believed that notes various ornithologists were receiving from a John Williams in St. Marks, Florida were similar to notes Pennock had written. Stone’s suspicions were enough aroused that he alerted one of Pennock’s relatives, Dr. Richard J. Phillips. Phillips journeyed to St. Marks to investigate and discovered that John Williams was indeed Pennock. With his identity discovered, Pennock returned to his wife in Kennett Square and died there in 1935. less

This selection of digitized diaries by David Evans dates from 1835 to 1879. In these diaries, Evans notes his early studies in school; his experiences as more a teacher, farmer, and surveyor; his interests in geology, botany, and history; his attendance at Quaker and Anti-Slavery Society meetings; and the daily lives of his family and friends. From the late 1830s to the early 1850s, many of Evans’ entries provide names and details of aid he provided as a member of the Underground Railroad. There is also one volume by David’s brother, Josiah Evans, dating from March to December 1838, which documents Josiah’s time in Ohio. Early entries describe the passing environs en route to Ohio, and, once there, focus on daily life, visits with family and friends, and his attendance at Quaker and Anti-Slavery Society meetings. David Evans was born in 1818, the son of Nathan and Zillah Maule Evans of Willistown Township, Pennsylvania and died, age 80, on July 4, 1898. He had one brother and four sisters: Josiah, Catharine, Anne, Elizabeth, and Mary. Evans married Eliza W. House on March 21, 1861. Eliza died, most likely of breast cancer, in 1875, age 45; David did not remarry. Although young family members resided with David and Eliza, the couple was childless. In addition to living in Willistown, Evans resided in Malvern, Pennsylvania, a town he helped develop from the 1860s into the 1890s. Primarily an off-and-on school teacher and a farmer, Evans followed many interests, including his Quaker faith, the abolition of slavery, reading, farming, surveying, temperance, architecture, traveling, and rock formations. He was a member of the Willistown Library and the Willistown Literary Society. In March 1853, Evans was elected to a three year term as a Willistown Township school director. Six years later he was appointed township auditor. As a businessman, Evans operated a lumber yard. He wrote in his diary that he had “commenced business in the line of lumber coal feed flour etc. at the W. Chester Intersection R.R. January 1, 1866.” In Willistown, David Evans, with his father, Nathan, was part of a network of sympathizers who organized stations in the Underground Railroad. Additionally, he was involved in the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, serving as a delegate after the organization had been re-established in 1837. Even though Evans was a staunch abolitionist, he refused to serve in the Union army, instead registering as a conscientious objector. less

This digitized selection from the Jean Kane Foulke papers measures 1.4 linear feet and dates from 1850 to 1955, with the bulk of the materials dating more from 1900 to 1920. Found within the scanned papers are correspondence, notes, news clippings, and printed materials related to Foulke’s work as a suffragist, community service leader, and organizer supporting the homefront during World War I. Correspondence and printed materials highlight Foulke’s work as a suffragist leader. From 1913 to 1920, Foulke sat on the board of both the Women’s League for Good Government and the Equal Franchise Society of Pennsylvania. She also served as chairwoman of the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women’s committee for rural women. Materials include internal organizational memoranda, membership form letters and mailings, printed ephemera, and 1920 election campaign materials. In addition, Foulke was actively involved with public health issues in Chester County, as documented by correspondence and printed material covering smallpox vaccinations, consumption, a scarlet fever outbreak, and the West Chester sewage system. Materials also document Foulke’s work with The Grange, Acorn Club, Chester County Historical Society, and College Club. Additional folders focus on women’s contributions to the war effort during World War I. These materials document the Women’s Land Army’s efforts to counteract food and farm labor shortages, women’s war work/labor, and other local safety and educational campaigns. The entirety of the Jean Kane Foulke papers is housed and available for research use at the Chester County History Center. less

This digitized selection of eight diaries from the Sheeder Family Account Books and Diaries measures 0.5 linear feet and dates from 1870 to 1879. Found within more the diaries are entries documenting Anna Mary Sheeder’s life and daily routines on her family’s farm in East Vincent Township. Anna Mary Sheeder (1854-1943) was raised on the Sheeder family homestead in a community originally known as Sheeder Postoffice and later referred to as Red Hill. The farm was founded by Sheeder’s grandfather, Frederick Sheeder (1777-1865), an immigrant from Germany who arrived in Pennsylvania at the age of 16. In 1799, Frederick Sheeder purchased a plot of land bordering French Creek and began farming land that would be passed on to Joseph Sheeder, J. Frederick Sheeder, and Anna Sheeder. The diaries cover Anna Sheeder’s life as a young adult from age 16 to 25. During this period, Sheeder completed high school, attended West Chester Normal School (now West Chester University), and, following her graduation in 1874, worked as a schoolteacher for several years. From 1888 to 1901, she maintained the Sheeder farm account books and would eventually oversee the operation of the family farm, which specialized in dairy cattle. Diary entries are intermittent and limited to no more than a page a day—for some periods, there are entries every day interspersed between gaps of months or even seasons. Topics include the weather, chores, leisure activities, teaching, notable events in her daily life, and a summer vacationing in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Some notable events include seeking employment at a mill, choking on a raw oyster, beginning a star quilt, romantic interests, disciplining students, and the death of an acquaintance. The entirety of the Sheeder Family Account Books and Diaries is housed and available for research use at the Chester County History Center. less

The Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights Collection measures 0.3 linear feet and dates from 1852 to 1933, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1893 more to 1917. Found within the collection are published materials, letters, manuscripts, and ephemera related to women’s suffrage. Materials document the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association (PWSA) at the state and chapter levels, as well as the larger National Woman Suffrage Association. The Chester County Equal Suffrage Association is also represented. Some organizational materials for men, sympathetic temperance materials, and anti-suffrage materials are also included. When Elizabeth Cady Stanton introduced a suffrage resolution at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention in New York, equal suffrage became a central part of the national woman suffrage platform. Just a few years later, West Chester’s Horticultural Hall became the host location for the Pennsylvania Woman’s Rights Convention in June 1852. In the first afternoon session, voting rights was the first resolution debated and adopted in West Chester. In 1869, the National Woman Suffrage Association was founded in response to the 15th amendment. By the early 20th century, auxiliary chapters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, as well as similarly focused organizations for men, existed in Chester County. The collection includes correspondence regarding the planning of the 1894 PWSA Convention in West Chester, including letters between Lucy Anthony and her aunt Susan B. Anthony. A notebook by Mary Heald Way details women’s suffrage events, club activities, and quotes from publications related to women’s rights. Printed materials include flyers, tracts, and publications promoting suffrage activity dating from 1893 to 1917. In some cases, only the cover, title page, and individual relevant pages have been scanned from published materials. The entirety of the Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights Collection is housed and available for research use at the Chester County History Center. less

This collection contains photographs of Northern Chester County in the first decades of the 1900's.

The Conshohocken Recorder, April 1, 1882 - September 9, 1954.

The Meadville Local History Collection is a condensed sketch of the early history of Meadville, Pennsylvania which covers the city's natural resources and a portrayal of more leading industries educational, financial, and commercial interests. less

These booklets are the annual and biannual reports for the Erie Public Library. They date back to 1899 when the library opened to the public. Some more include reports for the Erie Public Museum which, for a period of time, was located in the Erie Public Library building. less

This collection includes early photographs showing student life, faculty, buildings, and grounds of Friends' Central School, a co-ed Quaker School founded by three Quaker meetings in more 1845. The school has had three locations; 4th and Cherry St, 15th and Race St. in Philadelphia and City Line Ave in Wynnewood, PA. The current location is the former estate of the Wistar Morris family and was landscaped by Frederick Olmstead. The collection gives an overview of the history of Quaker education and includes photographs of early Quaker educators important in the history of Quaker meetings in the Philadelphia area. Quaker curriculum was unique for its time. The school included both Quaker and non-Quaker children from both Hicksite and Orthodox Quaker Meetings. Science and Latin were taught to both boys and girls and both genders participated in physical education. Holidays were not observed. An early instructor was Benjamin Eakins, who taught penmanship and the headmaster who was present during the relocation to City Ave, was Barclay Jones, cousin of Rufus Jones. Photographs from the 1920s included in the collection highlight the beauty of the Wistar Morris estate whose mansion is still used as the main campus building and features an original Tiffany window. less

The Agentur Records Collection consists of 72 volumes of handwritten ledgers, indexes, logs, reports, and letter books spanning the years 1847 to 1947, recording the efforts more of the German Society of Pennsylvania’s Agency to help needy German immigrants and Philadelphia residents of German origin. The collection contains valuable biographical information for local history, social history, labor history, immigration research, and genealogy. less

This collection contains items from the German Society of Pennsylvania's archival holdings related to Philadelphia-based German-American singing societies of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Items more include: souvenir programs, recordings, correspondence and sheet music. less

Since its founding in 1764, the German Society provided charitable assistance to German-speaking immigrants in the community. The Women’s Auxiliary of the German Society of Pennsylvania more was founded in 1900 to serve as an additional charitable arm of the Society, with particular emphasis on charity for families in distress in the Philadelphia area. The collection includes annual reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, photographs and ephemera. less

The Pamphlet Box Collection/ Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf consists of nine annual reports, from 1883, and one for each year from 1917-1924 inclusive. It also more includes five copies of the student newsletter, Mount Airy World, with two copies from 1912, one from 1913, one from 1917, and the last, from 1921. Together, these annual reports and newsletters document the statewide importance of the Institution; both faculty and students came from all over Pennsylvania to work and study there. The collection also documents the increased importance of women at the Institution, in their roles as faculty and staff members, and as committee members working in association with the Institution's Board of Directors. less

This collection consists of historic photographs of Norristown, Pa., from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Collection includes documents, memorabilia, photographs, and publications related to the history of the university in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Photographs will include more students and employees, events, and campus buildings. less

Over two thousand (2,000) local historical photographs, drawings and images of old Lycoming County, PA. can be found here. Images are shown in a small version more for browsing or as a full size image for detail. less

Welcome to the Keystone College 1868- Present Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. This collection contains materials pertaining to the history more of Keystone College from its inception as Keystone Academy in 1868 as the first higher educational institution in Northeast PA. less

Welcome to the Keystone College 1868- Present Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. This collection contains documents and photos of the more Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson who grew up locally and attended Keystone Academy. less

Welcome to the Keystone College Local History Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. This collection a large number of photos and more documents from and about the local communities and personalities present in Factoryville, PA; Nicholson, PA; Dalton, PA; and other smaller communities dating from 1868 to the present. less

Photographs of Knoxville, Pennsylvania, including adjacent Deerfield Township.

