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Collection
James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star Minutes
Title
James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star Minutes
Object ID
MG0753
Date Range
1920-2010
  1 document  
Collection
James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star Minutes
Title
James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star Minutes
Description
This collection contains the minutes of the James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star.
Admin/Biographical History
The James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star was founded in 1920 and was dissolved in 2011.
Date Range
1920-2010
Creation Date
1920-2010
Year Range From
1920
Year Range To
2010
Creator
James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Order of the Eastern Star
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 15
Subjects
Fraternal organizations
Lancaster (Pa.)
Minutes (Records)
Order of the Eastern Star
Order of the Eastern Star. James Buchanan Chapter No. 315 (Lancaster, Pa.)
Search Terms
Finding aids
Fraternal organizations
Manuscript groups
Minutes
Order of the Eastern Star. James Buchanan Chapter No. 315, Lancaster
Extent
6 boxes, 30 volumes, 3 cubic feet
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0753
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-753
Other Number
MG-753
Classification
MG0753
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by RR and SM in Summer and Fall 2015; and SW in Spring 2016. Added to database 23 May 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Apprenticeship and Indenture Documents
Title
Apprenticeship and Indenture Documents
Object ID
MG0721
Date Range
1762-1855
mulatto) of the age sixteen months is indentured until he is 21 years of age as a servant to Abraham Johnston by Peter Stewart’s mother Mary Parsons, 13 November 1784. Transferred from Document Collection, June 2014. Folder 3 Jacob Reinhard with the advice and consent of his mother Mary Reinhard
  1 document  
Collection
Apprenticeship and Indenture Documents
Title
Apprenticeship and Indenture Documents
Description
The Apprenticeship and Indenture Documents include legal contracts between apprentice, or the parent or guardians, and master; as well as one contract between an indentured servant and master. The contracts identify the parties involved, municipalities, trade to be learned, and terms of contract.
Date Range
1762-1855
Creation Date
1762-1855
Year Range From
1762
Year Range To
1855
Creator
LancasterHistory (Organization)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 15
People
Boyd, Nickolas C.
Brant, John
Carver, Seneca
Convery, Patrick
Daly, James
Eshleman, Guy
Eversole, Jacob
Fenney, Catherine
Ganter, George
Hess, John
Humerich, Christian
Humphreville, Frank
Humphreville,Henry
Humphreville, Susanna
Ihling, John
Johns, Jacob
Johnston, Abraham
Lesher, John
Long, George
Messner, Christian
Moore, David
Moore, Zacharias
Parsons, Mary
Peddin, John
Porter, John
Porter, William
Quick, Philip
Reinhard, Jacob
Reinhard, Mary
Remo, Jenetta
Remo, Samuel
Remo, Susanna
Ruch, John
Ruch, Peter
Seeger, Fredrich
Steele, William W.
Stewart, Peter
Welsh, James
Subjects
Apprentices
Blacksmiths
Carpenters
Contract labor
Contracts
Joiners
Saddlery
Tinsmiths
Weavers
Search Terms
Apprentices
Blacksmiths
Brecknock Twp.
Carpenters
Contract labor
Cocalico Twp.
Colerain Twp.
Donegal Twp.
Drumore Twp.
Finding aids
Indentures
Joiners
Lancaster
Little Britain Twp.
Manuscript groups
Persons of color
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Providence Twp.
Saddlery
Tinsmiths
Weavers
Extent
1 box, 6 folders, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English, German
Object ID
MG0721
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Apprenticeship and Indenture Documents (MG0721), 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-721
Classification
MG0721
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by PH, July 2014. Added to database 26 May 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Robert C. Price Papers
Title
Robert C. Price Papers
Object ID
MG0724
Date Range
1842-1895
  1 document  
Collection
Robert C. Price Papers
Title
Robert C. Price Papers
Description
This collection contains the papers of Robert C. Price. Examples of school assignments and teaching-related ephemera include geometry, poetry, and a preamble to a teachers' society constitution. He was involved with several arbitrations with the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County. The personal and business correspondence contains political and religious references.
Admin/Biographical History
Robert C. Price taught at Millersville Normal School.
Date Range
1842-1895
Creation Date
1842-1895
Year Range From
1762
Year Range To
1855
Creator
Price, Robert C.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 15
People
Price, Robert C.
