Discover the compassionate relationships that developed between German POW’s and a Civilian Contractor during WWII when the Reading Airbase maintained a camp for German prisoners of war, who served as workers at the airbase and on the farms around Berks County. Presented by Keith Heberling and Roger Rank. From September, 1944 to February, 1946, the […]
Learn about the history of the Berks History Center from its fledgling founding in 1869 as the Historical Society of Berks County to present day. Presented by BHC Trustee, Barry Kauffman. Free admission as a special thank you to all of our supporters over the years. Light Refreshments served at 9:30AM. Off street parking available […]
Learn how the peaceful relations between William Penn and the Native People were threatened by an armed skirmish between settlers and the “strange Indians” near the Manatawny Creek, the killing of three peaceful Lenape in the Cacossing area, and Sassoonan’s protest against the Tulpehocken Settlement. Presented by Barry Miller. Snow Date: January 18 No Tickets […]
Join journalist and author, Jim Remsen as he chronicles the experiences of a group of fugitive slaves who escaped southern bondage, dared to openly build new lives in Pennsylvania, and later returned south to fight for the Union. Journalist and author Jim Remsen will present an illustrated history talk, “Freedom-Seekers Turned Freedom-Fighters,” which chronicles the […]
To ensure the health and safety of our community, this program has been canceled. We are making arrangement to film the performance of “System Shakers and Barrier Breakers: The Suffragists” to air online at a later date. Kick off the Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial with women’s historian, Hallie Vaughan, who will portray the influential suffragist, Alice Paul […]
Due to the extended stay at home orders, this event has been canceled. We are working to provide digital programming to replace our regularly scheduled Second Saturday programs. This particular speaker has been rescheduled for 2021. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania’s ironworks produced a large percentage of Colonial America’s iron. The battles […]
Missing BHC Second Saturday? So are we! Thanks to the help of Herbein + Co. and our friend, Paul Druzba, the Berks History Center would like to invite you to our very first digital Second Saturday program! In lieu of our canceled May Second Saturday program, we are giving this digital option a try. We […]
Due to the statewide shutdown, this event has been canceled. This program will be rescheduled in 2021. Discover the stories behind the Ringgold Light Artillery before they became the preeminent light artillery company in Eastern Pennsylvania, with Civil War historian, Mark Pflum. No Tickets Required. All Second Saturday programs are “pay at the door.” $5.00 […]
Please join us to discover the history of the construction of the Maidencreek Dam and Lake Ontelaunee between 1925 and 1932. This special digital presentation will explore the crisis in Reading’s water supply that created the need for the project, the drama of the 1927 “Shotgun Rebellion” by local farmers whose land was ultimately under […]
Discover the stories of the Berks County women who worked for the woman suffrage movement locally. Find out how RACC Associate Dean of Library Services, Mary Ellen Heckman, used old newspapers and local records to reveal their hard work and personal lives and learn how to use these same techniques to uncover your own ancestors' […]