Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives New Collection!








The Scranton Public Library and LackawannaValley Digital Archives is happy to announce a new collection; The Century Club of Scranton!

The Century Club of Scranton was founded in 1911 when four women’s organizations merged together.  The Century Club at one time had 400 members who were highly involved in social reforms throughout the city.  In 1914, William Walker Scranton purchased and built the clubhouse at 612 Jefferson Avenue where the Century Club has remained for over 100 years.  The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
This collection features over 400 items including a guest book, bulletins, and scrapbooks.  Robert Frost, Louis Horst, Martha Graham, Langston Hughes, and Carl Sandberg are among just a few of the internationally known poets, singers, dancers and composers who were invited to perform at the Century Club.  These names can be found in the guest book.  The bulletins were written from October to May and contain articles about events, speakers and performers and the scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, events programs and photos through the years.  This collection was funded by a grant from the Willary Foundation.

About the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives:
The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives was developed by the Scranton Public Library thanks to a generous grant from the Willary Foundation. Its primary mission is to make the history of the Lackawanna Valley and surrounding areas accessible to anyone with a computer and Internet connection. The LVDA is divided into collections based on time periods or themes and contains high quality images of books, photographs, printings, letters, maps, videos, and other artifacts. Items have been collected from a number of organizations and individuals and can be viewed with great detail and clarity. New collections will debut on a regular basis.

To access the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives: http://www.lackawannadigitalarchives.org/

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Today in Scranton Public Library News

Today the Scranton Public Library's Board of Directors is celebrating their 125th anniversary.  125 years ago fifteen board members were appointed to form a library in the City of Scranton.  The Albright family of Buffalo NY and formerly of Scranton had donated money and their homestead for the purpose of a "place of learning".  The original trustees were appointed from the clergy, Board of Trade (now Chamber of Commerce) members at large and bar association.  Below are a listing of the men and if you would like more information please see the Reference Department at the Scranton Public Library.  If you would like to see photos of these men please check out From Lace Makers to Coal Miners--Life in the Lackawanna Valley from 1866-1920

Reverend David C. (D.C) Hughes
Thomas H. Dale
Reverend Samuel C. Logan
Reverend Patrick J McManus
Honorable Frederick W. Gunster
Samuel B. Price
Milo J. Wilson, esq.
Reverend Henry C. Swentzel, D.D 
William Tallman Smith
Alfred Hand
James Archbald
William Connell
Col. Henry Martyn Boise
Henry Belin, Jr
Webster H. Pearce D.D

Monday, November 2, 2015

Scranton Family Papers on the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archive


 On October 24th and 25th at the University of Scranton there was a scan-a-thon conducted with members from the University of Scranton's Weinberg Library, U of S History students and their professor Dr. Adam Pratt, Lackawanna Historical Society, and members of the LVDA and Scranton Public Library working to create this new collection.

Two volumes of the George W. Scranton letters were scanned with the help of the history students. These same students created the metadata that will be used when these files go live on the LVDA! So look for this new collection in 2016 and for more to come. There are 19 volumes of these letters at the Lackawanna Historical Society and we hope to have the whole collection available to researchers.

Thanks to all who helped organize this great event!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

National Chocolate Day



In honor of October 28th being National Chocolate Day I would like to present some yummy recipes from the Myrtle Street United Methodist Church cookbook.

Enjoy, bake, and eat lots of chocolate today if you can.  I supplied my staff with chocolate covered salt water taffy today in hour of this wonderful day.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Hahnemann Hospital


This photo dated May 24, 1905 shows the groundbreaking of Hahnemann Hospital.  This hospital eventually became what is Geisinger Community Medical Center today. I wanted to show this photo as a remembrance of that hospital and to celebrate the City of Scranton's 150th anniversary.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Hurricane Diane 60 years ago



It has been 60 years since Hurricane Diane caused so much devastation and flooding in the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley's.  The flooding was widespread and even areas of the Pocono's flooded.  This flood  happened in August 1955 and is featured in the footage above.  This video is from WGBI-TV which is now WBRE-TV.   Besides this video there are other photos and video histories of the flood on the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archive.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015