Pennsylvania History

In 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn, a Quaker, sole proprietorship of more than 450,000 acres of land. The colony of Pennsylvania soon offered thousands of European settlers the civil liberties, representative government, and affordable land they wanted.

Lorne Greene is best known to TV fans as Ben Cartwright in Bonanza and Commander Adama in the original series of Battlestar Galactica. The Colonial Keystone: Pennsylvania was released as the biccentennial LP in 1976. This is the digital release of this full-cast audio drama with sound effects. This release is endorsed by the Lorne Greene Estate

As English and German settlers migrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their beliefs in magic with them from the Old World—sometimes with dangerous consequences. In 1802, for example, an Allegheny County judge helped an accused witch escape an angry mob. But Susan Mummey was not so fortunate. In 1934, she was killed in her home by a young Schuylkill County man who was convinced that she had cursed him.

When ships under the command of white Europeans first sailed into the Delaware Bay in 1609, southeastern Pennsylvania's documented history of the strange and unusual began. This book tackles seven true "dark histories" from Chester and Delaware counties, which include tales of murder, witchcraft, cannibalism, tragic accidents, and macabre events that actually happened in the Greater Philadelphia region. All stories are meticulously researched and placed within the greater context of Pennsylvania and world history.

Written in the early 20th century, Henry W. Shoemaker’s historical address and biographical sketches move beyond fame and rank to honor women whose lives were defined by endurance, service, and moral resolve. From the Pennsylvania frontier to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, these narratives illuminate acts of quiet heroism carried out in cabins, villages, battlefields, and along the edges of recorded history.

We join Abigail Stewart half a year after The Winter of Red Snow ended, in January of 1779. Her father has enlisted in the Continental Army, and when a devastating fire destroys Abby’s home, she, her mother, and siblings must make their way to Philadelphia, then on to the Continental Army camp to be near Abby’s father. The winters are brutally cold, food is scarce, and the anguish of war is ever present. But not all is desperate. Abby meets many new friends, including a young soldier named Willie Campbell. As romance blooms, Abby wonders if the war will ever end.

Dive into the history, geography, and culture of Pennsylvania in this installment of the 50 States series. From major cities to historic events, Where Is Pennsylvania? introduces you to the state in a whole new way, whether you’re proud to call it home or learning about a distant destination...

William Penn acquired a large section of American land in a debt settlement and transformed it into a thriving colony. He wrote this tract (and others) to recruit British colonists to Pennsylvania. In it, he praises the quality of the weather, the abundance of agricultural opportunities, and their good relations with the native people. His persuasive words capture a sense of “America the beautiful” that drove thousands to seek a new life in the land of opportunity.