Get your copy of The Passing Scene before Christmas!

This popular book by George M. Meiser, IX & Gloria Jean Meiser has been selling like hot cakes! It is available in HSBC's Museum Store, at 940 Centre Avenue, Tuesday through Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm. You may call to order, or buy it through our website, but we cannot guarantee delivery by December 25th.



We also have a some copies of past editions: Volumes 13, 15, 16, and 18.

The following are the Holiday Hours for the Historical Society of
Berks County and the Henry Janssen Library:

Friday, December 23rd will close at 2:00pm
Closed Saturday, December 24th, and will reopen Tuesday, December 27th.

Friday, Dececember 30th will close at 2:00
Closed Saturday, December 31st and will reopen Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.


We wish you all a safe and happy holiday and new year.

Historical Society of Berks County Museum Store
940 Centre Avenue
Reading, PA 19601
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm

The winter edition of the Historical Review of Berks County has arrived and is available in our Museum Store for $10.00. One of the advantages of becoming a member of HSBC is receiving this quarterly magazine by mail.








We have many other great gift ideas including work by local artists, including Kunkelman Pottery, Nolde Forest Pottery, and pottery by Nancy Speicher.






*Local potter Brian Kunkelman will be having his holiday studio this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, December 17th and 18th, 10:00am to 5:00PM! The studio is located just off of RT 625, south of Knauers, PA. Call 610-775-4095 for more information.

Santa's Biggest Elf Show
Wednesday December 28th, 2011
940 Centre Avenue,
Reading, PA 19601
TWO SHOWS: 11:00am AND 1:00pm

Brian Belge returns once again to celebrate the holiday season, this time as a REALLY BIG elf. Silly songs will be sung, reindeer games will be played, and a HO!HO!HO! contest held. Honorary elf
certificates will be issued. This FREE event is appropriate for children ages 3 to 12 who must be accompanied by an adult.

160 Spring Street
Reading, PA 19601
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00AM-4:00PM


WHY ARCHIVES MATTER
On January 21, 2012, the Henry Janssen Library will host the first of three archival-based workshops for 2012. The first, 'WHY ARCHIVES MATTER', will focus on an introduction to the HJL. During this workshop, patrons will learn more about archival practices, the goals and priorities of the library, and an introduction to the collections located in the library. After the workshop, patrons will tour the HJL for a firsthand look at the collection storage areas, including the basement. ''WHY ARCHIVES MATTER' will be presented by our own Director of Special Collections, Kimberly Richards Brown.

WHY ARCHIVES MATTER:
Date: January 21st, 2012
Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm with tour of the HJL to follow
Place: Connor Auditorium at 940 Centre Avenue
Admission: Members Free, Non-member $5.00

Stay tuned to NewBits for more information regarding our next workshop.


This is image of a land survey in Rockland Township

Wednesday November 16, 2011
HSBC, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, PA 19601
This popular exhibit closes on Friday, December 30th, 2011 at 2:00PM.
Keeping Cozy: Fancy Coverlets of Berks County 1830-1860


In early July we mounted a second group of coverlets in the Palmer
Gallery thanks to our generous lenders, complemented by a few coverlets from our own collection. Weavers Kirst, Hausman, Kachel, Klar, Lochman, Groff and Oberly are featured in this colorful group, along with two geometric pattern pieces. Another feature in the gallery is the former Berks County Prison carpet loom featured in an article in the Reading Eagle in August.

What WAS It?

In the last edition of News Bits we posted a photo submitted by George Meiser asking readers to help identify an unusual object he came across.


SANDY STIEF of Reading, a member of the Historical Society and a News-Bits receiver, supplied the answer: an antique 1920s mini knife sharpener! We thank you Sandy! Kim Nein had one at Corner Pantry in Limekiln PA.

The Passing Scene, volume 19, recent autograh sessions and 2nd Saturday Program were a big hit!


George M. Meiser IX presented our 2nd Saturday program on December 10th

The Centre Park Christmas House tour was very well attended.
We were pleased to have so many visitors to the museum. Our Hendel Holiday Boutique went very well. Thank you all for coming out and thank you to Centre Park Historic District and their volunteers for putting on such a great tour!

Santa stopped by for punch with Historical Review editor Donna Reed

Hendel House Holiday Boutique

HSBC Trustee Pat Perfect at the Hendel House the day of the Christmas house tour
HSBC auxillary Christmas program featured students from Northwest Junior High School

Berman Museum of Art
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA

In August HSBC loaned a spoon and two portraits to the Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College for their Pastors & Patriots exhibit in the Muhlenberg Family. Muhlenberg scholar Lisa Minardi of Winterthur was their guest curator and will be presenting a program in March on the Muhlenberg family- stay tuned for details! The exhibit at Ursinus College closes on Sunday December 18th.


The spoon loaned once belonged to Conrad Weiser and his wife Anna Eva. Our spoon, depicted on the right, was once part of a fourteen piece set. It joined two others at this exhibit loaned by the Conrad Weiser Homestead and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia- the first time they had been together in perhaps more than a hundred years.



The two portraits are marked as Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg and wife Ann Eve, nee Weiser. Lately thought has been given to the supposed subject of the paintings as Henry's wife was actually Anna Maria. The paintings do not match other works by the listed artist John Wollaston and the time period/clothing does not seem to fit. They could be Conrad Weiser and his wife or other members of the Muhlenberg family.