HISTORICAL SOCIETIES RECEIVE STATE GRANTS

 HARRISBURG, SEPT. 15 – It can be fun to walk through a museum and see history come to life through materials, photos or journals chronicling the past, but according to state Sen. Connie Williams, preparing materials, properly archiving and carefully storing these physical artifacts of the past takes time, talent and resources.

 “Each artifact in a museum has been located by someone, carefully cataloged and is being properly preserved,” Williams said. “Many museums have hundreds and some times thousands of artifacts on display. This is a credit to the curators, as well as to the other people involved in the founding and day-to-day operations of our museums.”

 According to Williams, museums are our eyes to the past. She commended the local historical societies, the people who staffed them and the volunteers for the work they do to carefully document and preserve the area’s history, and to make it available to the public.

 The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recently awarded general operating support grants to official county historical societies. Funding is to be used to preserve and sustain Pennsylvania’s heritage.

 In the 17^th District, the Delaware County Historical Society and the Historical Society of Montgomery County each received a $10,000 grant. The two historical societies were among the 48 across the state to share the $405,125 awarded.