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Collection
Commonwealth vs. Edward L. Gibbs Records
Title
Commonwealth vs. Edward L. Gibbs
Object ID
MG0476
Date Range
1950-1951
  1 document  
Collection
Commonwealth vs. Edward L. Gibbs Records
Title
Commonwealth vs. Edward L. Gibbs
Description
On 10 January 1950, Marian L. Baker was brutally murdered by Edward Lester Gibbs. This collection contains W. Hensel Brown's copies of the clerk's file, transcripts, appeal briefs, and other court records from the murder trial of Edward L. Gibbs, 1950. Newspaper articles report on the 1950 trial and his 1951 electrocution.
Admin/Biographical History
Edward Lester Gibbs (1924-1951), veteran (98th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force) and husband of Helen Woodward, was from Gloucester County, NJ. In 1950, he was a student at Franklin and Marshall College. (1)
Marian Louise Baker (1928-1950), the daughter of Walter M. Baker and Helen Beatrice Soule Britcher, was originally from New Bloomfield, Perry County, PA. (2) She had spent much of her childhood in Conestoga, PA with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy O'Donel. (3) In 1950, she worked as a cashier and secretary in the treasurer's office at Franklin and Marshall College (4) and was engaged to Edward Rankin. (5)
W. Hensel Brown was the attorney chosen to defend Gibbs.
"On January 10, 1950, Marian Louise Baker was brutally slain by being
beaten to death with a lug wrench. Eight days later Edward Lester
Gibbs, defendant, confessed the killing. Thereafter, he was indicted in
Lancaster County, tried by a jury, and convicted of murder in the first
degree with the penalty fixed at death. Prior to his bringing this appeal, his motion for new trial was denied and sentence was imposed in accordance with the verdict.
At the time of the killing, defendant, a married war veteran twenty-five years of age, was a student at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. *185 In the early afternoon of January 10, 1950, he was in downtown Lancaster when he saw Miss Baker, an employee of the college. He offered to drive her back to the campus in his car and she accepted. However, instead of returning directly to the college, they rode out of town and into the open country. When they reached an isolated spot several miles from the city she commented on the view and defendant stopped the car so that they both might enjoy it. While sitting there he suddenly reached over and began choking her. She broke away and got out of the car. He followed her and after choking her again, he returned to the car, unlocked and opened the luggage compartment, removed the lug wrench, and beat her over the head with it until she was dead. He then left but later returned to hide the body and remove any incriminating evidence. The body was not discovered until four days later.
On January 18, 1950, defendant admitted committing the crime and on that same day he signed a statement setting forth the facts as we have synopsized them here. Neither at the trial nor at any other time did he deny the truth of that confession and substantially all of the facts contained in it were verified by the independent investigation of the Pennsylvania State Police." (6)
1 "Edward Lester Gibbs," Find A Grave, accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76555590/edward-lester-gibbs.
2 "Marian Louise Baker," Find A Grave, accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76632108/marian-louise-baker.
3 "Vintage photos, the 1950 murder of an F&M secretary," PennLive.com, last modified January 8, 2016, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/vintage_photos_the_1950_murder.html.
4 "Marian Louise Baker," Find A Grave, accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76632108/marian-louise-baker.
5 "Vintage photos, the 1950 murder of an F&M secretary," PennLive.com, last modified January 8, 2016, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/vintage_photos_the_1950_murder.html.
6 "Opinion by Mr. Chief Justice Drew, November 20, 1950," Justia, accessed November 27, 2018, https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1950/366-pa-182-0.html.
Date Range
1950-1951
Creation Date
1950-1951
Year Range From
1950
Year Range To
1951
Date of Accumulation
1950-1951
Creator
Brown, W. Hensel, b.1902.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 11
People
Brown, W. Hensel
Baker, Marian Louise
Gibbs, Edward Lester
Subjects
Murder
Trials (Murder)
Trial transcripts
Trials
Court records
Jury selection
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Court records
Finding aids
Jury selection
Manuscript groups
Murder
Newspaper clippings
Trial transcripts
Trials
Trials (Murder)
Extent
1 box, 15 folders, 24 items, 1,081 pages to scan, .5 cubic feet
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0476
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Information about photographs used as evidence may be found in the Photograph Collection-many of the photographs are restricted.
