Howard H. Lewis, longtime supporter of HSP, passed away on July 28, 2016. Mr. Lewis’ dedication to – and impact on – HSP stretched for more than four decades.

As a member of HSP’s Board of Councilors for 46 years, Mr. Lewis served as Recording Secretary and Board Chair. Together with his wife, Maxine, Mr. Lewis was instrumental in the funding of major renovations of HSP in the late 1990’s, and again in 2014. An early champion of digitization, Mr. Lewis invested in several institutional advancements to make HSP a leader in archival digitization. In 2011, he received the Heritage Award in recognition of his work with HSP and for his significant contributions to the future of the Philadelphia region’s history and heritage.

The Lewises understood the great breadth and depth of HSP’s collections, and strove to make these materials widely accessible. Their most recent project included the processing of 575 linear feet of archival material, with collections spanning a range of topics and themes – from 19th century business records and women’s voluntarism, to First World War battlefield medicine and early juvenile reform. HSP is proud to honor Mr. Lewis’ legacy of dedication to the preservation, study, and celebration of American history.