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Pennsylvania State Archives Launches "Doc Heritage" Web Site

The site puts a variety of important government records and historical manuscripts online.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Officials of the Pennsylvania State Archives said a new feature, "Doc Heritage," has been added to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Web site.

"Doc Heritage" -- short for documentary heritage -- will allow visitors to the PHMC Web site to look at a sampling of government records and historical manuscripts in the custody of the State Archives.

Currently, the Web site features 24 historical themes, with plans to expand the total to 100 next year, officials said. "Doc Heritage" includes images of one or more documents per theme, and narratives explain the significance of the records, placing them in regional, state or national context. Where appropriate, transcriptions of each record are provided, as well as helpful links for further research.

Among the documents included:

- The 1681 Charter of King Charles to William Penn;

- The 1737 Walking Purchase;

- An 1857 photograph of the Horseshoe Curve;

- Photographs of the ruins of Chambersburg taken in 1864 during the Civil War; and

- A 1906 photo of President Theodore Roosevelt dedicating the new Capitol building.

Links connect visitors with the full text of related articles from the PHMC's Pennsylvania Heritage magazine or various publications such as the Historic Pennsylvania Leaflet series or Peoples of Pennsylvania pamphlets.

The Web site provides additional links lead to entries for publications on related topics available through the PHMC publications catalog or to primary sources available for public use at the Pennsylvania State Archives reading room in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission