@PaSenateLibrary
 Harrisburg, PA
library.pasen.gov
Joined September 2019
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#OTD in 1777, British Royal Navy ships, trying to open up supply lines along the Delaware River, are bombarded by American cannon fire and artillery from Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
A painting depicting a stone building on a grassy field next to a riverbank, with tiny figures of people walking near the building and boats on the river and more buildings in the distance; the sky is pink and cream with big clouds.

ALT A painting depicting a stone building on a grassy field next to a riverbank, with tiny figures of people walking near the building and boats on the river and more buildings in the distance; the sky is pink and cream with big clouds.

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#OTD in 1776 the first Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted by delegates at The Pennsylvania Convention. The convention met in Philadelphia from mid-July to the end of September 1776.
Black and white reprint of a painting of Benjamin Franklin attending the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitutional convention.

ALT Black and white reprint of a painting of Benjamin Franklin attending the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitutional convention.

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#OTD in 1788, Allegheny County was created. It was the first county in Pennsylvania to be given a Native American name, likely of Lenape origins.
Library of Congress drawn map of Allegheny County

ALT Library of Congress drawn map of Allegheny County

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On National Constitution Day, we honor former state Senator William Bigler (1842-1847) of the 20th and 23rd districts. He was elected Delegate for the PA Constitutional Convention of 1872-1873.
Black and white portrait of Bigler from the bust up, a white man , middle aged with a suit and neckerchief.

ALT Black and white portrait of Bigler from the bust up, a white man , middle aged with a suit and neckerchief.

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#OTD in 1784, Franklin County became an independent jurisdiction. The county was named after Benjamin Franklin.
Library of Congress drawn map of Franklin County of PA

ALT Library of Congress drawn map of Franklin County of PA

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#OTD in 1776, the Continental Congress formally declares the name of the new nation to be the "United States" of America. This replaced the term "United Colonies." Painting by Allyn Cox of "The First Continental Congress."
Colorful mural at the U.S. Capitol of the founding fathers seated in a room.

ALT Colorful mural at the U.S. Capitol of the founding fathers seated in a room.

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#DYK that former state Senator Harry Emmitt Seyler (1955-1962) of the 28th district was an actor? Seyler performed in over 50 plays at the York Little Theatre now known as The Belmont Theatre in York, PA.
Illustration and playbill together of the "York Little Theatre." Black and white renderings of a brick facade with trees in front and a grand doorway.

ALT Illustration and playbill together of the "York Little Theatre." Black and white renderings of a brick facade with trees in front and a grand doorway.

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The Senate Library has legal books and archives - but we also collect books written by state Senators, like, An Examination of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, written by former Senator Charles Rollins Buckalew in 1883.
Title page of the book "An Examination of the Constitution of Pennsylvania" in white and black.

ALT Title page of the book "An Examination of the Constitution of Pennsylvania" in white and black.

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On display in the Senate Library are our early 20th century Underwood #5 typewriters. Standard issue for Senate members at the Capitol between 1900 and 1930, these machines were found and preserved by the Library in 2008.
Black metal type writer with the words "Underwood" in yellow on a library bookshelf.

ALT Black metal type writer with the words "Underwood" in yellow on a library bookshelf.

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#OTD in 1859, Edwin Drake struck oil near Titusville, Pennsylvania, sparking America’s first oil boom and establishing PA as the birthplace of the commercial oil industry in the U.S. Photo of the first well ever drilled for petroleum in the U.S. with Drake in the foreground.
First oil well in the country in the background, a wooden and metal construction with oilers in the foreground working.

ALT First oil well in the country in the background, a wooden and metal construction with oilers in the foreground working.

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People often ask us, what is our oldest book?📖Our records begin in 1683, with a collection called "The Colonial Records". Printed in the 1800's, The Colonial Records include archives from before Pennsylvania was even a state.
A display of historical books and documents in a wooden cabinet. Center: an open book on a stand with a sign explaining the book "Colonial Records Vol. 1". Surrounding it are closed books with detailed information plaques.

ALT A display of historical books and documents in a wooden cabinet. Center: an open book on a stand with a sign explaining the book "Colonial Records Vol. 1". Surrounding it are closed books with detailed information plaques.

