Pennsylvania State Archives Collection

University yearbooks providing names and photographs of graduating seniors, descriptions of significant academic and sporting programs, and news about faculty accomplishments. These records are arranged chronologically by date of yearbook. Bloomsburg University is one of 14 publicly owned state universities which make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (SSHE) was created by Act 188 of 1982. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.

A daily record of the Board of Appraisers convened by an act of the General Assembly to appraise all damages and losses associated with the impressment of horses and supplies by the Anderson Cavalry in September 1862 and General Stuart's rebel raid one month later. The Board met at several key locations in the southern counties (including Harrisburg, Chambersburg, and Gettysburg) from November 6, 1863 to November 25, 1864. Claimants would come before the Board to present their testimonies and cases regarding their loss of property. Once all claims were reviewed and accurately adjusted, the appraisers submitted their findings to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas for final review before an official report was sent to the Governor. Included in the minutes are the numbers of the claims that were addressed each day in session and any miscellaneous transactions that were completed. Images are arranged chronologically by the session dates of the Board. This collection is part of the Office of the Auditor General which audits the fiscal affairs for the Commonwealth.

The Fish and Boat Commission has its origins in fish protection legislation of 1866 that created a Commissioner of Fisheries empowered to force dam builders on the Susquehanna to pay for passageways through which anadromous fish, especially shad, could continue their natural annual upstream spawning journey. "Fisheries" had already been defined by Pennsylvania courts as the locations in bodies of water where fishing had traditionally taken place. Pennsylvania's statutory protection of fish had begun in 1813, with an act for protection on part of Conestoga Creek. A series of laws applicable to various localities was consolidated in 1866, annual fishing periods were established, and the capturing of fish in sluices was outlawed. In 1873, the single Commissioner was reinforced by a Board of Commissioners. In 1883 a much more effective fishwalk, enabling shad to pass above obstructions, was put into use. A system of state hatcheries began which replenished depleted species. In 1903, the Board of Commissioners became a department-level state agency. In 1905, the legislature created a board with the short title Fish Commission (as distinct from the Board of Fisheries Commissioners), for the purpose of cooperative action with the neighboring states, and this was perpetuated until about 1910. In the short-lived Administrative Code of 1923, the Fisheries Commission was turned into an independent commission, and renamed the Fish Commission. The term "fish" replacing "fisheries" recognized that authority was no longer limited just to fishing spots but applied wherever the fish ran. The Administrative Code of 1929 continued the use of "Fish," but relegated the unit to "Board of Fish Commissioners", although informally "Fish Commission" sometimes still appeared. In 1925, a Fish Fund was established, and the Commission was also involved with a newly created Clean Water Board. In 1949, the Board was by statute elevated to independent commission status and officially renamed the Fish Commission. Its head, still bearing the 1866 title of Commissioner of Fisheries, was made executive director of the agency. Now its main revenue sources were license fees from fishermen and motor boat operators. In 1913, the state first regulated motor boats, but only by requiring mufflers. In 1931, licensing of motor boats was imposed and the Fish Commissioners were primarily responsible for enforcement; fish wardens shared the work with State Police and forest and game wardens. In 1933, the Department of Revenue was charged with the administration of motor boat licenses, which continued as the arrangement until 1949. In 1963, the standards for appointments to the Fish Commission were altered to require that one commissioner be knowledgeable in boating, and a regulatory statute was passed conforming to the Federal Boating Act. By 1965 the Fish Commission had a Division of Watercraft Safety. In 1991 the agency name was changed to Fish and Boat Commission; powers now extended to all pleasure boats. This collection includes quarterly meeting minutes and agendas of the Fish Commission and its successor the Fish and Boat Commission. The minutes document approval of past minutes and contain committee reports on boating legislation, law enforcement, propagation, special regulations, as well as access and property maintenance. Transcripts of discussions on management of fisheries, conservation regulations, and rules and regulations for fishing and boating are also present. Appendices often contain budget reports, resolutions, legislation and copies of the Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin. Agendas (1993-1998) contain briefing sheets consisting of summaries, commentaries, and recommendations on issues for consideration. Also present are statements of policy (1969-1970) and a briefing booklet on the Black Bass issue (May 30, 1995). Meeting minutes from 1924-1954 are only available on microfilm/or digitally.

