Events: Regional History Colloquium

Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania

A graphic with two images. On the left is a headshot of a middle-aged man with a bald head wearing a green button up shirt. The right image is of the book cover of "Cradle of Conservation."
(left) Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward (right) The book cover of “Cradle of Conservation.”

The environmental history of Pennsylvania includes William Penn’s instruction to “leave one acre of tree for every five acres cleared” and the 1971 ratification of the Environmental Rights Amendment as well as today’s debates over fracking and the threat of climate change. Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward of Shippensburg University will share his survey of the “working landscapes” of Pennsylvania and Lancaster County from the 17th century to the present.

Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward is a professor of history and director of The Graduate School at Shippensburg University. His first book, Beyond Rust: Metropolitan Pittsburgh and the Fate of Industrial America, won the 2016 Arline Custer Memorial Award from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference. His second book, Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania, is now available from Temple University Press. He is the past president of the Pennsylvania Historical Association, former editor of the Pennsylvania History Series, and a board member of PA Humanities.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be livestreamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants before the event. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.

REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE

By purchasing a ticket to our facility and/or program, you are agreeing to our Admissions & Programs Terms and Conditions.

Membership Makes History Happen! Your membership enables us to bring dynamic speakers to LancasterHistory and gives you other exciting benefits! Learn more about becoming a member of LancasterHistory or renewing your membership today.

In-Person Event Lecture Reception

August 21, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required

From Blacksmith To Inventor: The William Chester Ruth Legacy

Two headshot photos. The left photo is of an older woman with dark skin, short dark brown or black hair, wearing a black shirt and glasses. The image on the right is of an older man with light skin with short gray hair and wearing glasses and a plaid button up shirt.
Gwendolyn Dickinson (left) and Bruce Bomberger (right).

Blessed with inherent mechanical genius and a family environment conducive to success, African American metalsmith William Chester Ruth evolved his forge in Gap, Pennsylvania from farm machinery repair into a workshop of mechanical creation. Gwendolyn Dickenson, Ruth’s granddaughter, and Bruce Bomberger of the William Chester Ruth Legacy Project join LancasterHistory to tell Ruth’s story.

Gwen Ruth Dickinson, raised in Gap, Pennsylvania is the granddaughter of William Chester Ruth, and she carries his legacy as an inventor and entrepreneur close to her heart. Graduating from Hahnemann University’s College of Allied Sciences, she dedicated over 30 years to healthcare as a Primary Care Physician Assistant. In 2021, after her retirement, she founded the William Chester Ruth Project to honor her grandfather’s memory and his accomplishments as an inventor.

Bruce D. Bomberger has degrees in history from Lebanon Valley College, Penn State University, and Lehigh University as well as graduate credits in museum studies from the University of Delaware. He has worked for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for 35 years and is currently an archivist with Lebanon County Historical Society.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be livestreamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants before the event. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.

REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE

By purchasing a ticket to our facility and/or program, you are agreeing to our Admissions & Programs Terms and Conditions.

Membership Makes History Happen! Your membership enables us to bring dynamic speakers to LancasterHistory and gives you other exciting benefits! Learn more about becoming a member of LancasterHistory or renewing your membership today.

In-Person Event Lecture Reception

September 18, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required