This collection consists of Lancaster City and County residential and commercial directories, 1843-1900. These directories provide valuable information regarding the population of Lancaster City and County, more as well as the growth and development of the community and the evolution of Lancaster commerce and industry. less

The New Holland Clarion was published weekly in New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from 1873-1984. The newspaper provided the local news, world and regional news, information more on social events and businesses, and historical sketches of New Holland. The New Holland Clarion is segmented into 3 collections: The New Holland Clarion 1873-1890 Collection, The New Holland Clarion 1891-1910 Collection and The New Holland Clarion 1911-1950 Collection. less

The New Holland Clarion was published weekly in New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from 1873-1984. The newspaper provided the local news, world and regional news, information more on social events and businesses, and historical sketches of New Holland. The New Holland Clarion is segmented into 3 collections: The New Holland Clarion 1873-1890 Collection, The New Holland Clarion 1891-1910 Collection and The New Holland Clarion 1911-1950 Collection. less

Welcome to the Loch Haven University of PA 1877 - 2008 Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents.

Our Historical Documents Collection features a monograph of the college's history from its beginnings to 1955 and manuscripts of importance to the colleges almost two-hundred year more history. less

Williamsport Women: Voices, Images, Actions Source material related to the history of women in Lycoming County from Lycoming College, the Lycoming County Historical Society, and the J.V. more Brown Library.  Documents selected highlight the history of local women in volunteer and reform organizations, education, the arts, the workplace, and private lives. The first part of the collection will cover the time period 1875-1925. "This material will have national, perhaps international, significance as it relates to women's history and studies during a time period when there is a scarcity of materials about women's contributions to local communities. All three cooperating facilities are very limited in staffing and available hours, so the materials will reach users who either cannot physically come to the collections or did not previously know of their existence. This collaborative project is funded through an LSTA grant. less

This digitized collection of eighteen student publication spans the life of the College from its inception as the Dickinson Seminary, through its years as a junior more college, to its present standing as a four-year undergraduate institution. It provides a graphic picture of campus life from the mid-1850's to 2004. The most current issues will be added shortly. These publications vary widely in their content and presentation styles. Student efforts at publishing works to be distributed to the campus began in the form of a literary magazine, and changed to simple mimeographed newsletters, an "underground" newspaper, and finally to our present conception of student coverage of campus events with editorial comments on issues affecting their lives. less

The Williamsport Dickinson Seminary Collection traces the first eighty years of the school's extensive history. Documented here is the early struggle of the founding of the more school, with more prosperous years ensuing as attendance increased and the facilities expanded. The significance of the Methodist Church in the establishment and the continual funding of the school is evidenced. Records exist from six of the eight presidents that helped mold the young school. Events, both social and official, are well represented. Music played a very important role, as is apparent from the many recital playbills in the collection. Also very significant in the life of the students were the many societies and organizations, especially three of the more prominent organizations, the Belles Lettres Union Society, the Gamma Epsilon Society and the Triparite Union Society. Catalogs listing both students and faculty provide further glimpses of life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Items not specifically related to Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, such as a newspaper announcing President Lincoln's assassination and magazines covering the coronation of King George V, were most likely collected by faculty or staff, and are included to enhance the portrayal of the time period. less

An independent family newspaper devoted to literature, local and general intelligence. Published 1891-1975.

Welcome to the Mengle Memorial Library's Punxsutawney Spirit Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. The Punxsutawney Spirit represents a significant regional newspaper more in central western Pennsylvania. As newspapers have become brittle over time, digitized microfilm will preserve this rare information that provides a glimpse into the culture surrounding Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney Spirit dates from 1885 to the mid-20th century, and it includes information about the towns citizens, events, and perspectives on larger world events. The digitization of this microfilm collection at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Special Collections and University Archives will greatly enhance public accessibility.Contains copies of the Red Man and the Indian Craftsman, published by the United States Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Also individual issues of the Catholic Herald, the Episcopal Record, and more. Pennsylvania newspapers will continue to be added. less

As part of a larger statewide effort, in 2018 the Meyersdale Public Library undertook a project to document and compile a list of known African American more burials in Somerset County. Staff and volunteers in the library's Pennsylvania Room combed state death certificates, online gravestone memorials, newspaper obituaries/articles, and additional local publications to determine as many African Americans laid to rest within this rural county as possible. The number ultimately reached nearly 350, though library researchers theorize it is substantially higher. In subsequent years the Pennsylvania Room has gained access to over 900 county death records kept from 1893 through 1905. Staff and volunteers plan to also review these records for documentation of additional African American burials. Thus this collection remains a work in progress, with updated information to be made available over time. less

Before the southern Somerset County community of Meyersdale was incorporated as "Meyersdale" on February 19, 1874, it was known as "Dale City." On May 2, 1870, more a petition to incorporate the borough of Dale City - signed by 43 inhabitants of the villages of Meyers Mills, also known as Fairfield; Coaldale, also known as Olinger Survey; and Beuchley's Survey - was presented to the Somerset County Court of Quarter Sessions, which decreed the incorporation on September 20 of that same year. Ensuing disagreements over the town's name eventually led to the 1874 incorporation of the Borough of Meyersdale. In celebrating the town's Sesquicentennial anniversary 150 years later, the Meyersdale Public Library is sharing notable pieces of its history, including a Dale City ledger dating 1870 to 1885 and the Meyersdale Centennial book published for the community's 100th anniversary celebration in 1974. less