ObjectID 2-15-04-01 to 2-15-04-21
Information about photographs used as evidence may be found in the Photograph Collection-many of the photographs are restricted.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Folders 12-15 are restricted. Use photocopies in Folders 8-11.
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 Number
MG-476
Classification
MG0476
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by RC, May 2017.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Mayor James H. Ross Collection
Title
Mayor James H. Ross Collection
Object ID
MG0058
Date Range
1933-1937
  1 document  
Collection
Mayor James H. Ross Collection
Title
Mayor James H. Ross Collection
Description
The Mayor James H. Ross Collection documents Ross's political career from 1933-1937. James Ross, a businessman and civic leader, served as mayor of Lancaster from 1934-1938. The collection consists primarily of correspondence and a scrapbook. The letters are related to his mayoral election and responsibilities, the James H. Ross Ready to Wear Department Store, and personal matters. The scrapbook, compiled by his wife, contains information about his political career, the department store, and other local merchants, and provides a good background on the housing issues that threatened Lancaster City. The collection gives a fragmented picture of life in Lancaster in the 1930s, including commercial transactions, the Depression, religious charitable organizations, politics, and the Democratic Party.
Admin/Biographical History
James H. Ross was born in Green County, Ohio. When he was six, Ross's family moved to Monroe County, West Virginia where he attended school until he was seventeen. His family moved back to Ohio where he finished his schooling at Bowersville High School. After graduating, Ross moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and began working for M. T. Garvin & Co. Ross left M. T. Garvin & Co. in 1928 and established his own store, James H. Ross Ready to Wear Department Store, in December of that same year. James H. Ross was elected Mayor of Lancaster as a Democrat in 1934.
Date Range
1933-1937
Year Range From
1933
Year Range To
1937
Date of Accumulation
1933-1937
Creator
Ross, James Hubert, 1875-1962
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 02
People
Ross, James Hubert
Ross, Ethel E. Dietrich
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
Other Creators
Ross, Ethel E. Dietrich, 1892-1977
Subjects
Business records
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Lancaster (Pa.)--Politics and government
Letters
Local elections
Local taxation
Mayors--Pennsylvania--Lancaster County
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Speeches, addresses, etc.
Search Terms
Business records
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Elections
James H. Ross Ready to Wear Department Store
Letters
Milton J. Brecht Elementary School
Mayors
Newspaper clippings
Politics
Schools
Scrapbooks
Speeches
Taxes
Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster
Wheatland
Young Men's Democratic Club
Manuscript groups
Finding aids
Extent
2 boxes, 10 folders, 1 scrapbook, 1 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0058
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please make an appointment with the Research Center staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org to view the scrapbook.
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-58
Classification
MG0058
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Scrapbook, Career of James Ross, Former Merchant and Mayor, was previously housed in the Scrapbook Collection, Book 121. Scrapbook, Career of James Ross, Former Merchant and Mayor, was cataloged and preserved with funding from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
The Annexation of Greater Lancaster, Manheim Township, Book 1, 1947-1952
The Annexation of Greater Lancaster, Manheim Township, Book 2, 1947-1952
Object ID
MG0434_Box024and025
Date Range
1947-1952
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
The Annexation of Greater Lancaster, Manheim Township, Book 1, 1947-1952
The Annexation of Greater Lancaster, Manheim Township, Book 2, 1947-1952
Description
These scrapbooks address the development of Manheim Township. There is a variety of correspondence discussing the boundary lines between Greater Lancaster and Manheim Township and the impact they would have on the community. The books show the debates between Kendig C. Bare with Simplex Paper Box Corporation and John M. Groff with Armstrong Cork Company. The newspaper clippings give a wider community view of the complex problems in developing new boundary lines, including taxes and education.
Date Range
1947-1952
Creation Date
1947-1952
Year Range From
1947
Year Range To
1952
Creator
Groff, John M.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 22
People
Bare, Kendig Charles "Casey"
Groff, John M.
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Lancaster (Pa.)
Scrapbooks
Search Terms
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Lancaster
Letters
Manheim Twp.
Scrapbooks
Simplex Paper Box Corporation
Extent
2 volumes
Object Name
Scrapbook
Language
English
Object ID
MG0434_Box024and025
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Please request these items by contacting Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to your visit.
