This collection contains information and materials relating to Milton Thomas Garvin, his department store and the Garvin Lecture Series. The scrapbooks were complied by him through the years of 1899-1936. Other items in this collection include letters to family and business partners, several pamphlets from the Garvin Lecture Series, M. T. Garvin & Co. store information, receipts, invoices, banquet programs, and a sampling of financial records from the store.
Admin/Biographical History
Milton Thomas Garvin was born in Fulton Township around 1860. In 1874, at the age of fourteen, Garvin quit school and moved to Lancaster City. He worked various odd jobs before he was hired to work as an errand boy for R. E. Fahnestock's dry goods store in December of 1874.
At the age of sixteen, Fahnestock promoted Garvin to a salesman for the store. He continued to work there through his adolescent years and was promoted to manager at the age of twenty-one, when Fahnestock was in failing health. Garvin assumed that responsibility for twelve years and then bought the store when Fahnestock was ready to retire. Garvin renamed the store M. T. Garvin & Co.
Over the next ten years, Garvin bought the rest of the building and several surrounding buildings to expand his store to a four story and three lot property. He prospered in business and was a philanthropist throughout Lancaster County.
Other than a prominent businessman, Garvin served as a board member, trustee, director or president of the following organizations: The Shippen School for Girls, Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, Meadville Theological Seminary, A. Herr Smith and Mechanics' Libraries, Lancaster Charity Society, Joseph Priestly Conference, and People's Octoraro Meeting House.
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.
Property Records for Shank's Tavern (Marietta, Pa.)
Description
Deeds and property records regarding present day Shank's Tavern at 36 South Waterford Avenue, Marietta, PA 17547. 1807-1995:
Deed #1 (James Anderson to Jacob Bitner) 1807 [original]
Deed #2 (James & Mary Anderson to Henry James Corey) 1813 [original]
Deed #3 (James Corey to Jacob Nicholas & Henry Long) 1813 [original]
Deed #4 (Jacob Nicholas to Benjamin Long) 1813 [original]
Deed #5 (Sheriff Frederick Hambright to David Rinehard) 1822 [original]
Deed #6 (John Beidler to John Heistand) 1828 [original]
Deed #7 (Benjamin Long to David Riehard) 1842 [original]
Typed document excerpt from Ellis & Evans History of Lancaster County re: David Rinehart
Deed #8 (Russel Child to Jane Hogan) 1865 [original]
Sheet of Confederate currency 18?? [original]
Deed #9 (Charlotte & George Mehaffey to John Waller) 1894 [original]
Mortgage (John Waller) 1894 [original]
Deed #9 (John Waller to Catherine Waller) 1897 [original]
Fire Insurance Policy (John Waller) 1898 [original]
Deed #10 Mortgage (John & Catherine Waller to Amos Bowman Executor of James Duffy Estate) 1899 [original]
Judgment Bond (John Waller to Catherine Waller) 1899 [original]
Catherine Waller will (1928) [photocopy]
Catherine Waller will (1932) [photocopy]
Catherine Waller to Ruth Rothrock envelope re: Bernard V. Santaniello Office of the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans Court Division [original]
Stock Certificate Providers Benefit Company (Kathleen D. Shank) 1970 [original]
Deed #11 (Ruth Rothrock Frey to Jack S. Frey) 1972 [original]
John P. Hohendal to Jack S. Frey legal correspondence (1972) [original]
Nikolaus & Hohenadel invoice for deed preparation (1972) [original]
Deed #12 (Jack & Janet S. Frey to Frey Heirs) 1991 [original]
Deed #12 (Jack & Janet S. Frey to Frey Heirs) 1991 [photocopy]
David T. Mountz to Jack S. Frey legal correspondence (1991) [original]
David T. Mountz invoice for deed preparation (1991) [original]
Deed #13 (Jeffrey Shank to J. Robert Shank, Jr.) 1995 [photocopy]
Receipt Sign for Shank's Tavern (1991) [photocopy]
Handwritten inventory of antique furniture in Shank's Tavern (private residence)
This collection has not been cataloged, but may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2022.014
Other Numbers
MG-953
Classification
MG0953
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Given by owner Bob Shank to one of Jean-Paul's students who was researching Shank's Tavern for a class project. Bob confirmed that he did not want the documents back.
