Education
Education and Public Programs
Written by Felice Ethun, Director of Education and Public Programs   

Edubrochure2009In 2008 The Lancaster County Historical Society was awarded a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to assist us in pushing our educational opportunities to the next level. Education is now at the forefront of everything we do. So whether you're involved in research, taking a closer look at a moment in history, or searching for that piece of evidence from the archives, we can be of help. Let our experienced staff help you access our extensive collections. Take a course, catch a special lecture, or travel with us to Scotland. Programs are ongoing and always evolving. Opportunities abound. Join us as we experience history.

Click here to download the 2009-2010 brochure !

 

 

 

Funding for our programs is generously provided by the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Institute of Museum and Library Services

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Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
 

News in Education and Programming

LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland, will host three Pennsylvania scholars this fall for the annual Presidential Lecture Series. The 2010 Presidential Lectures will explore three topics associated with the presidency: religion's effects on the Office of the President, the powers of the President during times of war and the President's impact on the U.S. Constitution.

September 17th's presentation will be held at the new Manheim Township Public Library, located in Overlook Park at 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster. Dr. John Quist, a professor of history at Shippensburg University, will explore "Religion in the Lives and Presidencies of James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln." Why did President Lincoln quote the Bible so often? Did James Buchanan feel that the United States was a nation of only Christians? Join us for this fascinating talk as Dr. Quist examines the potent and complex interaction between religion and presidential decision-making. Social gathering with refreshments begins at 4 pm. Lecture to follow from 4:30 to 5:30.

Among the many debatable topics associated with President Buchanan's term are the perceived and the actual powers of the presidency. On October 22nd Dr. Matthew Pinsker, a professor of history at Dickinson College, will present a talk on "Abraham Lincoln and Presidential War Powers." Our third speaker is Dr. Richard A. Glenn, a professor and chair for the Department of Government at Millersville University. On Friday, November 12th Dr. Glenn will present "Presidential Power, President Lincoln & the Redefinition of the US Constitution." Lectures begin with a social gathering and refreshments at 4 pm; lecture to follow from 4:30 to 5:30. Presidential lectures are free and open to the public. Check www.lancasterhistory.org for locations of 2nd and 3rd lectures in the series.


Our Volunteers & Interns

Diplomacy

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Alex Trimble is a senior at Elizabethtown Area High School. His primary focus of study has been in history and social sciences. During his internship at the James Buchanan Wheatland mansion he will be conducting research on James Buchanan's diplomatic mission to Russia.

Living History

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At the time of her internship Katelynn Stauffer will be a rising sophomore at Gettysburg College, where she will be majoring in History and Political Science with minors in Education and Civil War Era Studies. While interning at Wheatland she will be working on the creation of a new living history tour that will examine the war years at Wheatland.  She will be organizing volunteers and setting up a test run of the program for the public.

Parks and Recreation

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Amy Noll is a New Hampshire native who graduated with her B.A. in History and Management from Gettysburg College in 2007.  She received her M.L.S. with a specialization in Archives, Records, and Information Management from the University of Maryland in 2009, and recently moved into the Lancaster area.  She has past experience working at the National Archives and is also a Civil War Reenactor.  In the Archives, Amy is working on the Lancaster Recreation Commission Records manuscript group.  She has found many interesting records about past recreational programming for senior citizens as well as records detailing the creation and acquisition of some of Lancaster’s most well known public parks.

Cultural Politics

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My name is Rebecca Macy and I am a rising sophomore at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. I am an American Studies major with a concentration in Cultural Politics. I have a great interest in civil rights, immigration, and the American Presidency. With a love of history, I am so excited to be working in my hometown this summer with LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland!

That girl has Moxie!

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My name is Julianne Petrillo.  I am a freshman at Lancaster Catholic High School.  I enjoy learning about history, so I am volunteering this summer at LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County’s Historical Society and President James Buchanan’s Wheatland.  At the Historical Society I volunteer in the archives department.  I studied receipts from a store in Lancaster during the 1920s.  I learned so much about items being sold back then and was amazed at how old some of my favorite snacks were such as Life Savers, Oreos, taffy, saltines, and Moxie.  At Wheatland I volunteer for special events giving tours as well as helping dust the antique furniture.  I enjoy working at the Historical Society and Wheatland very much and hope to be back next summer!

We'd Love Your Help

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