Page 25: "Wild Cat group, May 30, 1902"; Wild Cat Falls, May 30, 1902; Wild Cat Falls Hotel, May 30, 1902; Man and woman seated by the Susquehanna River, "Looking for Wild Cat", May 30, 1901; Paddleboat at dock, "Bound for home, May 30, 1902, Lady Gay"; Entrance to Wild Cat Glen, May 30, 1902.
Provenance
First of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, between 1901 and 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
The World War I Collection contains the contents of a scrapbook assembled by an unknown WWI veteran. Included are military draft cards, photographs of Ambulance Co. No. 111, 28th Division, photographs and programs for dedication of memorial monument to Ambulance Co. No. 111, postcards of France, newspaper clippings, and posters.
MG-28 The Society of the 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces
MG-0028 The Society of the 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces
Additional Notes
The World War I Collection contains the contents of a scrapbook assembled by an unknown WWI veteran. Included are military draft cards, photographs of Ambulance Co. No. 111, 28th Division, photographs and programs for dedication of memorial monument to Ambulance Co. No. 111, postcards of France, newspaper clippings, and posters.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level.
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-45
Classification
MG0045
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Cataloged before 1997. Items have been added to the collection since 1997 and the finding aid has been revised accordingly. Added to database on 19 July 2017.
Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Page 35: Possibly Leacock Presbyterian Church; Group of people standing on deck with Susquehanna River in background, "Wild Cat Falls Hotel, August 1902"; "Observation Pavilion, Wild Cat, August 1902"; Pieces of interior trim and pews in yard of Leacock Presbyterian Church; Interior of Leacock Presbyterian Church; Glen Orchard, near Wild Cat Falls, August 1902.
Provenance
First of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, between 1901 and 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
Page 50: Group seated on deck, "Wild Cat Falls, August 21, 1903"; Baby in carriage in front of house, "Abram's baby"; Group seated on deck, "Wild Cat Falls, August 21, 1903"; Girl walking down stairs, "Coming from Glen Orchard, August 21, 1903"; "Glen Orchard Club, August 21, 1903"; "Jane Caanan, Pittsburg, Pa., November 1902", African-American woman.
Provenance
First of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, between 1901 and 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
Page 12: Round Top, Accomac, August 14, 1903; From Round Top, August 14, 1903; Round Top House, August 14, 1903; From Chickies Rock looking toward Marietta, August 14, 1903; Baby in carriage, two older children and an African American woman; From near Chickies Rock looking toward Columbia, August 14, 1903.
Provenance
Second of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, beginning in 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
Page 24: Lancaster County Prison, "Only castle in town, May 17, 1902"; Lancaster Cemetery Entrance, May 17, 1902; Advent Lutheran Church, May 17, 1902; Anna Fondersmith with doll in a little stroller, "County Prison Park, May 17, 1902"; Ann Palmer, Mrs. Leon Dodge's niece, May 19, 1902; Anna Fondersmith with unidentified Mennonite woman.
Provenance
First of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, between 1901 and 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
View of Lancaster taken from Zion Lutheran Church steeple, by moonlight. Shows Trinity Lutheran Church, the county courthouse and St. James Episcopal Church.
