The Judge Joseph Wissler Collection documents his fifty-five year career as a lawyer and judge. He recorded and categorized criminal court cases in a handwritten volume. Two scrapbooks contain his certificate of admittance to the Lancaster County Courts, letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings about criminal cases.
Admin/Biographical History
Joseph Buch Wissler was born in Clay Township, Lancaster County on 7 August 1892. Wissler attended Lititz High School and later graduated from Franklin and Marshall College. He earned his law degree from Harvard University. Wissler became a member of the Lancaster Bar Association, of which he was president in 1964 and 1965. He returned to practicing law as a local attorney after holding the position of District Attorney of Pennsylvania from 1924 to 1928. In 1941, Wissler was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and served in that position for twenty-nine years. Judge Wissler served in the law profession for over fifty-five years. Phi Beta Kappa of Franklin and Marshall College made Judge Wissler an honorary member in 1950 and the college presented him with an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1952. He was also a member of the Lancaster Tucquan Club from 1949 to 1969.
Lewis B. Sprecher's 90th Birthday Party, April 22, 1966, at the Hamilton Club. Guests identified are: standing, left to right: Don Reidenbaugh, ?, Albert B. Wohlsen, R. Harcourt Darmstaetter, Judge Paul Mueller, Jr., Clair McCollough, Milton Ranck, Chauncy Boyd Heath, Gilbert Lyons, Leigh Helm, Dr. S. G. Pontius. Seated, left to right: Henry Warren, Joseph Wissler, Walter Fraim, John Mueller, Lewis B. Sprecher, Robert Waddell.
Dedication of Barnes Hall Juvenile Detention Building, 900 East King Street. Persons identified are: Judge Wm. Johnston; County Controller Frank Feagley; County Commissioners Richard Wilmer, C. Abram Snyder, Herbert Wagaman; former probation officer Edgar Barnes, Sr., with flower, and Pres. Judge Joseph Wissler.
