Documents related to the 100 year history (1909-2009) of the Lancaster Recreation Commission.
Admin/Biographical History
The Lancaster Recreation Commission (Lancaster Rec) is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency formed by a partnership agreement between the City of Lancaster, School District of Lancaster and Lancaster Township. Our administrative offices are located at the Lancaster Recreation Center.
Operating since 1909, we provide neighborhood-based recreation and learning opportunities for all ages – with an emphasis on affordable programs for children – at schools, parks, playgrounds, and other indoor and outdoor facilities. https://www.lancasterrec.org/about-lancaster-rec/ Date accessed 1 September 2022.
System of Arrangement
Series 1 Minutes (Boxes 1-4)
Series 2 General Administrative Records and History (Boxes 5-6)
Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Series #, Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
This collection is not fully cataloged. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
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
2010.LancRec
Other Numbers
MG-567
Classification
MG0567
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Collection arranged and finding aid started by AN, 2010. Added to database 1 September 2022.
This collection contains the historical records of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, including minutes, service bulletins, financial records, Lancaster Jewish history, and property records.
Box 1: Lancaster Jewish histories
Box 2: Shaarai Shomayim Cemetery
Box 3: Other Lancaster Jewish Organizations
Box 4: B'Nai B'rith Lancaster
Box 5: Rabbis
Box 6: Board Decisions, 1963-1978
Charter and By-laws
Box 7: Minutes, 1855-1934
Box 8: Minutes, 1934-1978
Box 9: Minutes, 1978-1995
Box 10: Presidents' Reports
1997 Triple Anniversary
Box 11 & 12: Special Services
Service Programs
Celebrations
Congregation Anniversaries
Box 13 & 14: Committee Reports
Old Church Music, adapted
Box 15 & 16: Property Records
Deeds, Mortgages
Renovations
Box 17: Membership Financial Ledgers, 1892-1949
Box 18 & 19: Membership Dues Receipt Books, 1939-1970
Resolution regarding Benjamin Lurio https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169712251/benjamin-lurio
Picture of the Simon lintel "In colonial times, when synagogues were scarce, traditional Jews in cities without synagogues conducted prayer services in their homes. This hand-carved wooden lintel was affixed horizontally above the opening of Joseph Simon's personal Torah ark in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In the lintel's center is a depiction of the two tablets symbolizing the Decalogue (the ten commandments) and below it the Hebrew saying, "Know before Whom you are standing," a phrase that often appears in synagogues on the ark lintel or above the reader's lectern." www.loc.gov/exhibits/haventohome/haven-haven.html#obj11
Digital archive (images, text, and history) by David Brenner: (accessible onsite)
"Over 7000 images related directly or indirectly to Congregation Shaarai Shomayim in Lancaster Pennsylvania. This is a file of scanned and downloaded documents, publications, newspaper articles, photographs etc. from the archives of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, Lancaster, PA, items loaned to me and online newspapers. The goal of this collection is to have in one place as much information as possible on Lancaster's Reform Jewish community, institutions, and mid to late 19th century Jewish immigrants that populated the second Jewish community of Lancaster in the 1840s and chartered the congregation."
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
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--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
2023.043
Other Numbers
MG-978
Classification
MG0978
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Originally inventoried by Ellen Pike and the Archives Committee at Shaarai Shomayim.
Lancaster County Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania
Description
This collection contains the Board Minutes for the Lancaster County Society of Farm Women from 1922 to 2004. These minutes include roll calls, treasurer reports, entertainment schedules and activity reports. Minutes from 1922 through 1971 are contained in leather bound books. The following years are in three-prong pocket folders or three-ring binders. This allowed for additional items to be put in with the minutes such as Thank-you cards, newspaper articles of events they sponsored and hand-written notes. By the 1990's the minutes are more sporadic, only a few or one from each year. There are programs from the annual convention of the County Society starting with the 13th convention in 1929 through the 60th convention in 1977. The following years are missing: 1934; 1943-1944; 1949-1954; 1957-1958; 1961-1962; 1965-1971. Some of the minutes also contain a copy of these programs. Later years and some of these missing programs may be found in the minutes themselves. There are four typed up documents that comprise the history of the Society that were drafted between 1929 through 1982. This includes a summary of the past years written in what they call a "skit." The final years also contain documentation regarding the duties of the officers of the society-elected board members.
Admin/Biographical History
The Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania was established by Flora Black from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1914 when she invited her female neighbors to her farm for lunch. Mrs. Black began the meeting for fellowship, but she also wanted to establish a support system for women living in rural communities. It was also a goal of the society to teach women to take on leadership roles and help contribute to society. Their numbers grew rapidly making it necessary for County chapters. (Reading Eagle. 8 Oct 2014. Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania Celebrating 100th Anniversary. http://www.readingeagle.com/berks-country/article/society-of-farm-women-of-pennsylvania-celebrating-100th-anniversary) The Lancaster County Chapter was formed in January, 1917. It was very popular and eventual grew to 33 separate societies throughout Lancaster by the 1980s. They founded many successful charity drives and scholarship programs, but also provided entertainment for their members, such as bus trips and vacation tours.
The Ranck Family Reunion Records contain reunion programs of the Ranck family from 1928 to 2002, lists of descendants from 1983 to 2000, minutes from 1976 to 2002, and letters and correspondence pertaining to the Ranck clan.
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 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-663
Classification
MG0663
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by KV, September 2013. Added to database 30 September 2021.
This collection contains the official records of the Sphinx Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The minute books date from 1912-1985. Histories of the club were prepared in 1934 and 1962. Dinner programs, membership lists, meeting and speaker schedules, correspondence and speeches make up the bulk of the collection. There are images of some of the earliest members, as well as articles about the statue of the Sphinx.
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 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.MG0341
Other Numbers
MG-341
Classification
MG0341
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed by DW. Finding aid prepared by KK, March-April 2014. Added to database 3 January 2022.
The United Steel Workers Union, Local 285, Records contain minutes of union meetings, negotiations with Armstrong Cork Company and Kerr Group, Inc., publications of Local 285 and Armstrong, correspondence with national union representatives, union flyers and other documents related to labor issues and strikes at Armstrong.
Kerr Group, Inc. and Armstrong Cork Company Architectural Drawings, 1916-1992 (MG0372)
Photograph Collection
Notes
This finding aid is a box list showing folder titles in order to make the collection available to researchers. The documents within the folders have not yet been cataloged at the item level. LancasterHistory replaced the folders with acid-free archival folders and retained the original folder titles. The newsletters, Local 285 Spotlight and Floor Plant Journal, were organized and placed in folders.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), United Steel Workers Union, Local 285, Records (MG0514), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
This collection is not fully cataloged, but may be used by appointment. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
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
2009.MG0514
Other Numbers
MG-514
Classification
MG0514
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Box list prepared by FM, 2010. Added to database 12 March 2022.
This collection contains genealogy for some of the descendants of Philip Lefever. Family history includes family sheets for several descendants, the family crest and a family tree. Copies of the will and estate inventory of Martin K. Lefever are among the documents. Minutes are preserved from the Adam Lefever Descendants Reunions, 1945-1979. There are also legal papers and information for the Philip Lefever Cemetery and Philip Lefever Burial Ground Association, including the rededication of the cemetery in 2001.
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