Pennsylvania Historical Association facts for kids
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| Formation | 1932 |
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| Headquarters | 216 Pinecrest, Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania 16933 |
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President
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Rachel A. Batch, PhD |
| Website | http://www.pa-history.org/ |
The Pennsylvania Historical Association (PHA) is a group started in 1932. It's a non-profit organization run by volunteers. Their main goal is to get people excited about the history of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region. They share history through a special magazine and by holding meetings. The PHA also helps with programs like Pennsylvania History Day.
Contents
Discovering Pennsylvania's Past
The idea for the PHA began in 1928. Two historians, Roy F. Nichols and Lawrence Henry Gipson, were talking. Nichols thought it would be great to focus on local history. He believed historians outside big cities needed more help.
How the PHA Began
Nichols, Gipson, and others imagined a new group. Unlike older groups, this one would help all historians in Pennsylvania. It would not be tied to any one place or school. This idea fit well with a new interest in regional history across the country. This interest grew during the New Deal era.
In 1932, several meetings took place in Pennsylvania. They set up the rules for the PHA. The first official meeting happened in 1933. It was held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
What the PHA Does
Since it started, the PHA has helped a lot with Pennsylvania history. They encourage new research and help organize historical records. At its 75th anniversary, the PHA had about 800 members. These members included historians, teachers, and anyone interested in Pennsylvania history.
Many organizations are also members. These include college libraries, schools, public libraries, and museums. The PHA holds annual meetings that last three days. These meetings move to different places across the state. They share new research and visit interesting historic sites.
The PHA's Important Mission
The main goal of the Pennsylvania Historical Association is clear. It is "to promote interest in, reading of, or study of Pennsylvania history." This includes how Pennsylvania history connects to American and world history. To do this, the PHA publishes materials. They also hold meetings where people can learn and share ideas.
Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies
Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies is a special magazine. It comes out four times a year. This journal shares the best new research on Pennsylvania history. It also covers the history of the surrounding Mid-Atlantic region.
What You'll Find Inside
Besides articles, the journal includes other interesting things. It has old documents with notes to explain them. It also features reviews of new history books. You can find reviews of museum exhibits, films, and historical collections too. Pennsylvania History has been published since 1934. It is the official journal of the PHA.
Reading Past Issues
All the old issues of the journal are available online for free. You can read issues from 1934 up to 2005. Just visit the website to explore them.
