When I first encountered the “Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital” in an archive folder, I hardly expected the challenges I would encounter and the complexity of such a rich history that both intimidated yet excited me. I vividly remember sifting through pages of primary documents at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searching through maps, brochures, photographic images, … Continue reading Digitizing Pennsylvania’s “Lunatic Hospital”
One evening, in my excitement (and haste) to search for a placed-based digitization project, I came across the title “Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital.” Immediately, its history captivated me, and my research on Harrisburg State Hospital and its creation in Harrisburg thus began. For two days, I had the opportunity to practice careful research at the … Continue reading Harrisburg’s Once “Lunatic Hospital” and Two Archive Visits Later…
The Chester Way Tour project combines place-based, often forgotten, stories of Harrisburg's history from the 19th to the 20th century that illuminate the civil rights effort of the region. The first story of this tour, which I’m delighted to share, begins with the first European settler of Harrisburg, John Harris, a mulberry tree, and the rumored account … Continue reading Before Harrisburg: John Harris and Hercules
Digital Harrisburg 