NEW: A Book about Harrisburg’s Historic African American Community and the Old Eighth Ward

Posted on by David Pettegrew

For Immediate Release A New Book Celebrates Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Historic African American Community and the Old Eighth Ward!!! The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota is proud to announce the release of One Hundred Voices: Harrisburg’s Historic African American Community, 1850-1920 edited by Calobe Jackson, Jr., Katie Wingert McArdle, David Pettegrew, and with … Continue reading NEW: A Book about Harrisburg’s Historic African American Community and the Old Eighth Ward

Digital Harrisburg Initiative: March 2020 Update

Posted on by David Pettegrew
Messiah College Center for Public Humanities students meet with members of the Commonwealth Monument Project

It's been some time since our last general update on the Digital Harrisburg Initiative, but that is not for lack of trying. Over the last year, in fact, our operation at Messiah College has grown, and our teams have been buzzing in activities, projects, digital tools, meetings, research, and public collaborations with community partners. It's … Continue reading Digital Harrisburg Initiative: March 2020 Update

Look Up, Look Out: Time Travel to the Old 8th Ward

Posted on by David Pettegrew

The most recent issue of ShowcaseNow! Magazine features a nice little piece by Lenwood Sloan about the Look Up and Look Out campaign which will tell the stories of the Old Eighth Ward between 1870 and 1920. We expect to launch that officially with posters and webpages in the next couple of weeks. In the … Continue reading Look Up, Look Out: Time Travel to the Old 8th Ward

Saturday Salon, May 4, 2:00-4:00

Posted on by David Pettegrew

Join us this Saturday, May 4, 2:00-4:00 for a Salon Celebration honoring white carnation descendants of the 100 Voices and other inhabitants of the Old Eighth Ward. The event will be held at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center at 1102 N. 3rd Street. Between 2:00 and 3:00, visitors can circulate between different tables and information booths, … Continue reading Saturday Salon, May 4, 2:00-4:00

Pennsylvania and the Underground Railroad: Chautauqua Workshop, (April 20)

Posted on by David Pettegrew

Join the Commonwealth Monument Project this coming Saturday for the next Chautauqua Workshop (on previous workshops, see this post). WHO: IIPT-TFEC Harrisburg Peace Promenade: The Commonwealth Monument Project WHAT: CHAUTAUQUA: Pennsylvania and the Underground Railroad: The Road to Harrisburg: a "Live and Learn" workshop WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2019 Noon-2 p WHERE: McCormick Public Library, … Continue reading Pennsylvania and the Underground Railroad: Chautauqua Workshop, (April 20)

Do You Know ME? Help us find descendants of 100 important Harrisburgers

Posted on by David Pettegrew

In partnership with the Commonwealth Monument Project, we are launching a campaign via Facebook, Twitter, and this blog to track down direct descendants of 100 influential African-American citizens who called Harrisburg their home in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Our collaborators in the project, history detectives Mr. Calobe Jackson, Lenwood Sloan, and Jeb … Continue reading Do You Know ME? Help us find descendants of 100 important Harrisburgers

Pieces of the Puzzle (The Burg Article on the Old Eighth Ward)

Posted on by David Pettegrew

M. Diane McCormick published a recent piece on the Commonwealth Monument Project at The Burg. Titled Pieces of the Puzzle, the essay details the project and also includes a video interview with Mr. Lenwood Sloan. Here's a taste of the article: "The stories lurk in half-forgotten memories. The images hide in boxes stashed in attics. … Continue reading Pieces of the Puzzle (The Burg Article on the Old Eighth Ward)

Reimagining the Old Eighth Ward: A Reflection on the First Chautauqua Lecture

Posted on by David Pettegrew

We recently kicked off the Commonwealth Monument Project with the first of six “Chautauqua Series” lectures at the McCormick Public Library. Close to 40 people came in and out during a two hour session. The library staff were supportive and helpful throughout. Mr. Lenwood Sloan facilitated an excellent series of presentations and conversations about the … Continue reading Reimagining the Old Eighth Ward: A Reflection on the First Chautauqua Lecture

Rethinking Harrisburg, the City Beautiful: Call for Contributions

Posted on by David Pettegrew

A call for contributions to a special issue of Pennsylvania History: "Harrisburg, The City Beautiful: Rethinking Urban Improvement in the Pennsylvania State Capital" edited by James B. LaGrand and David K. Pettegrew Abstract: Harrisburg’s City Beautiful Movement has an important place in the history of urban reform in America. Among the very earliest progressive reform movements, … Continue reading Rethinking Harrisburg, the City Beautiful: Call for Contributions