Copyright
These 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-434
Other Number
MG-434, Boxes 24 and 25
Classification
MG0434
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Cataloged by CRB, October 2007. Added to database, 24 September 2023.
Previously housed in the Scrapbook Collection, Books 33 and 34.
This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.
Less detail
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
"Old Bangor" Episcopal Church, Churchtown, Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, November 1951 - August 1958
Object ID
MG0434_BoxR007
Date Range
1951/11 - 1958/08
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
"Old Bangor" Episcopal Church, Churchtown, Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, November 1951 - August 1958
Description
The subject of this scrapbook is Bangor Episcopal Church located in Churchtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It contains information about the Bangor Church graveyard including some names, marker locations and epitaphs from the gravestones. Composed mostly of newspaper clippings, the scrapbook incorporates some handwritten notes to complement the newspaper articles. Within the book, there are several people mentioned associated with the church such as Robert E. Simpson, William F. Worner, Cyrus Jacobs and Hanson B. Jacobs.
Admin/Biographical History
Bangor Episcopal Church, Churchtown, Pennsylvania
Appropriately named "Old Bangor," this church is the oldest non-coastal church in America of Episcopalian denomination. The founding date is a disputed one with oral history dating back to 1722 and written history starting in 1728. With a predominantly Welsh congregation, Bangor Episcopal Church was given a grant and charter in 1730 from William Penn. The church's official charter was created on 1 March 1786, and the church still operates under this charter. The present stone building was completed in 1830. Bishop Ondernack performed the consecration of the present building in 1832. Bangor Churchyard contains 325 tombstones and many unmarked graves. The oldest tombstone is dated 6 July 1741 and is in memory of a young girl, who died at the age of three. There are tombstones in the graveyard from all the wars since the Revolutionary War until World War II. Bangor Church still stands and operates in Churchtown, Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Date Range
1951/11 - 1958/08
Creation Date
November 1951 - August 1958
Creator
Simpson, Robert E., compiler
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 22
People
Jacobs, Cyrus
Jacobs, Hanson B.
Simpson, Robert E.
Worner, William Frederic
Subjects
Bangor Episcopal Church (Lancaster County, Pa.)
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Epitaphs
Lancaster County (Pa.)--History, local
Marginalia (annotations)
Scrapbooks
Search Terms
Bangor Episcopal Church
Cemeteries
Churchtown, Caernarvon Twp.
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Gravestones
Newspaper clippings
Scrapbooks
Tombstones
Wheatland
Extent
1 volume
Object Name
Scrapbook
Language
English
Object ID
MG0434_BoxR007
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
"Bangor Protestant Episcopal Church, Caernarvon Township: the Graves at Bangor Church," in Engle's Notes and Queries (1898): 61- 65.
Simpson, Robert E. and William Frederic Worner. Old Bangor Episcopal Church, Churchtown, PA., 1734.
Worner, William Frederic. "Tombstone Transcriptions in Bangor Parish Churchyard, Churchtown, Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania." in National Genealogical Society Quarterly (September 1942): 103- 109.
_____. Bangor Parish Churchyard, Caernarvon Township.
The Episcopal Church of Bangor in Caernarvon: Churchtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1722… Women's Guild of Bangor Church, 1953.
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restricted access. Please make an appointment by contacting Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to your visit.
Copyright
This item 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-434
Other Number
MG-434, Box R007
Classification
MG0434
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Added to database 28 September 2023.
Previously housed in the Scrapbook Collection, Book 168.
Cataloged by CRB, October 2007.
This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.
Less detail
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
Catharine B. Spitler Scrapbook, Book 1, 1937-1943
Catharine B. Spitler Scrapbook, Book 2, 24 December 1971- 15 April 1987
Object ID
MG0434_Box079and080
Date Range
1937-1943; 1971-1987
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
Catharine B. Spitler Scrapbook, Book 1, 1937-1943
Catharine B. Spitler Scrapbook, Book 2, 24 December 1971- 15 April 1987
Description
Catharine B. Spitler, a resident of Landisville, Pennsylvania, compiled these scrapbooks. Book one contains information primarily about World War II. The newspaper clippings include information about Lancaster natives, both men and women that were involved in World War II, including ranks and location of service. There are also articles about the United States involvement in World War II. Interesting local articles and programs discuss the World War II Memorial in West Hempfield Township. Columbia's Sesquicentennial was documented through a series of newspaper clippings located in this scrapbook.
