Did you know that there were Amish in Reading back in the 1700s? Have you ever wondered what happened to them? For answers to your questions, tune in to this lecture by Nic Stoltzfus, a descendant of one of the Amish families who lived in Reading in the late 1700s. His lecture will focus on the […]
Berks History Center, along with Heinz History Center and Unlock Your History come together on Zoom to bring you an educational and engaging Germanic transcription workshop. Discover Pennsylvania German history, brush up on your German, see artifacts from Berks History Center's museum collection, and share your own family heirlooms and stories. Register now using the […]
This bus trip was originally scheduled on March 29th and has been rescheduled to December 8, 2020 due to the concerns with COVID-19. Please contact Vicky Heffner at 610-375-4375 for any rescheduling conflicts or additional concerns. Explore PA German folk art at Trappe’s new Center for PA German Studies and enjoy tours of the […]
Take a nostalgic, virtual "walk" down Penn Street with Berks History Center Trustee and volunteer, Richard Polityka. Enjoy the images of "Old Reading" and remember Penn Street as it was on Christmas years ago with a photographic history. (Photo by Ben Hasty, courtesy of the Reading Eagle) This is a free event to attend, but […]
Local Historian Paul Druzba tells the story of the "resort years" on Neversink from 1890-1930, a time which saw the building of an eight-mile water-powered electric railway on the mountain, as well as several fantastic resort hotels and recreation areas. This is a follow-up presentation to two hikes of Neversink Mountain during the fall of […]
During this one hour broadcast, local musician and entertainer, Dave Kline, presents a fascinating look into the legacy of songwriters, musicians and the situations that helped them connect with a worldwide audience. Participants are encouraged to tune in and interact during the live concert by asking questions and leaving comments using the chat feature. […]
Emeritus Archivist at Bethany's Children's Home, Carl Bloss, explores the hidden history of the Soldier's Orphans' Schools implemented by the State of PA to care for and educate the many orphaned children of the Civil War; In 1863, Bethany Orphan's Home had already accepted many soldier's orphans before this program expanded to include 43 institutions […]
American Revolutionaries struggled with a key question: would the words of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal,” apply to all people?” From the outbreak of the Revolution, people of African descent asked and answered this question through their words and actions. In this talk, hear the stories and explore the objects […]
The Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial continues its celebration with an informative presentation by Amanda Owen, Executive Director of the Justice Bell Foundation, who educates the significance of the Justice Bell in not only Berks County but the State of PA as a whole. This "Other Liberty Bell" was unique in that PA was the only […]
Trustee, author, and retired attorney Brian C. Engelhardt, Esq., explores the difficulties that women jurors faced following the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women suffrage in 1920, as well as passage of legislation in Pennsylvania which specifically guaranteed to women the right of jury service. However problems of getting the names of women […]