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Posted 02-21-2006 FOUR News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest…. ============== =============== ============ ============== =============== ============ 1- Book review: Berks County Women in History--Profiles 2- Free H.S. concert this coming Saturday night: ACCENT ON YOUTH 3- Berks Postcard Club meets this Thursday at 7 at old Fleetwood H.S. 4- Mon., 2/27 at 7:30 --Leesport H.S.: GMMIX on Passing Scene books =============== ============== =========== =============== ============== =========== 1- As promised last week, what follows is an overview of a handsome new publication: “Berks County Women in History—- Profiles”: Hard-covered volume 7 by 10 inches, an inch thick; 352 pages; 500-entry index; nicely illustrated; published by TudorGate Press on 12/1/2005. - - - - - - - - - Berks County Women in History, Profiles -- Volume 1 tells the stories of...... Betsy Adams, Nancy Allmon, Ellie Antoine, Annie Lizzie Balthasar, Jennie Balthasar, Mildred Jordan Bausher, Elizabeth Bertolet, Sr. Francis Bisland, Pat Blackwell, Esther Blatt, Ruth Bonner, Barbara Breininger, Mamie Breininger, Minnie Breininger, Vera Calandra, Margie Clay, Myrtle Council, Bessie Crenshaw, Barbara Cummings-Boland, Shirley Dautrich, Grace Davies, Alliene De Chant, Constance Dent, Bertha du Pont, Josephine Eaken, Marsha Egan, Rose Evans, Katie Fox, Mary Ann Fox, Jaime Freese, Rose Marie Gerhart, Marcia Giza, Barbara Goda, Sandy Graffius, Ruth Grimes, Elsie Gruber, Penny Guido, Ann Gundry, Sr. Mary Hadwig, Jane Harrington, Josie Hartman, Margaret Hassler, Anna Hehn, Caroline Helms, Estella High, Pearl Haines Horton, Barbara Horwith, Grace Jones, Grace Kercher, Regina Leininger, Mary Leisz, Julia Longacre, Linda Ludgate, Shirley Ludwig, Linda Mc Crae, Anita Miller, Barbara Miller, Kathryn Miller, Pattee Miller, Bertha Moll, Verna Moll, Thelma Napoletano, Minnie Nicolls, Rosa Muhlenberg Nicolls, Ann O'Pake, E. Myrtle O'Shea, Sr. Mary Pacelli, Hannah Penn, Lisa Randolph, Donna Reed, Anna Ross, Mimi Schmitt, Judy Schwank, Kathy Scogna, Norma Sigal, Elsie May Smith-Reed, Susan Speece, Martha Speicher, Courtney Stevens, Elmira Stoudt, Marianne Sutton, Greta Taft, Linda Updike, Barbara Wade, Susan Walmer, Betty Jane Webber, Violet Webber, Ann Eve Weiser, Mary Louise Wertz, Marian White, Lilith Wilson, Anna Witman, Catherine Wolf, Sarah Yatron, “Mountain Mary” Young, and Mary Ann Zerkowski. - - -- - - - - - It's difficult to believe that there has been only one attempt---a not very comprehensive collection by Cyrus Fox in 1925---to compile an extensive array of biographical sketches since Morton L. Montgomery's “Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks” in 1909. This publication helps to fill that void. Moreover, Volume 2 is in the process of preparation, which probably will present another 100 "personal histories." It should be noted that unlike the bios found in Montgomery's 2-volume set, the profiles in B.C. Women in History actually read more like a story than an encyclopedia entry. You'll find them an easy and pleasant read. Lest anyone comment that not every individual in Volume 1 is of earth-shaking historical importance, we hasten to remind readers that not every inclusion in Montgomery's Historical and Biographical Annals was either. The late Dr. Arthur D. Graeff, whose observations were always cogent, once remarked that Montgomery's general style and 19th century rhetoric could transform an Oley Street cigar-maker or an obscure farmer in Bethel into a personage seemingly as significant as some European crown prince. We applaud this laudable effort on the part of the Berks County Commission for Woman for taking the initiative to gather about 100 biographical "stories" which will be valued ever more greatly with each passing year. One hopes that others will follow the BCCW's lead and prepare similar collections...maybe a “Who's Who in Berks” or something akin to that which Montgomery had published 81 years ago. In the offing is a serious effort to document numerous Italian-American families of Reading and Berks, a project some 10 years in the works. Think how many people--men and women, respected and valued in their time and place--came and went during the last 97 years, leaving little "on paper" beyond their immediate families’ recollections and jottings--and an obituary--to mark their stay and accomplishments on this planet. Your editor finds the Berks County Women in History Profile book a significant compilation, neatly organized and attractive, which is the hallmark of Irene Reed, its editor. Barbara Donovan served as copy editor. Price is $35 -- plus $2.10 tax for PA residents -- plus $4 postage. Make checks to Berks County Commission for Women and mail to P. O. Box 12225, Reading 19612. Locals can get the book at the BCCW Women's History Museum at the GoggleWorks (5th Floor), 2nd and Washington Sts., Reading. The hours are noon to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday. ============== ============== ================ 2- A reminder that a free and open-to-the-public Youth Concert will take place THIS COMING SATURDAY at 7:30 in the Connor Auditorium of the Historical Society of Berks County. YOU ARE INVITED~! Come and bring friends. A news release will appear in this week’s Reading Eagle WEEKEND publication---this coming Thursday. Watch for it. ============== ============== ================= 3- The monthly meeting of the Berks County Postcard Club will take place this coming Thursday---Feb. 23rd—at 7 p.m.-- at the Fleetwood Historical Society, Arch St., Fleetwood. ============== ============== ================= 4- This coming Monday evening, Feb. 27th, at 7:30, your editor will present an illustrated program dealing with the process of compiling the “The Passing Scene” series of Reading and Berks illustrated histories. Volume 14 is in production and due out this coming November. This meeting of the Leesport Historical Society is open to the general public….at Bethany Church, 308 Main St., West Leesport. Parking is easy--right behind the church. Come and bring friends. +++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++ ++++++ END

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