The Meyersdale Public Library photograph collections contain approximately 2,000 photographs. From the total collection, about 320 will be selected for digitization based on the selection criteria. more The photographs that will be selected for online display are significant because they provide a broad overview of life immediately before, during, and after the Progressive Era in the Allegheny Mountains region (mostly Somerset Co., PA & northern Maryland). The photographs capture families & individuals both in portraits and in natural settings, military men, coal mines, mills, railroads, transportation, education, and African American families. Our photographs have been used in Somerset Magazine and in the book "Allegheny Passage Companion, Guide to History & Heritage Along the Trail" by Bill Metzger. Accessibility to the collection will be enhanced because the images will be searchable online. Currently the photographs are accessioned on paper but are not included in our library catalog. Digitization would allow users easy & free access to historical photographs that would otherwise essentially be hidden in a closet. less

Incorporated in 1857, the Borough of Rockwood was significantly boosted by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad line running through the town - most specifically its passenger more service. When that passenger service declined with the advancement of the automobile, so, too, did Rockwood's population and economy. Today people primarily travel through the town along the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage hiking and biking trail which runs between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, Maryland. This collection chronicles Rockwood's earliest days and will in time include Rockwood Borough Council Minutes, 1910-1925; Rockwood Justice of the Peace Records, 1900-1904; a Wolfersberger Store (the town's first store) ledger; the Rockwood House hotel guest book; and photos of early businesses, including the B&O Railroad Station. less

These 18 photographs are part of a larger Meyersdale Public Library – Photograph Collection. The photographs selected for display as part of that larger PA Photos more and Documents collection are significant because they provide a broad overview of life immediately before, during and after the Progressive Era in the Allegheny Mountains region (mostly Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and northern Maryland). These 18 photographs in particular - part of a larger glass negative collection housed within the library's archives - portray African American families and individuals in portraits, natural and workplace settings, and also within the town of Meyersdale itself. A significant African American community lived, worked and worshiped in Meyersdale during the late 1800s and through the first several decades of the 20th century. less

The Johnston Bender Family Collection combines photographs, letters, scrapbooks, and business records of two families--the Rev. Elias S. and Anna (Odell) Johnston family of Altoona and more Salisbury and the Fred W. and Malinda (Miller) Bender family of Springs. Johnston served as a Lutheran minister in Cambria, Adams, and Somerset Counties from the 1860s to the 1920s. In Salisbury, son Robert H. worked in stores, as a trolley conductor, and the owner and editor of the "Somerset County Star," Salisbury's newspaper. Robert's wife, Caroline (Smith), wrote letters to her daughter every week on Salisbury society, chores, illnesses, and changing times from 1910s-1940s. Fred W. Bender, a Mennonite (later Church of the Brethren), operated a small country store and post office ten miles away. Despite the pressures of a conservative Mennonite society at the time, his children grew up with progressive attitudes and succeeded in business with Bender Shoe in Somerset and Bender Implements in Meyersdale and Somerset. The Bender daughters attended college, played music, and worked with business and their own. When Louise Johnston and "Hike" Bender married, their combined history created a window into the lives of neighboring towns and families with different backgrounds. less

Gideon D. Miller (1862-1941), a Mennonite minister, shifted from his family's woodworking traditions to metal. He started with his patented steam traction engines shipped across the more US and Mexico for the 20th Century Mfg. Co. With his refusal to let the US Government use his designs for the military and increasing use of gasoline over steam, he shifted to items such as coal cars, animal feeders, and maple sugaring tools and equipment. With his sons Dwight and Myron, G. D. began Miller Machine Works in Springs in 1917. Several collections encompass original blueprints, photographs, advertising, and artifacts. less

William Wagner, a cooper of Salisbury, Somerset County, worked on farms in the 1870s and then bought a farm near West Salisbury (Elk Lick Township) in more 1882. With experience in coopering and a sugar grove on property, the family started a maple sugar business that continued until 2017 with son Joseph and Jennie (Russell) and then with their four daughters. Wagner’s was an integral part of a community of farms and maple producers as the Wagner sisters, Thelma, Leona, Mildred, and Dorothy (married Robert Jeffrey), managed the farm with parents and resident farm helpers. Dorothy's children, Dale and Sue, continued the family legacy on the farm. Their products were featured at festivals, Pittsburgh department stores, and across the country. The collection spans the late 1800s to the 2000s including the Wagner, Jeffrey, and Russell family materials. The collection includes over 2,000 images, photo albums, archives, and over 500 artifacts. less