Book two is a compilation of newspaper clippings, engagement announcements, wedding announcements and obituaries pertaining to Lancastrians. Locations around Lancaster County that were mentioned are as follows: Lancaster, Hempfield, Ephrata, Maytown and Mount Joy. An interesting subject within the second scrapbook is the1972 Flood of Lancaster (Hurricane Agnes).
Date Range
1937-1943; 1971-1987
Creation Date
1937-1943; 1971-1987
Year Range From
1937
Year Range To
1987
Creator
Spitler, Catharine Bard, 1911-1989, compiler
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 22
People
Spitler, Catharine Bard
Subjects
Announcements
Church buildings--Pennsylvania--Lancaster County
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Ephrata Cloister
Floods--Pennsylvania
Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Hurricanes
Methodists--Pennsylvania
Obituaries
Programs (Publications)
Scrapbooks
World War, 1939-1945
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Columbia
Ephrata
Lancaster
Maytown, East Donegal Twp.
Mount Joy
Newspaper clippings
Obituaries
Scrapbooks
West Hempfield Twp.
World War II
WWII
Extent
2 volumes
Object Name
Scrapbook
Language
English
Object ID
MG0434_Box079and080
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Please request these items by contacting Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to your visit.
Copyright
These 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-434
Other Number
MG-434, Boxes 79 and 80
Classification
MG0434
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Cataloged by CRB, October 2007. Added to database, 28 September 2023.
Previously housed in the Scrapbook Collection, Books 128 and 130.
This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.
Less detail
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
Edith Raub Helm Scrapbooks
Object ID
MG0434_Box044and045
Date Range
1929-1943
Collection
Scrapbook Collection
Title
Edith Raub Helm Scrapbooks
Description
These volumes contain various newspaper clippings, printed materials, and ephemera collected by Edith Raub Helm. The books provide insight into her life including the schools she attended-Shippen School for Girls and Briarcliff Junior College. The scrapbooks focus on the social aspects of women's lives, featuring the theatre, wedding invitations, and engagement, marriage, and birth announcements.
System of Arrangement
Edith Raub Helm, Book 1, 1929-1940
Edith Raub Helm, Book 2, January 1939-May 1943
Date Range
1929-1943
Creation Date
1929-1943
Creator
Helm, Edith Raub, 1918-1978
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 22
People
Helm, Edith Raub
Subjects
Briarcliff Junior College (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.)
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Ephemera
Invitation cards
Playbills
Scrapbooks
Women--Education
World War, 1939-1945
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Ephemera
Invitations
Junior League of Lancaster
Lancaster Country Club
Newspaper clippings
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Shippen School
Women
World War II
WWII
Extent
2 volumes
Object Name
Scrapbook
Language
English
Object ID
MG0434_Box044and045
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Please request these items by contacting Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to your visit.
Copyright
These 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.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-434
Other Number
MG-434, Boxes 44 and 45
Classification
MG0434
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Cataloged by CRB, October 2007. Added to database, 25 October 2023.
Previously housed in the Scrapbook Collection, Books 10 and 11.
This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.
Less detail
Collection
Mary Warfel Collection
Title
Mary Warfel Collection
Object ID
MG0138
Date Range
1887-1945
ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. People: Warfel, Mary Sophia Subject Headings: Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) Harpists Musicians Programs (Publications) Scrapbooks Women musicians Search Terms: Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) Finding aids Harpists Manuscript groups Musicians
  1 document  
Collection
Mary Warfel Collection
Title
Mary Warfel Collection
Description
The Mary Warfel Collection contains materials collected by or pertaining to Mary Warfel, world renowned harpist from Lancaster County. There are scrapbooks, newspaper articles, programs, reviews, event announcements, and correspondence.
Admin/Biographical History
Mary Warfel was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1888 to a family of exceptional musical talent. Both her parents were musicians and her grandfather was a Viennese baritone. From an early age Warfel is said to have shown signs of her brilliance as she displayed unusual common sense and sound judgment. As a young lady Warfel decided to follow in the footsteps of her family as she went to study music at St. Mary's College, Notre Dame in 1905. While at St. Mary's Warfel studied the harp and the piano. Warfel wrote in her diary which she kept through the duration of her time at St. Mary's that the harp was her favorite instrument to study. Finishing her studies in 1906 Warfel would go on to graduate with honors.
