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 you can explore history! It's like a giant treasure chest filled with millions of old books, maps, letters, and pictures. These items tell stories from almost 300 years ago. You can even find many of them on the society's website.
Contents
What is the Historical Society of Pennsylvania?
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania was started way back in 1824. Its main goal is to collect and protect important historical items. These items help us learn about the past, especially the history of Pennsylvania.
The society keeps a huge collection of historical materials. This includes about 600,000 printed items. They also have over 19 million handwritten papers and graphic images. These collections cover history from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s.
In recent years, the society has started programs for younger people. These "Young Friends" programs help kids and teens learn about history in fun ways.
The Society's Historic Building
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is located in a special building. It stands on the corner of 13th and Locust Streets in Philadelphia. This spot used to be home to a large house called the Patterson Mansion.
General Robert Patterson owned the mansion. He was a general who fought in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. After he passed away in 1881, the Historical Society bought his mansion. They wanted it to be their permanent home.
The mansion was later taken down between 1905 and 1909. A new, strong building was built in its place. This new building was designed to be fireproof. It was officially opened in 1910. Today, the building is listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places. This means it is an important historical landmark.
What Kind of History Can You Find?
The Historical Society has many different types of historical items. They are all kept safe for people to study and learn from.
Books and Pamphlets
You can find many books here. Some are very old and rare. Others are newer reference books. The society also has many scholarly books. These are written by experts on different topics. Very old books (from before 1820) are kept next door. They are at The Library Company of Philadelphia.
Old Newspapers and Magazines
The society has newspapers and magazines that are almost 300 years old. You can read them in their original form. Some are also available on microfilm. Microfilm is a special film that stores tiny images of documents.
Handwritten Papers
This collection includes many unique items. You can find old letters, diaries, and family records. There are also business papers and scrapbooks. These "manuscripts" are often handwritten. They give us a direct look into people's lives long ago.
Pictures and Art
The society has a large collection of images. This includes old prints and watercolors. You can also see architectural drawings. There are many photographs, maps, and posters. These images help us see what the past looked like.
Everyday Items
The society also collects "printed ephemera." These are everyday paper items that were not meant to last. Examples include old event programs, invitations, and advertisements. They also have trade cards and menus. These items show us what daily life was like in the past.
Microforms
Besides microfilm, they also have microfiche. These are more tiny reproductions of documents. They include old newspapers and family history resources. Many old manuscript collections are also stored this way.
All these amazing resources are available online. You can use the "Online Catalogs and Research Tools" on the society's website. This helps researchers find the materials they need.
