This collection contains documents pertaining to the planning and preparation for the Freedom Train visit to Lancaster, as well as the corresponding Rededication Week celebration. These documents include press releases from The American Heritage Foundation describing the Freedom Train project, correspondence between The American Heritage Foundation and members of the Lancaster Freedom Train Committee discussing the Committee's plans for the celebration and their fundraising efforts. There is also correspondence between the Mayor of Lancaster, Dale E. Cary, and John W. Beyer discussing the formation of the Freedom Train Committee, the monetary contributions of the public, and the roles different organizations were taking in the Rededication Week celebration. The collection also includes a list of the Lancaster Freedom Train Committee members, materials regarding the formation of the committee, and various form letters sent to businesses thanking them for their contribution to the celebration. There are a number of publications in this collection, including information for the media and local churches, a large booklet detailing the goals and origins of The American Heritage Foundation, as well as a complete list of the cities the Freedom Train would be stopping in and the various railroads it would be using during its journey.
Admin/Biographical History
"The 1947 - 1949 Freedom Train was conceived as an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of American citizenship at a time when the nation was finding a new and central role in world affairs."1
The Lancaster Freedom Train Committee was assembled in 1948 to plan the Rededication Week celebration in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and prepare for the Freedom Train's arrival. The Committee was made up of 19 individuals who were responsible for fundraising, planning events and programs for the celebration, and working with community to make sure the visit went according to the plans of The American Heritage Foundation. John W. Beyer served as General Chairman of the committee, and the Mayor of Lancaster, Dale E. Cary, served as Honorary Chairman.
John W. Beyer was born on September 19, 1914 in Palmyra, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, to Caroline and Robert Beyer. He graduated from Upper Leacock Township High School in 1932, and then attended Franklin and Marshall College. After graduating 1936, Beyer attended the University of Pennsylvania, and received his law degree in 1939. Beyer began practicing law in 1940 as a partner in the law offices of Arnold, Beyer & Homsher. Beyer served in the Lancaster County District Attorney's office from 1943 to 1953, when he resigned from the position. Beyer served on many committees and was involved in multiple civic organizations including the Lancaster Aero Club, the Lancaster Exchange Club, and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. He died August, 14, 1990.
Dr. Dale E. Cary was born December 26, 1880 in Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth and Marcena Cary. He attended school in the Waynesburg County public school system, and later attended Waynesburg College. Cary spent three years teaching, and two years as assistant principal in the Brownsville Public School system before deciding to attend medical school at Jefferson Medical College. In 1911 Cary came to Lancaster, where he served a one-year internship at Lancaster General Hospital. He later started a private practice, and became one of two physicians serving the Lancaster City Schools. In 1941 Cary became Lancaster General's Medical Director, a position he held until 1945. Cary served three terms as Mayor of Lancaster, holding office from 1938-1950. He died on May 19, 1958, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Joel and Thomas Smedley’s Prospect Mills account book B
Description
Joel and Thomas Smedley’s Prospect Mills account book B contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for.. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards and planks. The recorded expenses include purchases from a brickyard (pg. 102), Susquehanna Canal Company (122), and Deer Creek Iron Works Company (125). Other mill expenses include employee wages, lumber, and potatoes.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
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. Original documents 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 for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Prospect Mills Daybook from (1866-1868) contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for, and lists of how much cider and sausage meat was made. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards, turning trundle posts, and rejoining carriage shafts. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages and transportation costs.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
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. Original documents 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 for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account book of Slater Brown, Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Account book of Slater Brown, Little Britain Township, Fulton Township.
Contains 197 paginated pages with verticle column lines, plus a 22 page front index and a 22 page up-side-down back index (blank), the tabs of both indexes were cut from the book pages. Also, 3 unpaginated leaves in front of the back index have account information from 1818, 1819 and 1821, plus 9 blank unpaginated in front of the back index.
Front Cover - Inside: "EARLY 19TH CENTURY; GRIST MILL LEDGER OF; SLAYTER BROWN, SON OF;THE QUAKER LEADER; JEREMIAH BROWN OF; PEACH BOTTOM" is written on bottom half.