Upon leaving college Warfel traveled to Philadelphia where she would study under the tutelage of Constantin von Sternberg. During this period of her life Mary Warfel's studies were more focused on the piano however the harp still remained her first love and she never abandoned hope of someday becoming a prominent harpist.
After her time with von Sternberg Warfel returned to Lancaster where she began her music career. Warfel kept track of her career by saving the newspaper articles and various letters wrote to her throughout her career. The first record that Mary Warfel saved came from a concert in Philadelphia on April 11, 1909 where she played the Woodland Presbyterian Church. From this point on until her breakout season Warfel played a handful of concerts every year mostly being recognized as a auxiliary performer barely getting much recognition.
Warfel's career took off after she played a concert in New York City on Palm Sunday in 1914. This was Warfel's final performance of the 1913-14 season. The 1914-15 season would turn out to be huge for Warfel as she would play concerts in Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia and New York City.
The 1916-17 season would be even bigger for Warfel as she became a well-known name in New York and played several large venues such as the Biltmore Hotel and Carnegie Hall. Despite Warfel's success on a grand stage she never divorced herself from her home town. For Mary Warfel, Lancaster City was home and she prided herself on trying to make Lancaster a premier music town by bringing in various big name artists to play concerts. Fritz Kreisler was one of the big names that Warfel brought to Lancaster, who was referred to by the local paper as the world's greatest violinist. Warfel also never stopped playing local venues herself. Throughout her career and no matter how big her name got Warfel had always played concerts at the Iris Club and the Fulton. By the end of the 1916-17 season Warfel's prestige had grown greatly and she became recognized as an elite harpist being compared to Ada Sassoli another great harpist of the era. A newspaper article that Warfel saved towards the end of the season mentioned that she was in high demand in New York.
Warfel's career would continue to grow and her reputation would as well. Her prestige grew to the point where she became recognized as the premier harpist in the United States and throughout all her success her attitude never changed. An article from a paper in Altoona in 1918 described Mary as, "Someone who distinguishes herself by not being the type of musician who will not do something because it is not in her contract." She was known to go out of her way to do things for others and such behavior gained her a great deal of followers.
During the twenties Warfel played less concerts and focused on her music series, bringing prominent names to Lancaster. Mary Warfel certainly would have been a well-known name amongst music lovers during her lifetime. Unfortunately she did not leave much of a legacy because all of her work consisted of live performances. The remaining records of Mary Warfel are newspaper articles from various cities that she saved, personal letters addressed to her, and several short excerpts from history books on Lancaster County. Regardless of what Mary Warfel did or did not leave she still stands among Lancaster's most distinguished citizens as a nationally recognized musician who played one of the most difficult instruments to master.
Date Range
1887-1945
Year Range From
1887
Year Range To
1945
Date of Accumulation
1887-1945
Creator
Warfel, Mary Sophia, 1888-1955
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 04
People
Warfel, Mary Sophia
Other Creators
Kaseman, Paul Warren, 1921-2009
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Harpists
Musicians
Programs (Publications)
Scrapbooks
Women musicians
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Finding aids
Harpists
Manuscript groups
Musicians
Newspaper clippings
Programs
Scrapbooks
Women
Women musicians
Extent
3 boxes, 18 folders, 2.5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0138
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
See also the Photograph Collection
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The items in Folders 10 and 11 were a gift of Paul Kaseman.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Folder 16 is restricted. All other items in the collection may be used--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at the 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 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.
Other Numbers
MG-138
Classification
MG0138
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid by PW. Biographical information by DJ, Fall 2014. Added to database 26 December 2023.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
S. S. Haldeman Papers
Title
S. S. Haldeman Papers
Object ID
MG0344
Date Range
1799-1977
Collection
S. S. Haldeman Papers
Title
S. S. Haldeman Papers
Description
The S. S. Haldeman Papers are an overview of Haldeman's career. The collection contains biographical information about and published works of Samuel Steman Haldeman on the freshwater univalve mollusca, language, and agriculture. There is also a handwritten biography on Ben Keywood.