Subjects
Letters
Search Terms
Manuscript groups
Finding aids
Letters
Correspondence
Extent
1 box, 9 folders, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0724
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-724
Other Number
MG-724
Classification
MG0724
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Transferred from the Document Collection, 31 May 2014.
Processed and finding aid prepared by PH, July 2014. Added to database 26 May 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Helen Buckwalter Woerner Family Papers
Title
Helen Buckwalter Woerner Family Papers
Object ID
MG0720
Date Range
1798-1939
  1 document  
Collection
Helen Buckwalter Woerner Family Papers
Title
Helen Buckwalter Woerner Family Papers
Description
This collection contains the family papers of Helen Buckwalter Woerner from 1798-1939 including deeds, farm inventories, public sale posters, estate papers, and contracts. Some items of interest are the deeds, public sale documents, and a Campbell's Soup Company contract for tomato growing. A map shows the site master plan for the Lancaster Airport that was built on this family's farmland.
Date Range
1798-1939
Year Range From
1798
Year Range To
1939
Date of Accumulation
1798-1939
Creator
Woerner family
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 15
People
Bassler, Maria
Bernhard, Henry
Bernhardy, Henry
Breitigan, Daniel Mumma
Bomgardener, Elias
Burkholder, Ann
Buckwalter, Barbara
Buckwalter Daniel W.
Buckwalter, David Joseph
Buckwalter, Elam
Buckwalter, Harry Sahm
Burkholder, Henry
Buckwalter, Henry W.
Buckwalter, Hiram
Buckwalter, Ivan
Buckwalter, Joseph
Burkholder, Martha
Buckwalter, Stella
Burkholder, Rebecca
Burkholder, Veronica
Cross, Peter
Drutt, George
Dunlap, W. M.
Dutt, Anne
Dutt, George
Eberle, Ann
Eberly, H. S.
Fory, Zeno
Frank, Christian
Fulmer, Phillip
Hackman, Andrew
Harnish, M. M.
Hartman, Frank
Heidman, Elizabeth
Heilmand, John
Herr, Isaac
Herr, Walter
Hollersten, Peter
Homsher, Fred
Huber, Abraham
Kreider, Abraham
Kreiter, Christian
Landis, Levi
Myers, N. S.
Myers, Samuel
Masterson, Maria
Masterson, Thomas
Newcomer, Jacob
Nolly, Loretta Jane
Peifer, Amos
Ritter, Benjamin
Ruth, John
Sahm, Aaron
Sahm, David C.
Sahm, Eliza Gross
Sahm, George
Sahm, Henry Gross
Sahm, Lizzie M. Longenecker
Sahm, Levi
Sahm, Menno L.
Shriner, Daniel
Snyder, H. B.
Spacht, Ralph M.
Stauffer, Christian
Weidman, David
Witmer, David M.
Subjects
Airports
Auctions
Broadsides
Campbell Soup Company
Contracts
Deeds
Inventories
Loans
Maps
Probate records
Receipts (Acknowledgments)
Runways (Aeronautics)
Stocks
Taxation
Wills
Search Terms
Administrators' accounts
Agreements
Airports
American Union Telephone Company
Auctions
Broadsides
Campbell Soup Company
Contracts
Deeds
East Petersburg, East Hempfield Twp.
Estate inventories
Executors' accounts
Farm Debt Adjustment Committee
Farmers Market Company
Federal Land Bank of Baltimore
Financial records
Guardianship accounts
Inventories
Kissel Hill Telephone Company
Lancaster Abattoir Company
Lancaster Trust Company
Leaf Tobacco Company
Livestock
Loans
Manheim Fairview Cemetery
Manheim Twp.
Maps
Mount Joy Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Neffsville, Manheim Twp.
Penn Twp.
Phoenix Water Power Company
Probate records
Reading Transit and Light Company
Receipts
Runways
Stocks
Taxation
Taxes
Warwick Twp.
West Lampeter Twp.
Wills
Extent
2 boxes, 46 folders, 1 rolled map, 2 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0720
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Helen Buckwalter Woerner Family Papers (MG0720), 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-720
Other Number
MG-720
Classification
MG0720
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by EH, Fall 2014. Added to database 26 May 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Lancaster County Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania
Title
Lancaster County Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania
Object ID
MG0711
Date Range
1917-2004
  1 document  
Collection
Lancaster County Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania
Title
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.
