Unearthing the Past: Student Research on Pennsylvania History

Related Links

The Essays

PA History Online
PA Center for the Book
Penn State Digital Collections
Library Research Guide to PA History
Exploring PA History
PA's Documentary Heritage

New Sweden: A Brief History

The Pennsylvania Line Mutiny, its Origins and Patriotism

The Adamant Patriot: Benjamin Franklin Bache as Leader of the Opposition Press

A Battle in Quaker Pennsylvania: Reading a Document of the French and Indian War

The Thompson Family of Centre County
       Spring Semester 2007

Asylum: "A Paris in the Wilderness"
       Spring Semester 2007

An Introduction

Welcome to the PA's Past Historical Essays and Documents site. We are delighted to have you visit us.

About PA Historical Essays and Documents:
This site is a collaborative effort between the library and the Penn State History Department. The essays are written by history students at Penn State, under the supervision of Dr. William Pencak, History Department, and Eric Novotny, Humanities Librarian. Each essay provides an introduction to a unique and interesting episode in Pennsylvania History. Select the primary source documents for each essay to read accounts from actual participants and to see historical events through their eyes.

Our Mission:
The purpose of this site is to provide the public with readable informative essays, while giving Penn State students an opportunity to publish their research. The site facilitates the university's mission of educational outreach by increasing public access to historical information and engaging researchers in a creative manner.

More essays are forthcoming so check back periodically. Send comments or suggestions to Eric Novotny.

Special thanks to the Library Preservation staff for vital technical and design assistance!