Admin/Biographical History
Samuel Steman Haldeman was born in Locust Grove, Lancaster County circa 1812. He was the eldest of seven children of Henry Haldeman and Frances Steman. (Haldeman genealogy chart) Samuel was raised in the family mansion in Bainbridge and developed an interest in science and nature by wading in the Susquehanna River. There he collected shells, eels, Indian relics, minerals and insects. (Barber, 53) He was educated in public schools and attended Dickinson College for two years before withdrawing. Samuel left Dickinson because he found college to be irksome and that he could learn more on his own. After college Samuel educated himself by going to lectures, analyzing specimens, and studying books.
Also after college he moved into the mansion near Chickies Creek, which he designed. In 1835 S. S. Haldeman married Mary Hough of Bainbridge and they had four children. (Haldeman genealogy) Haldeman was not a religious man and was born protestant, but when he was in his thirties he converted to Roman Catholic and was a member of St. Mary's Church in Lancaster City.
During his life, Samuel was the author of scientific works, as well as many works on the study of language. One of his more famous works was A Monograph of the Limniades and other Fresh-Water Univalve Mollusca of United States. Samuel published these volumes during the 1840s. These volumes on mollusca were viewed as authoritative by most of the scientific world including Charles Darwin. (Sunday News, Lancaster, Pa.) Haldeman was considered an expert of many of the subjects he wrote about because of his attention to detail. He worked 16-hour days going over different specimens and spent time practicing the correct way to pronounce words and letters in different languages. (Croll)
Haldeman was the author of over 150 articles on natural science, zoology, ethnology, language, natural history, and archaeology. His publications include several newspaper articles for Lancaster County newspapers, the Marietta Times and the Intelligencer Journal. Additionally, he was the editor of the Pennsylvania Farm Journal for three years. Haldeman's articles were also published in Silliman's Journal, better known as The American Journal of Science, and Popular Science Monthly. (Croll)
However, Haldeman's career was not limited to publishing. His interest in the sciences led to careers in teaching and geology. In 1836 he began working for the State Geological Survey in New Jersey as an assistant and later held the same position in Pennsylvania. He received his first professorship to teach zoology at the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in 1841. Haldeman was elected professor of natural history at the University of Pennsylvania in 1851, and then in 1855 he became a professor of natural history at the University of Delaware. He returned to the University of Pennsylvania as a professor in 1876 and retained that position until his death in 1888. (Barber)
Haldeman did not limit his career solely to science. He managed the First National Bank of Marietta. He was also a partner with his brothers in the iron business that his father had built. The original name of the furnace was Chiqusalungo. It operated under the name E. Haldeman and Co. The brothers later built another blast furnace, and called the two furnaces Chickies 1 and Chickies 2. These furnaces were located along the Susquehanna south of Marietta. Haldeman perfected the practice of smelting iron with anthracite coal. Some of his articles on the use of anthracite coal in blast furnaces were published in Silliman's Journal during the 1840s. (Gramm)
Samuel Steman Haldeman brought the forefront of science to Lancaster County. He worked on issues relevant to his home and community. He was never involved in any business that did not affect his home or family and worked hard to the end of his life. He returned home, tired and exhausted, from a convention in Boston in 1888. Samuel Steman Haldeman died six days later of a heart attack at age 68. "Thus peacefully ended a useful life, full of years and honors." (Barber)
Works Cited:
Barber, Edwin A. "The Late Professor S.S. Haldeman" The Museum; 1885. MG-344 S. S. Haldeman Papers, Lancaster County Historical Society.
Croll, P. C. "Famous Pennsylvania Germans; Professor Samuel S. Haldeman, LL.D." The Pennsylvania German, v.6 1905.
Gramm, Bertha Sue, The Ironmasters of Marietta and vicinity during the period 1848-1878, Lancaster County Historical Society: Lancaster, Pa. 1948.
Haldeman genealogy chart prepared by Horace L. Haldeman, 1893. Haldeman Family file, Lancaster County Historical Society.