Front Leaves: Are a 21 tabbed page index. The back sides of each tab are blank.
End Leaves: Are a 20 page tabbed index, The tabs are upside down and the pages are blank.
Back Cover - "Ledger A" is written on the outside of the back cover, back contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Book references an itemized list of client profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, clover seed, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and rent. The last page of the account book lists the work done at the schoolhouse in 1818 by helpers Peter and James. Three pressed ferns were also found within the account book (Pages. 1, 19, & 130).
Insert 1 - Blue donor card and 2 page Biographical sheets.
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Binding is damaged, top of back cover is not attached and top of spine has worn to the pages, cover has red rot; the last 33 pages are not attached at the top half of the pages.
Page in front of the back index is missing the bottom ~1".
Object ID
MG0963_F012
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Habeas Corpus paper of Letitia Kenady (Habeas 1814 F025)
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).
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
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.
Account Book of Slater Brown form Little Britain Township and Fulton Township
Description
Account Book of Slater Brown’s gristmill book D, from Little Britain Township and Fulton Township.
Contains 219 paginated ruled leaves with vertical column lines, plus 1 end leaf that is not paginated, and an 20 page index of clients, the last page of which has account information only.
Front Cover: "D." written in black on outside at top; inside has "ISAAC P. COOK" sold by book stamp. Inside cover is marbleized.
Back Cover - Inside cover is marbleized
Spine - "LEDGER" is stamped on the spine and the letter D was written at 3 places.
Front leaves - 2 leaves. The first leaf is marbleized on one side and has x'ed out 2 lines at the top.; second leaf has "Slater Brown Bern?" written on one side.
Back leaf - Only one that is marbleized on one side.
The letter "D" in written in black on the front cover and three times on the spine.
Book references an itemized list of customers profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, clover seed, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and rent.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 8 loose sheets, 3 are small pieces of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From Donor Card:
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Book cover is damaged but intact. Red rot of cover and spine is present and the leather has worn to the base at places on the edges. Spine has separated at the top rear seam. Spine had "LEDGER" printed on it and what appears to be a vertical 1/2" burn mark at the top.
The following stamp in on the inside cover.
SOLD BY
ISAAC P. COOK,
BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER,
No. 37 Market street,, Baltimore,
Where a general assortment of
Books and Stationary may be
obtained at low prices.
Orders thankfully received.
The front and back page have separated from the spine. Pages are in good condition, except pages 212 through 218, that have a 6 inch section of lower edges roughly worn. This is minor damage.
Object ID
MG0963_F014
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy.
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. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
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.
William Brown’s blacksmith account from Fulton Township
Contains 119 paginated leaves plus 5 end unpaginated pages, and a 2 page index.
Front Cover - Outside: "William Brown" written upside down; Inside: ""LEDGER OF WILLIAM BROWN; BLACKSMITH, QUAKER; FULTON TWNSHP; $175--/Sum" written at top and miscellaneous account information on rest of cover.
Spine has a faint "13" written on it.
Back Cover - Inside: Has miscellaneous account information.
Front 2 leafs - First leaf is an index; second leaf has account information.
The book references an itemized list of profits and expenses. The profits list ranges from selling steel shoes, hinges, smithing tongs, nails, chains, steel point shears as well as listing out repairs made to equipment and carriages. The recorded expenses for the mill include cloth, steel from Baltimore, and goat milk.
Insert 1 - A donor card and "The Book Haven" description.
Insert 2 - Right cover front corner of book cover.
Insert 3 - Three sheets pieces.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card
William Brown was a Quaker and a blacksmith, probably from Fulton Township.
Book is intact. Front cover missing upper right corner (4" diagonal measurement). Front and back covers heavily worn on edges.
Spine has red rot.
Front inside cover is peeling.
Page 36: Bottom 2" are torn off.
Page 120 has been torn out.
Object ID
MG0963_F011
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. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
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.
Smedley & Kirk Prospect Mills Daybook D contains an itemized list of their profits and expenses and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards and planks. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, and transportation costs. The daybook also contains a lock of hair with root attached (pg. 86-87). The hair is a brown with red highlights and is wryly; the source is unknown.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
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. Original documents 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 for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.