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#DYK that the present PA Capitol has always had electricity? The light bulbs were very dim, so the architects put globes on the light fixtures with a diamond pattern on the exterior to make the light seem brighter. Pic from @librarycompany
A sepia-toned photo of a man in a suit and hat stands beside an ornate, towering lamp with multiple globes. The photo is surrounded by a dark gray border.

ALT A sepia-toned photo of a man in a suit and hat stands beside an ornate, towering lamp with multiple globes. The photo is surrounded by a dark gray border.

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The Senate Library and the Majority Caucus room are two of the only rooms in the Capitol that are still used for this original purpose! With research and access to legal precedent being critical to law making, we've always been a huge resource for our lawmakers.📚
Library interior featuring a row of tall, gold-framed glass cabinets filled with books, set upon a patterned red rug, with ornate ceiling details and light fixtures.

ALT Library interior featuring a row of tall, gold-framed glass cabinets filled with books, set upon a patterned red rug, with ornate ceiling details and light fixtures.

Ornate Caucus room interior with a semi-circular wooden desk lined with green leather chairs, facing the room. The room features dark wood paneling, a patterned carpet, gold-adorned ceilings, and American flags.

ALT Ornate Caucus room interior with a semi-circular wooden desk lined with green leather chairs, facing the room. The room features dark wood paneling, a patterned carpet, gold-adorned ceilings, and American flags.

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#DYK that former Senator Jeanette F. Reibman, born #OTD in 1915, was the first female Democratic member elected to the state Senate? She served the 18th district from 1967 to 1994 and was also the first woman elected to the Democratic Leadership in 1991.
A black and white portrait of a white elderly woman with short, curly white hair smiles warmly. She's wearing a dark suit and white blouse. The background is a soft, neutral tone.

ALT A black and white portrait of a white elderly woman with short, curly white hair smiles warmly. She's wearing a dark suit and white blouse. The background is a soft, neutral tone.

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#DYK that former PA State Senator Edward William Helfrick (1981-2002) was a paratrooper? Before being elected to state senate, Helfrick served in the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division from 1945-1946.
A portrait of Edward Helfrick, white man smiling warmly, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a striped tie against a neutral background.

ALT A portrait of Edward Helfrick, white man smiling warmly, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a striped tie against a neutral background.

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#OTD in 1906, construction was completed on the current Pennsylvania State Capitol Building.
Black and white image of the state Capitol in Harrisburg as it was after construction. A garden with statues leading up to a staircase and the imposing columns of the white marble edifice.

ALT Black and white image of the state Capitol in Harrisburg as it was after construction. A garden with statues leading up to a staircase and the imposing columns of the white marble edifice.

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#OTD in 1878, following decades of trying to gain its independence from Luzerne County, Lackawanna County becomes the last Pennsylvania county and the only one established after the American Civil War.
Color "Road & Driving" map of Luzerne & Lackawanna counties, outlined in red on sepia background. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.

ALT Color "Road & Driving" map of Luzerne & Lackawanna counties, outlined in red on sepia background. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.

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#DYK that George Washington appointed Thomas Mifflin to become the continental army’s first Quartermaster General under order of Congress in 1775? Mifflin later went on to become the first Governor of Pennsylvania.
Painted portrait of Thomas Mifflin, a white man with graying hair from the 1700's period. In period dress with hands folded over a sword.

ALT Painted portrait of Thomas Mifflin, a white man with graying hair from the 1700's period. In period dress with hands folded over a sword.

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The Senate Library of Pennsylvania is one of the only rooms in the Main Capitol still used for its original purpose. Original to 1906, it's gone through many changes but was preserved back to its original look around the 1990's. Here it was in the 1970's- art deco white! 📚
A photograph of white cabinets with books behind clear doors in a library. Cabinets are in rows and are on both a floor level and upper level of the room. There is a golden chandelier with desks underneath it. The upper level has a golden barrier with swirling designs.

ALT A photograph of white cabinets with books behind clear doors in a library. Cabinets are in rows and are on both a floor level and upper level of the room. There is a golden chandelier with desks underneath it. The upper level has a golden barrier with swirling designs.

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PA Senate Library retweeted
State Museum of PA@StateMuseumPAAug 3
The State Museum of Pennsylvania is now closed for renovation. Learn more about this transformative project -statemuseumpa.org/renovation…
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