The leather tanning industry of the mid-19th to early 20th Century plays an important role in our social and economic evolution. An abundance of information on the industry can be obtained from historical documentation. However, leather tanning is not well represented in the archaeological record. In order to grasp its cultural implications, the historic tanning industry must be studied within an archaeological context. Interpretations derived from the material culture gained from archaeological excavations can augment the known history of the industry. However, given the current lack of archaeological information, it is difficult to anticipate the types of features that are likely to be encountered on tannery sites. This thesis paper will present a synthesis of historical accounts with what we know from past archaeological investigations resulting in predictive model for future tannery excavations. The model will facilitate the recognition and interpretation of tannery related features. / Department of Anthropology

The purpose of this study is to review Pennsylvania's use of paper money through two distinct periods: the first seven years of currency issues starting in 1723 and concluding in 1730, and the second period encompassed by the French and Indian War in 1755-63. They represent two significant periods affecting Pennsylvania's paper money prior to the Revolutionary War. Specifically investigated are the deciding factors influencing Pennsylvania's currency issues during those periods and the degree of success achieved by those issues. The relationship between Pennsylvania's monetary policy and provincial politics is an important feature of the analysis. / Graduation date: 1996

This is a history of Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, from 1868 until 1981. It attempts to discover why Wilson, a small, private liberal arts college for women, managed to survive despite financial and enrolment problems which forced many other institutions to close in the 1960s and 1970s. / This thesis locates Wilson historically among institutions of higher learning in the United States; traces the development of the College in terms of its founding, governance, curriculum, and campus life; and examines events leading up to Wilson's near demise in 1979. Wilson's small size, its practice of encouraging congenial interaction between students and faculty, its commitment to teaching, its long term affiliation with the Presbyterian Church, and its close ties with the community of Chambersburg are cited as factors contributing to Wilson's renaissance. / What makes Wilson more interesting than other small women's colleges of its class was the fact that its alumnae, students, and faculty successfully fought the Trustees' decision to close the College because of financial pressures and dwindling enrolment. In 1979 Wilson became the only college in the United States ever ordered to remain open by a court of law.

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The richness of southeastern Pennsylvania Mennonite history and architecture is still evident in this survey of twenty-two nineteenth century Mennonite meetinghouses. This study was undertaken since no collection of these historic meetinghouses in this part of the United States has so far been documented via a field survey. Through researching the beginnings of Mennonites and their meetinghouses in Europe the thesis examines European Mennonite worship spaces and factors that influenced the design and layout of meetinghouses in the United States. The theology of Mennonites themselves was one of those factors in how their meetinghouses were built and later evolved architecturally. The majority of meetinghouses are being preserved in one way or another, with varying degrees of respect for their historical integrity. This survey seeks to create an awareness of the historical significance of these meetinghouses for Pennsylvania Mennonite and regional history. Some recommendations are given for further study and/or documentation needed for the preservation of these structures. / Mennonite beginnings : a historical synopsis -- Mennonite worship spaces in Europe -- Mennonite migration to southeastern Pennsylvania -- Mennonite meetinghouse architecture in the Franconia area -- Field survey -- Field survey observations and recommendations. / Department of Architecture

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This thesis explores best practices in teaching religious history in public schools using primary sources. Lesson plans on specific sites and themes within the history of religious freedom in Philadelphia contextualize and celebrate the religious diversity that the city has known since its inception. By understanding how this diversity developed over time and through obstacles, students will be more willing and motivated to do their individual part to maintain and protect religious liberty. This goal is emphasized through the use of primary sources, which bring gravity, accessibility, and engagement to a topic that might otherwise be considered controversial, distant, or unnecessary. / History