I served on the
Board of The Historical Society of
Pennsylvania for a three-year term that ended
in October 2001.
When I started,
HSP was celebrating its 175th anniversary by
venturing into an ambitious new mode as a
special collections library. It was divesting
itself of most art and artifacts in a
complicated transfer to Atwater Kent Museum. The intent of the transition was to
move HSP into the forefront among the
collecting institutions of the region with a
more focused mission.
Momentum in that
direction stepped up under David
Moltke-Hansen, who became president shortly
after my service on the board began. His
vision and enthusiasm, combined with the
dedication and support of the board's current
chair, Collin McNeil, have served HSP well.
In a merger with the Balch
Institute, HSP gained even greater prominence on the
cultural landscape. Balch specialized in ethnic
history in the region. The consonance of its mission
with that of HSP and the combination of the collections
promised a bright future for the new organization.
Although
personal priorities persuaded me to leave the
board, I remain interested in HSP's welfare and
so keep it visible on rpr/WORKS.
The
Society's website
gives information about its resources,
current activities, and terms of membership. HSP always welcomes new members.
