Historical Society of Berks County facts for kids

The Historical Society of Berks County (HSBC) was started in 1869. It runs the Berks History Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. This center is both a museum and a library.

The Society's main goal is to teach people about the history of Berks County. They collect and save old items and stories. They want everyone to learn about the rich past of this area. The Historical Society keeps many items from Berks County's early days. These are found in its museum and the Henry Janssen Library. Each year, over 10,000 people visit the center. Students from local schools come to learn. Researchers from all over the country also visit.

Discover the Berks History Center

The Berks History Center is located at 940 Centre Ave, Reading, PA. The museum has a huge collection of historical items. There are more than 20,000 objects!

Art and Transportation Collections

You can see amazing artworks by local artists. These include Ben Austrian, Jack Coggins, and Christopher Shearer. The Society also has a large collection of old vehicles.

This includes:

• Bicycles
• A very rare horse-drawn streetcar
• A Conestoga Wagon (a large covered wagon)
• An old Duryea automobile
• Other wagons

Some of these vehicles are on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. This museum is in Boyertown, PA.

Special Exhibits

Besides the permanent collection, the museum also hosts new exhibits. They usually have up to three temporary shows each year. These exhibits focus on different parts of Berks County's history.

Explore the Henry Janssen Library

The Henry Janssen Library is at 160 Spring Street, Reading, PA. It is the main place for family history and local research. Many people say it has one of the best collections of county data in Pennsylvania.

Library Hours and Access

The library is open from Wednesday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. On Saturdays, it is open from 8 AM to 4 PM. If you are a member of the Historical Society, you can use the library for free. For non-members, there is a small daily fee of $7. Kids under 18 need to be with an adult.

What You Can Find in the Library

The library has many interesting things for you to explore. These include:

• Books about local family history and events
• Fraktur (colorful Pennsylvania German folk art documents)
• Old photos and almanacs
• Sheet music and business records
• Newspapers dating back to 1796
• Blueprints, surveys, and maps
• City directories from 1856
• Census records
• Many other historical documents
• Records from the Schuylkill Navigation Company and Union Canal
• Tax records from 1753

You can also find many resources for family history research. This includes church and cemetery records from the 1730s. The library has computer databases that you can search. You can even start your research online through their website. If you can't visit in person, the library offers research services for a fee.

History of the Society

The Historical Society of Berks County began in July 1869. People wanted to gather and save the history of Berks County. The Society officially started on December 13, 1869. The first president was William M. Hiester.

After a quiet period, Albert G. Green helped bring the Society back to life in 1898. Meetings were held in the Exchange Building in Reading. Kate E. Hawley was the first female member. She was the wife of Jesse G. Hawley, who started the Reading Eagle newspaper.

Early Collections and Buildings

The Historical Society started collecting objects in June 1898. Their first building was bought in June 1904. It was at 519 Court Street. At that time, there were 150 members.

Less than ten years later, the Society needed a bigger place. J. Bennett Nolan led the search for a new building. The current building's foundation was laid in the summer of 1928. Construction finished the next year. Charles H. Muhlenberg designed it to be fireproof. It is made of concrete and brick to protect the collections. The building opened on October 1, 1929. It is located at 940 Centre Avenue in Reading, PA.

Expanding for the Future

In the 1980s, the Society needed more space for offices, displays, and storage. They raised money for an addition. The new part of the building opened in 1988. This gave the library its own special storage and research area.

In 2000, the Society got its first off-site property. This was the Hendel House at 746 Centre Avenue. In 2016, the Society sold this beautiful Victorian house.

In 2005, the Historical Society bought the old M&T Bank building. It is at 160 Spring Street, right behind the main building. After many updates, this building became The Henry Janssen Library. This top-notch research center opened to the public on November 11, 2008.