Date Range
1799-1977
Year Range From
1799
Year Range To
1977
Date of Accumulation
1799-1977
Creator
LancasterHistory (Organization)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 08
People
Haldeman, Frances
Haldeman, Henry
Haldeman, Samuel Steman
Hough, Mary
Keywood, Ben
Munsell, Joel
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Letters
Linguistics
Mollusks
Proofs (Printing)
Scientists
Scientists' writings
Search Terms
Agriculture
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Farming
Finding aids
Letters
Linguistics
Manuscript groups
Mechanics' Society
Mollusks
Newspaper clippings
Pennsylvania Farm Journal
Proofs (Printing)
Scientists
Extent
1 box, 24 folders, .5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English, German, and Latin
Object ID
MG0344
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Associated Material
Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society https://haldeman-mansion.org/
Related Item Notes
Haldeman Family Papers and Business Records (MG0736)
Curatorial Collection
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), S. S. Haldeman Papers (MG0344), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
See the attached finding aid for a list of S. S. Haldeman's publications.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use photocopies of newspaper articles.
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-344
Classification
MG0344
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Cataloged and finding aid prepared by AV, Fall semester 2006. Added to database 22 August 2017.
Less detail
Collection
Mother's Day, Jarvis and Reist Collection
Title
Mother's Day, Jarvis and Reist Collection
Object ID
MG0145
Date Range
1930-1939
  1 document  
Collection
Mother's Day, Jarvis and Reist Collection
Title
Mother's Day, Jarvis and Reist Collection
Description
The Mother's Day, Jarvis and Reist Collection documents the efforts of local attorney Linnaeus L. Reist to establish that Anna Jarvis was the founder of Mother's Day. The items include correspondence, newspaper articles, Mother's Day buttons and stationery, as well as objections to PA House Bill #830 and Resolution S. J. #115.
Admin/Biographical History
Miss Anna Maria Jarvis was born on 1 May 1864 in Webster, Taylor County, West Virginia. After the death of her father in 1902, she moved to Philadelphia with her mother and a sister. When her mother passed away on 9 May 1905, Anna vowed to fulfill her mother's wish to have a day to honor and remember mothers. This wish became her life's work.
Anna succeeded nationally in 1914 when both houses of the United States Congress passed resolutions establishing a Mother's Day observance on the second Sunday in May. She dedicated her life to promoting Mother's Day and obtaining legal recognition for this holiday around the world. Mother's Day is still celebrated the second Sunday in May.
Due to her failing health, Anna's friends moved her to the Marshall Square Sanitarium in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She passed away on 24 November 1948 at the age of 84 and was interred beside her mother in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Date Range
1930-1939
Year Range From
1930
Year Range To
1939
Date of Accumulation
1930-1939
Creator
Reist, Linnaeus Landis, 1885-1979
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 04
People
Hatfield, Henry Drury
Huggins, George Augustus
Jarvis, Anna Maria
Kee, John
Reist, Frances Lentz
Reist, Linnaeus Landis
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Holidays
Letters
Mother's Day
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Finding aids
Holidays
Letters
Manuscript groups
McIntire, Magee and Brown Company
Mother's Day
Newspaper clippings
Extent
1 box, 11 folders, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2021-02-12
Object ID
MG0145
Location of Originals
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-145
Classification
MG0145
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Added to database 28 September 2017.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Ranck Family Tobacco Papers
Title
Ranck Family Tobacco Papers
Object ID
MG0582
Date Range
1902-1967
  1 document  
Collection
Ranck Family Tobacco Papers
Title
Ranck Family Tobacco Papers
Description
This collection contains a history of the tobacco industry in Lancaster County during the first half of the twentieth century, as compiled by Milton H. Ranck, based on his experience and that of his father, Jacob L. Ranck.
Date Range
1902-1967
Creation Date
1902-1967
Year Range From
1902
Year Range To
1967
Date of Accumulation
1902-1967
Creator
Ranck, Milton H.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 12
People
Cooper, Charles J.
Hess, Mark S.
Hitchcock, Harry
Lestz, Gerald S.
Ranck, Jacob L.
Ranck, Milton Herr
Subjects
Scrapbooks
Tobacco industry
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Letters
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Cooper Tobacco Company
Correspondence
Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Company
Letters
Newspaper clippings
Scrapbooks
Tobacco industry
Finding aids
Manuscript groups
Extent
1 box, 5 folders, 1 scrapbook, 1 cubic foot
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0582
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-582
Classification
MG0582
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed by RW, 2011 and finding aid prepared by KK, June 2014.
Documents
Less detail

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