April 2010
In This Issue:
Published by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
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Book cover
The PHMC has recently released the "Guide to African American Resources in the Pennsylvania State Archives" online as part of the 2010 theme, Black History in Pennsylvania: Communities in Common.
This resource, taken from "Guide to African American Resources at the Pennsylvania State Archives" by Ruth E. Hodge, is an easy-to-use reference for identifying and locating information available at the Pennsylvania State Archives relating to African Americans.
It was first published in 2000 as a book, since that time the resource has been updated with new content for the fifteen record groups and 62 manuscript groups that have been added since that time.
The Guide to African American Resources at the Pennsylvania State Archives is available online in the Black History of Pennsylvania theme section of our site.
March 30, 2010 we added the following to the CRGIS:
- Improved spatial searches - add a buffer zone, retain and print the selected polygon, and export or print the tabular data from the Spatial Summary.
- Historic Resource Survey Reports database - searchable in AskReGIS and included in spatial search results by municipality.
- Check the Help Page for more information on each of these features.
Map of surveyed communities in PA
As part of the 2010 history theme “African American in Pennsylvania: Communities in Common” a historic resource survey was completed in eight communities throughout Pennsylvania.
The communities chosen are: Meadville, Washington, Bedford, Mt. Union, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre, Stroudburg and Coatsville. Each report includes historic information, pictures and maps of resources included in each community.
Some surveys have been added and more will be published throughout the month. Visit the Community Survey page in the Black History in Pennsylvania theme site for access to the files.
The PHMC has made available a fiscal report to the public. This report contains summaries of the General Government Operations (GGO) and Keystone Preservation funding. It includes pie graphs to illustrate percentages of funding that go to salaries/benefits, utlities, infrastructure costs, maintenance, grants, etc.
View the 2010-2011 Funding and Operations report (PDF, 293 KB)
PHMC's 2010 annual theme logo
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) will celebrate Black History not only in February, but throughout 2010. The PHMC has selected Black History in Pennsylvania: Communities in Common, as its theme for 2010. Through this theme, the PHMC and its partners demonstrate a deeper commitment to the preservation and interpretation of Black heritage at the state and local level and encourage communities across the state to join and contribute to this important effort
Pennsylvania possesses a rich, diverse, and intriguing Black history, ranging from enslaved Africans held by founder William Penn to the Underground Railroad and the state’s role in the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement and the significant contributions of black scientists, artists, scholars and public figures. The Black community touched every part of the state, adding to the rich heritage we all share, regardless of race or ethnicity. By examining Black history through people, places, and events throughout Pennsylvania, many communities can reclaim this important part of their heritage.
March 2010