Date Range
1917-2004
Creation Date
1917-2004
Year Range From
1917
Year Range To
2004
Creator
Society of Farm Women of Lancaster County (Pa.)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 15
Subjects
Business records
Ephemera
Lancaster County (Pa.)
Meetings
Minutes (Records)
Women in agriculture
Search Terms
Agriculture
Business records
Ephemera
Farming
Finding aids
Lancaster County Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania
Manuscript groups
Meetings
Minutes
Women in agriculture
Extent
3 boxes, 23 folders/binders, 80 items, 3168 pages to scan, 1.5 cubic feet
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0711
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-711
Other Number
MG-711
Classification
MG0711
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by KB, 11 December 2015. Added to database 26 May 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Adam Reigart Collection
Title
Adam Reigart Collection
Object ID
MG0122
Date Range
1795-1869
  1 document  
Collection
Adam Reigart Collection
Title
Adam Reigart Collection
Description
This Reigart family collection contains family papers and items related to Adam Reigart's business. The business items include licenses to sell wines and spirits, postage accounts, financial and legal documents, orders for wines and spirits, and correspondence. Receipts represent payments for direct tax, household furniture tax, water rent, and watch and lamp tax. An item of note is the 1795 stock certificate for the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road Company.
Date Range
1795-1869
Year Range From
1795
Year Range To
1869
Date of Accumulation
1795-1869
Creator
LancasterHistory (Organization)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 04
People
Reigart, Adam
Reigart, Adam, Jr.
Subjects
Business records
Letters
Search Terms
Business records
Letters
Correspondence
Finding aids
Manuscript groups
Extent
1 box, 11 folders, .5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0122
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Related Item Notes
Adam Reigart Jr., John S. Murphy Collection, MG0331
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-122
Other Number
MG-122
Classification
MG0122
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed prior to 1997. Added to database 30 June 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Conestoga Church of the Brethren Records
Title
Conestoga Church of the Brethren Records
Object ID
MG0646
Date Range
1734-1849
  1 document  
Collection
Conestoga Church of the Brethren Records
Title
Conestoga Church of the Brethren Records
Description
The Conestoga Church of the Brethren Records contain photocopies of the baptism records of the Conestoga Church of the Brethren from 1734 to 1849. The Conestoga Church of Brethren was founded in 1724.
Date Range
1734-1849
Year Range From
1734
Year Range To
1849
Date of Accumulation
1734-1849
Creator
Conestoga Church of the Brethren (Leola, Pa.)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 13
Subjects
Church records and registers
Churches
Baptismal records
Search Terms
Baptismal records
Church records and registers
Churches
Conestoga Church of the Brethren
Finding aids
Manuscript groups
Extent
1 folder
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0646
Location of Originals
[Conestoga Church of the Brethren]
Copies
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Conestoga Church of the Brethren Records (MG0646), 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-646
Other Number
MG-646
Classification
MG0646
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by KV, May-June 2014. Added to database 2 July 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
William Wright Collection
Title
William Wright Collection
Object ID
MG0056
Date Range
1729-1962
Collection
William Wright Collection
Title
William Wright Collection
Description
The William Wright Collection contains the papers of William Wright and his descendants. The papers include wills, land drafts, inventories, releases, receipts, correspondence, genealogical information, photographs, and copies of obituaries.
Date Range
1729-1962
Year Range From
1729
Year Range To
1962
Date of Accumulation
1729-1962
Creator
Wright family
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 02
People
Bartram, Elizabeth
Bartram, John
Bartram, William
Benson, Evelyn A.
Cartlidge, John
Johnson, C. Edwin
Johnson, Frank L.
Johnston, C. Edwin
Logan, William
Postlethwaite, John Jr.
Say, Thomas
Wright, Benjamin
Wright, Elizabeth
Wright, Hannah
Wright, James
Wright, Joseph
Wright, Joseph B.
Wright, Lillian
Wright, Mary
Wright, Thomas
Wright, William
Wright, William Jr.
Wright, William Sr.
