The Woodward Hill Cemetery Collection contains records of the cemetery from 1851-1997, such as the charter and by-laws, board minutes, lot holder records, plans, programs, financial documents, and grant proposals. The records include the names of thousands of people who were employed by, buried at, served on the cemetery board, or were otherwise associated with the cemetery.
Admin/Biographical History
For more than 150 years, Woodward Hill Cemetery has been one of Lancaster’s most significant historic sites. As the final resting place of numerous prominent citizens including President James Buchanan, with a layout reflecting Victorian ideals of landscape design and containing fine examples of funerary monuments, Woodward Hill’s national significance was recognized in 2005 when the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Woodward Hill was the largest and most elaborate of the new rural cemeteries established in Lancaster during the mid-nineteenth century. Rural cemeteries were designed as vital open spaces or public parks for the community; they provided a place for recreation as well as veneration of the dead. As a final resting place for illustrious citizens, Woodward Hill is a “museum” of notable clergy, educators, civic leaders, and veterans. Today the cemetery occupies 32 acres and contains approximately 13,750 grave markers ranging in date from the late eighteenth century to the present day. They illustrate the 200-year evolution of funerary art, sculpture and associated symbolism. In addition to tombstones, there are numerous obelisks and mausoleums representing Victorian, neoclassical, and early modern architectural styles. Founded in 1852 by Trinity Lutheran Church, Woodward Hill Cemetery is one of Lancaster's significant historic sites. The cemetery was the largest and most elaborate of the new "rural" cemeteries established in the mid- nineteenth century. It was designed as vital open space, allowing for recreation as well as veneration of the dead. The final resting place of many notable clergy, veterans, education, civic and business leaders, Woodward Hill's best known grave site belongs to James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States http://www.woodwardhillcemetery.com/ 8/11/17
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Woodward Hill Cemetery Collection (MG0264), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Folders 11-15 contain restricted materials.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Yeates, Lancaster County Historical Society Collection
Description
Yeates, Lancaster County Historical Society Collection provides insight into the Yeates family, local social history, and details of legal business from 1743-1870. These documents have been collected by the Lancaster County Historical Society over many years. Collection includes letters, receipts, articles, eviction notice, advertisement, estate inventories, wills, deeds, treaty, court transcript, drawings, photographs, copy of house plan, post road distances, daybook, letter book, catalog of books in Jasper Yeates' library, and an alphabetical catalog of law books.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Yeates, Lancaster County Historical Society Collection (MG0205), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions noted at the item level. The letter copybooks in Folders 31 and 36 are restricted--please use the transcriptions available in the library.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-205
Classification
MG0205
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Folders 1-34 and Books 1-2 were processed and finding aid prepared prior to 1997. Added to PP on 26 March 2022.
This collection contains deeds, articles of agreement, descriptions of property, and a land draft pertaining to property on Gibney Road in West Lampeter Twp. and one deed for property in Penn Twp.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Gibney Road Property Records, 1846-1955 (MG0919), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Please request at the Reference Desk or contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Accession Number
2004.MG0919
Other Numbers
MG-919
Classification
MG0919
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Transferred from Document Collection Box 33, Folder 9, 15 April 2022.
The Harry Lincoln Long Collection contains documents of the Long family of Drumore Twp. Most papers pertain to property of the Long and Worrell families, and the estate of Robert H. Long. The documents include a broadside, deeds, land drafts, receipts, insurance policies, and correspondence.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this collection must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2005.MG0380
Other Numbers
MG-380
Classification
MG0380
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Harry Lincoln Long was the donor's maternal grandfather; he kept these documents for the family.
Property Records of the Neel Family of Drumore Twp.
Description
This collection contains documents pertaining to property owned by the Neel family in Drumore Township, Lancaster County. The land along the Susquehanna River was originally deeded to William Mitchell by Thomas and Richard Penn. The land drafts show property lines and owners of the adjoining tracts.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Property Records of the Neel Family of Drumore Twp. (MG0463), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
The land drafts in Folder 2 are very fragile; patrons may use photocopies of the documents.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Michael Brecht Family Papers contain legal documents, receipts, and a deed for plots in Lancaster Cemetery belonging to Michael Brecht of Lancaster.
Admin/Biographical History
Michael Brecht was born 2 November 1854 and died 29 January 1930 in Lancaster. He owned property on South Duke Street in Lancaster.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Michael Brecth Family Papers (MG0893), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Accession Number
Unknown.MG0893
Other Numbers
MG-893
Other Number
MG-893
Classification
MG0893
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Transferred from Brecht family file 4 August 1999. Transferred from Document Collection Box 28, Folder 10, 2 March 2022.
Ebenezer Baptist Church and Other Property Records
Description
The Ebenezer Baptist Church and Other Property Records contain the articles of agreement and a letter of proposal regarding the building of Ebenezer Baptist Church on Locust Street in Lancaster in 1905. The collection also includes a sheriff's deed for property on North Street and documents pertaining to property on Middle Street in Lancaster.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Ebenezer Baptist Church and Other Property Records (MG0471), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This collection contains various deeds and land drafts for property owned by the Galbreath family in Donegal Township, Lancaster County; tracts of land in Warren County and McKean County, Pennsylvania; lands owned by Martin Mylin in Lampeter Township; lots in the borough (now city) of Lancaster; and a letter form James Buchanan to Col. Henry Carpenter regarding property in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Land Records from Elain Ewing Holden, 1747-1848 (MG0903), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Accession Number
2001.MG0903
Other Numbers
MG-903
Other Number
MG-903
Classification
MG0903
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Transferred from Document Collection Box 30, Folder 13, 17 March 2022
The William B. Arnold Collection includes deeds, articles, newspaper clippings, a ledger book 1894, and daybook 1935. Includes Quarter Sessions 1856-1867, and items from Lancaster Vo-Tech Authority, Union Construction Co., Fulton Construction Co., and a list of bounty money to avoid the Draft in 1864.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), William B. Arnold Collection (MG114), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-114
Classification
MG0114
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Cataloged prior to 1997. Added to database 24 March 2022.
This collection contains estate papers and financial documents of Dr. Charles Herbst.
Admin/Biographical History
Charles Herbst (1782-1865) studied medicine with Dr. William Fahnestock and started his practice in 1804. The following year he was a physician at the prison. In May 1813, he served as surgeon in Major Samuel Humes' Lancaster Battalion. Dr. Herbst is buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