Bonds, assignments, contracts, acts, titles and similar types of records relating to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, General State Authority, State Highway and Bridge Authority, and State Treasurer. Also included are 12 deeds for the Capitol grounds and certified copies of joint resolutions proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution concerning the terms of office of the president, womens suffrage, and the prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The records include a copy of legislation passed by the General Assembly between September 30, 1775 and the American Revolution, copies of legislation passed at by the United States Congress meeting at New York on March 4, 1789, a contract between the Commonwealth and Francis Shunk Brown dated July 5, 1929 concerning a refund of taxes paid 1866-1868, an assignment of copyrights by James Thurman Pearson, Jr., Daniel Garber, Alice Kent Stoddard, and George Harding, and the General State Authority bond issue for 1949. Records are unarranged. The Department of State is headed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, whose office was established under the Constitution of 1776. Duties of the Department of State include oversight of the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation which is responsible for issuing commissions to all state appointed and elected officials, maintaining election returns, and recording and filing legislation enacted by the General Assembly. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.

Collection of accounts of boundaries surveyed include Delaware River Jurisdiction, the Northern Boundary, the Virginia Boundary, the Western Boundary, and the Wyoming Controversy with Connecticut. Detailed accounts of expenditures during the boundary surveys of the mentioned years contain records of all people paid by the state for performing the surveys, and the amount of their reimbursement. The accounts of prominent surveyors, such as William Armstrong and Stephen Porter, are included along with their correspondence to the Comptroller General. There are also detailed lists of bills and receipts for items purchased by the surveyors, and the wages which they paid their laborers. In addition, there are account listings of expenditures during the Wyoming Controversy for the years 1782 through 1810. This grouping includes ledgers of pay to militiamen, receipts of supplies purchased, bills from various surveyors, and certificates of indebtedness from Pennsylvania to landowners who were removed from their property because of the controversy. Images are arranged alphabetically according to boundaries surveyed and thereunder chronologically according to the years in which the survey took place. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782.

Images of various documents filed with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, including petitions, transcripts, maps of streets and land tracts, copies of opinions, affidavits, wills, charges of the court, and the Orphan's Court Rules for Northampton County in 1842. Of interest may be a writ of error from the United States Supreme Court authorized by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in the 1860 case of The Pennsylvania Railroad Company v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and papers concerning the case of Charles Fatman v. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (1862). Also included is a series previously titled Reports, 1814-1885, which contains reports of Auditors, Examiners and Masters. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

University catalogs providing such types of information as a description of class offerings each semester, the name of the instructor, and the dates and times scheduled. These records are arranged chronologically by date of catalog. California University of Pennsylvania is one of 14 publicly owned state universities which make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (SSHE) was created by Act 188 of 1982. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.

University yearbooks providing names and photographs of graduating seniors, descriptions of significant academic and sporting programs, and news about faculty accomplishments. These records are arranged chronologically. California University of Pennsylvania is one of 14 publicly owned state universities which make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (SSHE) was created by Act 188 of 1982. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.

Images consist of of correspondence, reports and photographs relating to the construction, furnishing, and renovation of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Subjects covered include the Abbey murals, alterations made by the Department of General Services, architectural and art contracts, the 1907 Attorney General's Report, the 1907 Audit Company of New York Report, George Grey Barnard Papers, Handbook of the New Capitol of Pennsylvania by Charles H. Coffen (1906), Capitol Design Competition Reports (1897, 1901), Capitol Investigation Commission Expert Witness Reports with Index, construction contracts, furnishing and fine arts reports, Expert Report Concerning Quality of Granite, graft scandal materials; lighting design drawings, Violet Oakley Papers, a Special Furnishings Schedule, Construction Specifications (1902), State Art Commission Minutes, and various trade catalogs and advertisements. Also present are the Huston Architectural Papers including correspondence with Governors Stone and Pennypacker, correspondence with artists commissioned by the state, and correspondence dealing with contracts and contractors. Additional images are devoted to descriptive condition reports of Civil War and Spanish American War battle flags under the purview of the Committee. Information provided in these reports includes flag registration number, historical name of the flag, branch of service, name of manufacturer, signature, inscription, staff label, battle honors and designation, dimensions of all components of the flag, design description, alterations and repairs made, a detailed description of the condition of the flag and a treatment log. This collection is part of the Capitol Preservation Committee which was established by the General Assembly. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

This series contains applications for damage claims submitted by citizens who suffered losses during the burning of Chambersburg on July 30, 1864. The applications are itemized accounts of real and personal property lost by each claimant, assigning to each item a monetary value. Sometimes included with the applications are affidavits of witnesses to the claims, a record of the award allowed the claimant by the 1866 Board of Appraisers and the subsequent 1871 Commission to re-adjudicate claims. Chambersburg entries have a record of the pro rata payment given to each claimant in conjunction with the 1866 state appropriation of $500,000 for the relief of Chambersburg citizens who lost property due to the rebel invasion. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of the claimant. Indexed externally, by surname of the claimant, in the Index to Damage Claim Applications which is also digitized. This collection is part of the Office of the Auditor General which audits the fiscal affairs for the Commonwealth.