Subjects
Family records
Wills
Deeds
Letters
Genealogy
Search Terms
Conestoga Manor
Correspondence
Deeds
Family records
Genealogy
Letters
Obituaries
Receipts
Wills
Extent
1 box, 26 folders, .5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0056
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
(It appears there is a correlation between this Wright family and the John Wright who petitioned the Philadelphia courts for the formation of Lancaster County in 1729. Further research must be done on this link. There were several interesting envelopes containing documents in bad repair. These envelopes all had the return address of C. J. Rainear & Co., Inc, 210 N. 21st Street, Philadelphia 3, PA. One envelope has been retained with the collection. Further investigation is necessary to determine the relationship between this company, the donor and the Wright family.)
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. 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
William Wright Collection (MG-56), Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory.org
Other Numbers
MG-56
Classification
MG0056
Description Level
Fonds
Less detail
Collection
Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church Collection
Title
Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church Collection
Object ID
MG0007
Date Range
1744-1927
  1 document  
Collection
Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church Collection
Title
Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church Collection
Description
The Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church Collection contains church records, property records, legal documents, a songbook, and a liturgy book.
Admin/Biographical History
Peace United Church of Christ was formed in the late 1960s by the joining of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Adamstown and Muddy Creek United Church of Christ. Muddy Creek UCC is one of the earliest German Reformed churches in the area, its founding marked with the first recorded baptisms in January of 1731.
Date Range
1744-1927
Year Range From
1744
Year Range To
1927
Date of Accumulation
1744-1927
Creator
Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed Church
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 01
People
Bechtolt, Catherine
Bechtolt, William
Becker, Jacob E.
Egly, Marcus
Frey, Jacob
Frey, Peter
Grill, Adam
Haller, Henry
Hartung, Maria
Hartung, Richard
Hartung, Solomon
Hefft, George
Lauch, Henry
Laush, Mary
Lesher, Samuel
Lutz, Casper
Penn, Richard
Penn, Thomas
Schnider, Valantin
Schober, Philip
Shoup, Christopher
Swartz, Levi P.
Swartz, Lydia
Weiss, Peter
Subjects
Lutheran Church
Reformed Church
German Reformed Church
Church records and registers
Deeds
Hymnals
Liturgies
Search Terms
Calvinist Reformation Congregation
German Reformed Congregation of Muddy Creek Church
Lutheran Congregations of Muddy Creek Church
Muddy Creek Church
Lutheran Church
Reformed Church
German Reformed Church
Financial records
Surveys
Church records and registers
Deeds
Hymnals
Liturgies
Manuscript groups
Finding aids
Extent
1 box, 10 folders, .5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English, German
Object ID
MG0007
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Folder 3: Please use photocopy in Folder 3a; make an appointment with the Director of Archival Services to use original.
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-7
Classification
MG0007
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This collection was cataloged prior to 1997. Added to database 8 February 2018.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Title
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Object ID
MG0019
Date Range
1850-1993
September 1955. Insert 7 Letter from Robert C. Batchelder of Saint James’ Church to John Andrews commenting on the paper he wrote on John Wise. Invitation to the Lancaster Public Library. 2-21 April 1956. �230 North President Avenue • Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603-3125 717.392.4633
  1 document  
Collection
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Title
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Description
The John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection contains material about John Wise, a pioneering balloonist from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the history of ballooning. Articles written by and about John Wise provide information about the man and his career. The bulk of Series 1 is correspondence, research notes, and drafts of "The John Wise Story," by John H. Andrews. Series 2 contains material about the ballooning hobby, other early aircraft, and the history of air mail.
Admin/Biographical History
As an adventurous and inquisitive young boy, John Wise was drawn to the skies above his native Lancaster County. He was fascinated by aerial pursuits and began to conduct experiments. He tied his cat to his homemade parachute and observed the cat's safe descent from a local church steeple.
A keen interest in ballooning developed and Wise became a famous aeronaut. Although balloon ascensions were common at county fairs and carnivals he had never observed an ascension before he made his first one in Philadelphia in 1835. John Wise completed 462 balloon ascensions including Lancaster ascensions from Penn Square and the prison yard.
In the nineteenth century many ascensions were made just for the novelty of the event, but John Wise's approach was from a scientific perspective. Each ascension gave him a chance to conduct scientific investigations of the atmosphere, pneumatics and hydrostatics.
