How Times Have Changed

This photo probably taken in the mid 1970s displays a glass drainage bottle.  This was before plastic drainage bags were introduced. Technology and innovation, especially in hospitals, have changed over the decades so now these bottles are obsolete. 

Coming in 2014! Centennial Books

 

We have begun work on a collection that will feature Centennial Books from towns throughout Lackawanna County. As local towns began celebrating their centennials and other anniversaries in the 20th Century, they produced commemorative books filled with rare photographs and histories. Thanks to a grant from the Willary Foundation, we are in the process of digitizing 35 of books from towns like Dunmore, Dickson City, Carbondale, and just about every municipality in Lackawanna County. This photo is from a book called Moosic '76. This new collection will go live in early 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

David Davis Letter

Today the digital archives team is looking back at some of our older collections on Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives, including the Out of the Wilderness collection, which was one of our first collections on the archive.

Pictured above is the first page of a letter written by David Davis, a United States Senator, Supreme Court Justice from Illinois, to Joseph H. Scranton his brother-in-law.  This letter written July 11, 1862 discusses the Civil War and family life of the relatives and their wives.  The personal details of this letter and others written by David Davis gives reader's information about family and political issues of this time period. If you would like to read the rest of the letter or others like it click on the link above to enter the archives. Once there search the Out of the Wilderness Collection.

Doctor's Receipt from 1865

This receipt can be found in the Out of the Wilderness collection. In 1865 a Mr. Phillips (first name illegible) had a leg amputated by Doctor J. W. Gibbs at a cost of $30 discounted to $25. The skilled researchers in the library's Reference Department have revealed that Dr. Gibbs practiced in Hyde Park (then a separate borough) and served as coroner of Luzerne County (before Lackawanna County was formed). An image of Dr. Gibbs from the book History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties (1880) appears below.

 

 

 

 

Evolution of the Community Medical Center Cafeteria

The photos above are from the Community Medical Center Cafeteria.  These photos show the transition and changes in dress and equipment that was used when preparing and serving food.  While both photos show women wearing dresses the 2nd photo shows the dresses to be much shorter.  The first photo was probably taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s, while the second photo is from the 1970s. It's also interesting to look at the choices of foods. In photo 1 the server appears to be spooning what looks like spinach, while in the second photo you have a great pic of donuts and brownies. The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archive team does not know who the individuals in the photos are so if recognize anyone please let us know. 

Community Medical Center Scrapbook

The Story of the Community Medical Center collection contains scrapbooks comprised of newspaper clippings, photos, and other artifacts. This volume covers 1897-1962. Subsequent volumes take us through the 1980s.

Compassionate Nurses

There are always stories about the compassion and help nurses give you as a patient in the hospital.  Here is a beautiful photo of a nurse holding a child.  We don't know who the nurse or child are but the looks on their faces are lovely. The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives is unsure of the date of this photo but is believed to have been taken in the late 1970s or early 1980s at the Community Medical Center.