Historical Society of Pennsylvania facts for kids
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The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Center City Philadelphia
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| Formation | 1824 |
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| Type | Historical Society |
| Headquarters | 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. 19107 |
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President and CEO
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David R. Brigham |
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The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a special place in Center City, Philadelphia where people can learn about history. It's like a giant treasure chest filled with millions of old items. These items include rare books, maps, old newspapers, and even family stories. They go back almost 300 years! You can find many of these amazing historical items on the society's website.
What the Society Does
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania was started in 1824. Its main goal is to collect and share the history of Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas. It's a place where historians, students, and anyone curious about the past can come to do research.
- Becoming a Member: To be a member, you had to agree to the rules. You also needed to pay your membership fees. Members could vote at meetings and elections.
The society holds a huge collection of historical materials. They have about 600,000 printed items. Plus, there are over 19 million handwritten papers and pictures! These collections focus on Pennsylvania's history. They cover events from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. In 2002, they added items from the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies. Then, in 2006, they also added collections from the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. This made their collection even bigger!
Recently, the society has been trying to get more young people involved. They have special programs called "Young Friends" to help with this.
The Society's Building
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia. It sits on the corner of 13th and Locust Streets. This spot used to be home to the Patterson Mansion. General Robert Patterson owned this mansion. He was a general in both the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He bought the mansion from John Hare Powel.
After General Patterson passed away in 1881, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania bought the mansion. They wanted it to be their permanent home. However, the mansion was taken down between 1905 and 1909. A new, fireproof building was then built in its place. This new building was finished in 1910. It is now listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places. This means it's an important historical landmark!
Amazing Collections
The Historical Society has many different kinds of historical items. They are all kept safe for people to study.
- Books and Pamphlets: They have all sorts of books. Some are very rare and old. Others are newer books that help with research. Very old books (from before 1820) are kept next door. They are at The Library Company of Philadelphia.
- Newspapers and Magazines: You can find newspapers and magazines that are almost 300 years old! Some are the original copies. Others are on microfilm, which is a tiny film copy.
- Handwritten Papers: This includes things like old letters, diaries, and even shopping lists! They also have records from old businesses and groups. These papers tell us about people's daily lives long ago.
- Pictures and Art: The society has many types of images. This includes drawings, paintings, and old photographs. They also have maps, posters, and other cool pictures.
- Printed Bits and Pieces: These are small printed items. Think of old event programs, invitations, or advertisements. They also have trade cards and menus from the past. These items give us a peek into everyday life.
- Microforms: These are tiny copies of documents on film. They include newspapers, family history records, and other collections.
All these amazing resources are available online. Researchers can use the "Online Catalogs and Research Tools" on the society's website. This helps them find exactly what they need for their projects.
See also
- List of historical societies in Pennsylvania