It also gave him the opportunity to develop a more advanced flying machine. Wise was the first to observe the "great river of air which always blows from west to east" in the higher regions of the atmosphere. Today we call this phenomenon the jet stream. He also developed the ripcord safety mechanism.
John Wise promoted the advantages of balloon transportation. In 1843 he conceived a project for crossing the Atlantic Ocean and asked Congress to appropriate $15,000 for the project. Congress rejected the appropriation. Wise suggested a plan to bomb the Castle at Vera Cruz during the Mexican War and during the Civil War the Bureau of Topographical Engineers requested his services as a balloonist. He is credited with the first airmail transportation in 1859.
Detailed descriptions of his ascensions and experiments are found in his book, Through the Air, published in 1873. The last ascent of John Wise took place on September 29, 1879 from St. Louis, Missouri. This flight ended disastrously in Lake Michigan where his balloon fell and his remains lie.
Prepared by the Lancaster County Historical Society, ca. 1995.
System of Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1 John Wise
Series 2 History of Ballooning
Date Range
1850-1993
Creation Date
1850-1993
Year Range From
1850
Year Range To
1993
Date of Accumulation
1850-1993
Creator
Andrews, John H.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 01
People
Albertson, Catherine
Andrews, John Henry
Atkinson, S. C.
Bache, Hartman
Ball, Charles I.
Bartlett, Mrs. R. A.
Batchelder, Robert C.
Beckwith, A.
Beller, William
Black, J. W.
Blanchard, Jean Pierre
Blitzstein, Madelin
Bradbury, Ray
Brown, Elizabeth B.
Bruce, George
Burlingame, Roger
Burr, George
Byars, W. W.
Casey, Louis
Cessna, Clyde
Coffman, Ramon
Cornish, Joseph Jenkins, III
Cox, Palmer
Douty, Esther
Douty, Esther M.
Drepperd, Carl W.
Edwards, Vincent
Elvin, Thomas
Evans, William
Field, Francis J.
Fischer, Hans
Fleck, Glen
French, Melvin
Galzer, Emmett J.
Gambetta, Francis Leon
Greeley, A. W.
Grimm, Janet
Gryzewski, Tad
Halmi, Robert
Harrell, D. Tudor
Hautrive, M.
Hayden, F. Stansbury
Hopkins, Philip S.
Hunt, E. F.
Ingle, Harold E.
Kehr, Ernest A.
Keith, Barbara
Kessler, F. W.
Klein, Frederic S.
Kouwenhoven, John A.
Kreider, Ira
Kriebel, Robert C.
Kriebel, Robert G.
Lamorisse, Albert
LaPaz, Lincoln
Lindbergh, Charles
Lindquist, H. L.
Long, Elmer R.
Lundgren, Laura May Gross
Madsen, Peter
Maier, Alfred D.
Maxwell, George T.
McCloskey, Lores
McDevitt, William
Mills, James
Myers, Wilfred
Naves, Glen W.
Nicklin, John
Pasquarella, Gus
Peers, W.
Prevost, John W.
Roland, John
Rosenfeld, Albert
Sanabria, Nicolas
Schatvet, H. C.
Serviss, Garrett P.
Smith, Philip R., Jr.
Stehling, Kurt R
Steinmetz, Rollin
Stilphen, George F.
Taylor, Florence
Thompson, Howard
Topping, A.D.
Waitt, Robert
Warner, B. H.
Watson, Marion A.
Wetherill, Richard B.
Whipple, A. W.
Wilbur, W. H.
Wise, John
Wiseman, Frederick J.
Wolcott, Charles
Wolf, Constance
Woodruff, J. C.
Wright, Wilbur
Young, Pearl
Other Creators
Lancaster County Historical Society (Pa.)
Subjects
Hot air balloons
Hot air balloons--Launching
Airships
Aeronautics
Letters
Air mail service
Hindenburg (Airship)
Reconnaissance aircraft
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Search Terms
Aeronautics
Air mail service
Airships
Aviation
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Finding aids
Hindenburg (Airship)
Hot air balloons
Letters
Manuscript groups
Newspaper clippings
Obituaries
Reconnaissance aircraft
Extent
3 boxes, 40 folders, 1 scrapbook, 1 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0019
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-19
Classification
MG0019
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This collection was cataloged prior to 1997; added to database on 28 February 2018.
Documents
Less detail

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