Cascade Park is a former amusement park which now serves as a recreational nature park; it is located 2 ½ miles from downtown New Castle in more Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. This collection contains materials in various formats related to Cascade Park and the Old Timer’s Picnic – an event that has taken place annually at the park since 1907. Included in this collection are the following items: - Cascade Park souvenir booklet circa 1915 containing photos of the park. - Photos and postcards of Cascade Park circa 1915. - An invitation card to a ladies event at the park from 1912. - Old Timer’s Picnic souvenir books from 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, and 1915 which include photos of notable citizens of New Castle, Cascade Park, and the city of New Castle. - A button/pin from the 1910 Old Timer’s Picnic with a photo of the Shenango Bridge. - An invitation card for the 51st Old Timer’s Picnic in 1958. The location of the park was originally part of Donation Lands set aside for veterans of the Revolutionary War. Two hundred acres were given to Robert McWilliams who, circa 1816, constructed a gristmill and dam in what was then known as Big Run Falls. Col. Brinton purchased over 70 acres of the land from McWilliams in 1891. He re-named the area Brinton Park and added a dance platform and amusements, including a steam-powered merry-go-round, to attract residents to the already beautiful environment which features natural waterfalls. The spot was a popular place for fishing, swimming, picnics, dancing, and other recreations of the time. In 1897, the New Castle Traction Company (later Penn Power) purchased the park, installed streetcar tracks for accessibility and renamed the area Cascade Park in reference to the natural waterfalls. Due to declining attendance and the resulting financial loss, Penn Power transferred the title to Cascade Park in perpetuity to the city of New Castle in the early 1930s. Since its opening, Cascade Park has been home to a number of amusements including: rides, midway games, baseball fields, restaurants, horseshoe and bocce courts, outdoor theater productions, swimming pools, a lake for boating, fishing, swimming and ice skating, picnic areas, zoological gardens, and a bathhouse. It also boasted the largest dance pavilion in Pennsylvania, built in 1898, which still stands today. By the early 2000s, the swimming pool had closed, the lake had dried up, and the amusements had been removed. From the 1970s to today, various local non-profit organizations from around the city have been integral in repairing and maintaining the site and assisting in its transition back to a natural park. Cascade Park remains a popular nature recreation area and offers picnic areas, playground areas, food stands, hiking trails, a dog park, and is the host to a number of community events which occur throughout the year. less

This collection contains a selection of various directories from 1872-1899 (not exhaustive), covering the Mahoning, Shenango, and Beaver valleys, as well as Lawrence County and the more City of New Castle. less

This collection contains City of New Castle directories covering all years, 1900-1910.

This collection includes a series of black and white photographs of buildings and streets throughout New Cumberland, advertisements from businesses circa 1900, and several issues of more Town Topics, a newsletter published in early 1900. less

A collection of photographs and postcards of churches in New Cumberland, PA., featuring historic buildings in black and white. The collection also includes a couple of more church service programs and photographs of turn of the 20th century church groups. less

Photographs and postcards depicting various organizations, such as the town band and women's clubs, and employee groups, like the Buttorff and Kline carpet factory workers.

This collection includes photographs of school buildings, students, and teachers; scanned programs from school performances or athletics; and miscellany related to student activities.

The Harmonists, a Christian Communal society, founded Old Economy Village in 1824. They were known for their piety, as well as for their economic successes in more textile manufacturing, including silk production, and later in the oil and railroad industries. Old Economy Village in Ambridge, PA is the home of a great deal of information about the Harmony Society and life in general in the nineteenth century. Major topics covered by the archives and library include music, architecture, religion, business, photographs, and more. less

In the Johnstown neighborhood of Cambria City are located five historical, ethnic churches. In 2009, the Altoona/Johnstown Diocese closed four of the churches and renamed the more fifth church. Each of these churches has celebrated a centennial and one has celebrated a quasquicentennial. Before the churches were de-sanctified, each one was photo-documented and a description developed to explain the location and history of realia contained in the church. In addition, print materials were digitized related to each church (e.g. church newsletters, event flyers, bulletins.) The ethnicities of the churches were German, Slovak, Irish, Polish/Hungarian, and Croatian. less

This collection houses items relating to the educational institutions of the Cambria county area. This includes k-12, higher education, and technical schools.

This collection includes scans of immigration declarations registered in Cambria County from 1835-1991. Information includes name, place of departure, country of origin, and age.

This collection features items collected from the public that focus on the immigrant and ethnic heritage of Cambria County.

On May 31, 1889, the breaking of the South Fork Dam caused the single greatest natural disaster in the history of the United States: the Great more Johnstown Flood. It is the personal accounts and rare photographs of the survivors which are the focus of this project. Published in 1889, many of the selected texts are no longer in print or available for public access. less

This ongoing collection consists of finding aids created for the archival holdings of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (1827- ). Included are guides to historical materials such more as the PHS minute books, administrative records, and PHS initiatives and programs for events including the Philadelphia Flower Show and Philadelphia Green. Finding aids also cover the extensive image file collections, glass slides, and ephemera connected with the activities of the Society. less

The Garden Club of Philadelphia was established in 1904 by Mrs. J. Willis Martin and Miss Ernestine Goodman to promote an interest in gardens, their design, more and management. The garden club held meetings, conducted horticultural research, attended lectures, and participated in civic endeavors. In 1913, several members of the Garden Club of Philadelphia joined with several women from other local gardening associations to form the larger Garden Club of America. This collection, comprised of more than 300 views on glass, most hand-tinted, focuses on individual private gardens in and around Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The images provide unique documentation of gardens that are either “lost” or have been significantly altered during the last half of the 20th-century and include multiple views of the estate gardens of Andalusia, Stenton, Highlands, and Ludington among many others. This digital project is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. less

The noted scholar, horticulturist, and landscape architect John Caspar Wister (1887-1982) focused on eastern Pennsylvanian climate and ecology through his work as first director of both more the Tyler Arboretum (Media, Pennsylvania) and the Scott Arboretum (Swarthmore College). This collection, comprised of more 400 views on glass, most hand-tinted, illustrated Wister's popular lectures, which he delivered to garden club members, college and university audiences, and horticultural societies in Philadelphia and throughout the United States from 1920s through the 1930s. The slides depict approximately 100 sites--primarily Philadelphia public and private gardens, parks and landscapes, and individual views of plant specimens. Geographically, the slides feature the American East and West, with Europe represented by Switzerland, Germany, France and England, and includes an unattributed subset devoted to China, Japan and Hawaii. This digital project is supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. less

This collection is comprised of photographic images documenting designed landscapes both private and public in and around Philadelphia. Digitized materials include early-twentieth century views of private, more public, and corporate gardens documented in the collection of the Society of Little Gardens of Philadelphia. In addition, the PHS Collection Portfolios document the activities the Rittenhouse Square Flower Market as well as materials connected to the School Gardens Movement in Philadelphia through the Perla A. Matthews photograph collection. Included are photographs taken by noted Canadian photographer Clara Sipprell (1885-1975) and Philadelphia photographer, Ida W. Pritchett of the Alba B. Johnson estate “Castana,” in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.  In addition, are the images of Edge Hill, the estate of Samuel W. Morris that depict the gardens designed by landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman (1869-1950) and photographed by "Mrs. Gillingham" [Mrs. C. Stratton Howe Gillingham] and Mattie Edwards Hewitt (1869-1956). This digital project is supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. less

This collection contains items related to Pennsylvania School for the Deaf's main campus located in the Mount Airy section of Northwest Philadelphia from 1892-1984. This campus more was a spacious, 33 acre location that served deaf and hard-of-hearing students from all over Pennsylvania. less

This is a collection of posters of varying size, color and medium pertaining to the U.S. and Pennsylvania from before the start of the Civil War more Period to the present. Subjects include business advertising, public announcements, broadsides, political cartoons, campaign posters, World War II, world travel, and civic duties. Manufactured for many different businesses, institutions, and government agencies, the artwork is by famous, obscure, and unknown commercial illustrators. less

A selection of historic photographs, documents, and ephemera from the archival collections at Peters Township Public Library. These primary source materials document changes within Peters Township more from the late 1800s through the 20th century. less

This collection contains photographs of people and places in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The Schuylkill Navigation Company was incorporated in 1815 for the purpose of making the Schuylkill River navigable. In the State Archives of Pennsylvania Manuscript Group 110 more there are copies of the legislative acts, minute books, correspondence, reports, and other documents of the company from 1815 until 1947 when the property was contributed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the 1947 report Appraisal Schuylkill Navigation Company Canal for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a "Brief History Of The Property To Be Appraised" is included. The "canal" or navigation system was constructed between Port Carbon and Philadelphia and covered a distance of 108 miles. Harry L. Rinker in his book, The Schuylkill Navigation: a Photographic History, points out that this "canal" was more properly a "navigation system" because it consisted of 18 dams, 23 canals which covered 57.73 miles, 120 locks, 17 stone aqueducts, one 450 foot long tunnel, 50.50 miles of slack water pools, 23 canals covering 57.73 miles, and 31 houses for toll and lock keepers when it was completed in May 1825. After 1825 efforts to improve the navigation system were ongoing, so the above number of structures changed over the years. There are photographs of some of the dwellings still in existence in 1947 in the Appraisal Schuylkill Navigation Company Canal for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Schuylkill Navigation Company collection at Reading Area Community College also includes drawings of reach profiles, canal boats, bowstring bridges, mechanical parts and scows. less

Although Reading Area Community College's Wes Fisher Piano Sheet Music Collection includes sheet music from the late 1800s to the 1970s, this digital collection only includes more items that should be in the public domain based on their publication date. less

This collection contains postcards that show images from around Berks County. The list of categories includes advertisements, attractions, exhibits, bridges, dams, buildings, businesses, clubs, organizations, hospitals, more bodies of water, scenes, and many more. The postcards range in date from approximately 1900 to 1950. less

The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy holds a special place in the history of North America, having been founded in 1821 as the first college of pharmacy more in the region. Over the years, the institution has stayed true to its mission of providing high-quality education to students seeking to make a difference in the sciences, health professions, and related fields. Alumni include John Wyeth, Joseph P. Remington, William Procter, Josiah K. and Eli Lilly, all of whom have left a lasting impact on pharmacy practice and related industries to this day. It is worth noting that Susan Hayhurst, class of 1883, was the first woman to graduate from the College, paving the way for generations of future female graduates. The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy's rich history is reflected in this collection of artifacts that showcase its involvement and engagement in the ever-evolving field of pharmacy. These objects include early certificates and diplomas, portraits of significant figures, and other PCP memorabilia. Additionally, there are academically related items like PCP formulas, botanies, chemicals, and prescriptions made and used by PCP members for their research, training, and professional advancements. Finally, the collection boasts student-life-related items such as College flags, fraternity and club objects, and commemorative photographs. Overall, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy's collection stands as a testament to the school's legacy and continued commitment to shaping the future of pharmacy. less

The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy holds an extensive and unique collection of medicinal products and prescriptions from across the Philadelphia region beginning in the mid-nineteenth century. more Visible on each bottle in the “Philadelphiana” collection is a label or embossment explicitly indicating a Philadelphia-based address or the city's name. The bottles and medicines displayed here were sold by Philadelphia-based pharmacists and druggists or manufactured in local plants and laboratories. This collection showcases Philadelphia’s rich history of independent pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical manufacturing. This collection of Philadelphia-based bottles and medicines illustrates several threads in the history of pharmacy: the evolution from individually- and family-owned operations in the mid- and late nineteenth century to corporate, globalized production and distribution by the end of the twentieth century; the interweaving of pharmaceutical manufacturing with that of other trades, such as the construction and garment industries; and the persisting embeddedness of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy education in pharmacy expertise in the region. less

From Lace Makers to Coal Miners contains photos, books, church records, and brochures of what life was like in the Lackawanna Valley from 1866-1920.  The photos more show prominent men of the time. These were bankers, rail owners, coal company owners, and members of the clergy.  There are programs from symphony orchestras, and books about coal mining and lace making. less

A collection of very early photographs of the library from 1893. There are also documents of the history of one of our buildings, the Silkman House. more less

A collection of Sewickley, Pennsylvania and Quaker Valley region historic images and documents from the history collections of the Sewickley Public Library.

