Blogs

HSP's technical services archivist since 2007.

This Author's Posts

Looking for a possible research topic? Two new finding aids have just been made available in the library and online:

1/12/12

18th century, 19th century, Conrad Weiser, finding aids, French and Indian War, James Grier Ralston, Native American, Pennsylvania

Tis the season to remember Wanamaker’s, Strawbridge and Clothier, Lit Brothers, and Gimbels

At the end of every holiday season, I, along with millions of others exasperated celebrators begin to take stock of all the spending. Where did you let loose your holiday funds this year? If recent trends are any indication, most people did their shopping online. Though brick-and-mortar stores saw many spenders as well, it seems likely that online shopping will continue to be a very viable (and preferred) choice for most shoppers.

Fondly, Pennsylvania

12/29/11

Gimbels, Lit Brothers, Philadelphia department stores, Philadelphia retail history, Strawbridge and Clothier, Wanamaker's

Comments: 4

Memories of the 1940s: World War II collections at HSP

Fondly, Pennsylvania

12/9/11

American homefront efforts during World War II, archival collections of the 1940s, World War II archival collections, World War II letters, World War II papers, World War II posters

Animals + archived images = Pets-In-Collections!

If you like animals and old pictures, then Pets-In-Collections might be the site for you!

Fondly, Pennsylvania

11/28/11

What Philadelphia department store began sponsoring a Thanksgiving Day parade in 1920?

Question of the Week

11/20/11

Gimbels

A housewife in Philadelphia during the Civil War, Ellen Emlen compiled a cookbook in 1865. How many recipes did she record?

Question of the Week

11/14/11

18th century, Arts and Culture, Civil War, Ellen Emlen, Philadelphia

Where was one of the oldest and largest iron ore deposits in America found in the 1730s?

Question of the Week

11/7/11

18th century, 19th century, American Revolution, Cornwall Furnace, Industry, Pennsylvania

Philadelphian Charles Godfrey Leland was a journalist, editor, poet, and soldier during the Civil War. What is he most remembered for writing and researching?

Question of the Week

10/31/11

19th century, Charles Godfrey Leland, Civil War, Industry, Philadelphia

Parting is such sweet sorrow: the really real and official end of PACSCL processing at HSP

Earlier this year, I posted about the end of the PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project at HSP. Well...it wasn't quite the end. Earlier this month, Holly and Courtney, spent time finalizing the finding aids for the six collections that they and Michael and Celia processed during their months here from January to June. It was very sad to see them go (for real, this time), yet what they left behind is nothing short of exciting.

Fondly, Pennsylvania

10/28/11

Belfield papers, Harold E. Cox Transportation collection, League of Women Voters of Philadelphia records, Logan family papers, PACSCL Hidden Collections Project, Penn family papers, World War II papers

What ship carried William Penn and some of the first settlers to Pennsylvania across the Atlantic Ocean in 1682?

Question of the Week

10/24/11

Colonial period, Immigration, Pennsylvania, William Penn