This collection includes incomplete runs of the Ambler Gazette from 1897 to 1919, that are held in the State Library of Pennsylvania. This is a weekly more newspaper that reports news from multiple communities in Montgomery County. The local news reported in the paper is, in many cases, the only record of the development of the southern half of Montgomery County. less

A collection of Pennsylvania county, township and borough histories. Includes atlases and plat maps of the state, county, townships, cities, and boroughs.

A weekly newspaper from the small community of Waynesboro, Pa. Each issue includes section: Blue Ridge Zephyr. Run may have issues missing.

A weekly newspaper from the small community of Lebanon, Pa. Ceased in 1901. Merged with: Star (Lebanon, Pa.), to form: Star-advertiser (Lebanon, Pa.). Run may have more issues missing. less

A weekly newspaper from the small community of Mapleton Depot, Pa. Published every Saturday. Run may have issues missing.

A paper from the small community of Marietta, Pa., which was famous for religious tolerance and abolition advocacy.  Issues from Feb. 27, 1827-Jan. 08, 1830.  Paper more was known as the Pioneer and Country Advertiser from 1826 to Sept. 22, 1827(?), as the Marietta Pioneer from Sept. 29, 1827-Sept.26, 1828, and as the Pioneer from Oct. 3, 1828 to its apparent cease in 1834.  Run may have issues missing. less

Items include a report on the 1907 Dar Mine Disaster relief efforts; the Twin Shaft mining disaster investigation, 1986, Early Indian history along the Susquehanna River, more Problem of the Irish in America speech, 1886, American Freeman, 1867. less

This collection contains miscellany from various exhibitions and expositions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Pennsylvania.

Contains reports of Pennsylvania State Agencies such as the Annual Reports of the Eastern and Western State Penitentiaries from the 1800's - early 1900's; Reports of more the State Quarantine Board 1896, 1899; Reports from the Bureau of Mines, Reports of the Committee on Lunacy, late 1800's; Proceedings of the Pennsylvania History Society annual meetings, 1906-1908; and more. less

Welcome to the State Library of Pennsylvania's Pennsylvania Genealogy Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. Includes the Harrisburg Newspaper Index containing marriages more and deaths from four newspapers from 1799 to 1827; the Necrology Scrapbook with obituaries clipped from Pennsylvania newspapers from October 1891 to March 1904, including many Civil War veterans; and Courts & Lawyers of Pennsylvania, a History, 1623-1923, as well as a number of other family history related books and pamphlets. less

This collection contains periodicals, both newspaper and magazine in format, from the United States Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as well as Pennsylvania State documents and more other digital versions of works on the Native American populations of Pennsylvania. less

Selected Pennsylvania Regimental Histories in the Civil War, with histories of Pennsylvania units from other wars to be added.

Contains reports of Pennsylvania State Agencies such as the Annual Reports of the Eastern and Western State Penitentiaries from the 1800's - early 1900's; Reports of more the State Quarantine Board 1896, 1899; Reports from the Bureau of Mines, Reports of the Committee on Lunacy, late 1800's; Proceedings of the Pennsylvania History Society annual meetings, 1906-1908; and more. less

The movement of humans, animals and goods from one location to another within Pennsylvania and with other states.  Items in this collection reflect air, land (road), more railroad, water, cable, pipeline and space transportation. less

The major newspaper from Coudersport, Potter County, Pa. Published every Thursday. Ceased in 1969.

A wide variety of Civil War literature, including a report on the battle of Gettysburg, preparations for the internment of the remains of the dead at more Gettysburg, testimony of deplorable conditions in Confederate prisons, speeches for and against Reconstruction, and more. less

A newspaper from the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. It was issued daily except Sundays. Began June 6, 1872. Ceased in 1873? A weekly edition was also more published called the Luzerne union. In 1873 publisher began a new numbering. less

Welcome to the State Library of Pennsylvania's World War I Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. A collection of Materials about more World War I (1914-1918) from the State Library collection digitized in commemoration of the centennial of the Great War. less

In 1888, Miss Florence Baldwin founded "Miss Baldwin's School for Girls, Preparatory for Bryn Mawr College" in her mother's house at the corner of Montgomery and more Morris Avenues. Thirteen girls were enrolled in the first class. The establishment of the school was frowned upon by many as a "preposterous extravagance" because in the latter part of the nineteenth century the education of a woman still was considered not only unnecessary but also potentially dangerous. Today, as a college preparatory school for girls in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, Baldwin still honors the aims set by Miss Baldwin, adapting them to the needs of today. The Baldwin School Archives collection includes photos, documents, ephemera, and memorabilia, dating from 1888 through the present day. The collection reveals fascinating details about the education of young women in the United States; the history of Bryn Mawr, Philadelphia, and the Main Line; and the architecture of the magnificent 1892 Frank Furness Bryn Mawr Hotel (later the Residence of the Baldwin School). less

The Kiskiminetas Springs School was founded in 1888 by Andrew Wilson who believed its location by the Kiskiminetas River to be an ideal environment for educating more young men to continue on to higher learning. As one of the few remaining all-boys' boarding schools established in the 19th century, preserving Kiski’s unique history is vital. The Kiski School archive, housed in the John A. Pidgeon Library in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, maintains a large collection of memorabilia and materials documenting the School's rich heritage. The digital collections facilitate an understanding of the school’s rich historical presence in the community through the collection, preservation, and accessibility of school records. The collection includes but is not limited to: photographs from the late nineteenth century to the present, yearbooks and school catalogs dating back to 1919, school newspapers and other publications, as well as other memorabilia and ephemera. less

Annie Evaline Sanford was born on February 4, 1873 in Springfield, Illinois and graduated from Carthage College in 1894. Annie Sanford completed five missionary terms in more India from 1895-1902, 1904-1911, 1913-1920, 1922-1929, and 1931-1938. Primarily stationed at the Guntur Girls' School in Guntur, India, Miss Sanford assisted in hospital duties, taught Sunday school, and completed local missionary work during her service. During travel and work, Miss Sanford kept a journal that she would write for several months, then would send back to her family as a letter. For consistency purposes, this finding aid refers to the documents as letter journals to express their dual function in Miss Sanford’s life. In her letters, she chronicles her experiences spreading education and Christianity with communities in India. She also highlights local customs, the rigid Indian caste system, the weather, traveling throughout India, and current events in India and in the U.S. Each time Miss Sanford would travel between the U.S. and India, she would take a different route to tour parts of North Africa, Asia, and Europe, and this is reflected in her letters. less

Books and serial publications published by the various Lutheran Deaconess Communities in the United States, focused on those with Motherhouses in Philadelphia and Baltimore. The “In more Her Own Right” project has been made possible in part by a Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Foundations Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in site do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. less

Books and manuscripts published or created by the various Lutheran Women's Missionary Societies of the General Synod, General Council, and United Synod of the South. Included more here are both published materials from all three communities and manuscript minutes for the General Council's Women's Missionary Society. The “In Her Own Right” project has been made possible in part by a Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Foundations Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in site do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. less

This collection consists of glass lantern slides and syllabuses for the course “The Materials of Engineering Construction.” It was the first in a series of four more courses in Civil Engineering, developed by Samuel Tobias Wagner and taught at the Wagner Free Institute of Science between1893 and 1950. The course discussed the properties, mining, and manufacturing of the various materials used in civil engineering, including stone, brick, cement, concrete, wood, iron, and steel. Of note in the collection are photographs of quarries and furnaces in Swedeland, PA and photos of the Phoenix Iron Co., Phoenixville, PA. less

A collection of handwritten lectures on Conchology, consisting of an Introductory lecture followed by 15 topical lectures. They were written and delivered by William Wagner, founder more of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, between 1852 and 1884. Conchology was one of Wagner's favorite topics and this was the first lecture series he wrote. He delivered it for the first time in 1852, prior to opening the Institute in 1855. The lectures' inconsistent paginations and paper sizes, along with many notations throughout, are signs of the many alterations he made to his lectures throughout the years. less

An archive of over 300 digital images from the library's Historic Warren Photograph Collection.

The Carnival was a weeklong fundraiser event of the First Presbyterian Church of Warren, PA, featuring internationally and hobby themed booths, meals, and a daily publication. more It was held from September 23-29th, 1899 to help with debt resulting from a new building which had been built to facilitate recent church growth. The special edition souvenir newspaper was titled, The Carnival, and was published by members of the Ladies Aid Society, who also coordinated the Carnival event. less

Welcome to the West Pittston Library's Pittston Gazette Collection, a part of the POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents. The Pittston Gazette Collection includes more the first 58 years of publication from 1850 through 1908. The Gazette's circulation covered the Greater Pittston area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The news was focused on personal interests and the everyday life of residents in the area. Spanning 115 years, the Pittston Gazette newspaper gives the reader a view into how national and world events affected small town America. Through the pages of the Gazette, one can understand how events such as the Civil War, Spanish Influenza and the Depression influenced local residents on a personal level. The reader is transported back in time and is left with a sense of being there. The collection will be an invaluable resource to both historians and genealogists. less

The Samuel and Rosa Kern Letters collection spans a time frame from 1879 - 1887. These letters cover a broad range of topics spanning sports, social more activities, illness, education, weather and other areas of discussion. The letters cover a geographic area of: Lehigh, Northampton Lancaster, Chester, Northumberland, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania. Other locations from across the United States are also included. 0ver 60 area surnames are represented in this collection's content. less

A collection of papers and biographical materials from Williamson College of the Trades founder Isaiah Van Sant Williamson. Some photographs and genealogical research as well as more correspondence, legal, and financial papers. less

This collection includes early to mid century photographs and documents detailing the creation of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, now Williamson College of the more Trades. The school was endowed and created by I.V. Williamson to give a free trade education to impoverished young men and continues to fulfill this mission in present time. The campus is distinguished as having the largest collection of still-standing Frank Furness buildings. Furness was a well known local architect who designed Williamson's buildings in 1891. Much of the work on campus was done by Williamson students and instructors. less