p/67 
 
F 157 
 .B3 H6 
 Copy 1 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Historical Society of Berks County 
 
 Descendants of Early Settlers 
 
 FOR 
 
 Historical Documents. 
 
 The Historical Society of Berks County was reor- 
 ganized in March, 1898, after a period of inactivity 
 for nearly thirty years, and one of its purposes is to col- 
 lect and preserve documents of all kinds relating to the 
 early history of the county. 
 
 It is known that there is still a large number of 
 documents of this character in different parts of the 
 :ounty, but the persons in whose possession they are 
 io not appreciate their historical value and importance 
 )y keeping them hidden in boxes, barrels, bureaus, etc. 
 
 \ 
 
-..'^ 63482 
 
 ^They relate particularly to the early settlements of the 
 '-' county ; to the organization and establishment of the 
 first churches and schools ; to the birth, baptism, mar- 
 riage, and death of the early settlers contained in 
 church and family records ; to the period of the 
 Revolution and also to the War of 1 8 1 2, including 
 commissions to officers and military rosters ; to the 
 various industries, such as forges, furnaces, grist-mills, 
 saw -mills, and factories of various kinds; to the 
 patents and first deeds for land ; and to early almanacs, 
 newspapers, magazines, periodicals, and books printed 
 in the county. 
 
 It is believed that many original papers, books, and 
 records, relating to the topics mentioned, can be ob- 
 tained by making a public appeal to the descendants 
 of the early settlers of the county, and in this behalf 
 the Society, at its last meeting (November 8, 1898), 
 directed the undersigned Committee to prepare a cir- 
 cular and have the same sent to such persons as might 
 have documents, etc., of the character indicated, or 
 who might be sufficiently acquainted in their respective 
 districts as to make the proper appeal to parties who 
 "■e still likely to possess such documents. 
 
 This circular has therefore been prepared by the 
 
 mmittee, and it will be sent by the Secretary of the 
 
 ety to prominent and influential men, who are 
 
 stly requested to institute the necessary search in 
 
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 -- wr. 
 
their respective districts for the discovery of such 
 documents, etc., as may yet be in existence, and to 
 kindly forward, for preservation, such as may be found, 
 to the Secretary, George M. Jones, Esq., Reading, Pa., 
 or deliver the same to him personally. 
 
 The Society takes great pleasure in announcing that 
 the Commissioners of Berks County have set apart for 
 the use of the Society a suitable room in the Court- 
 House on the third floor, and furnished it with closets 
 and drawers for the purpose of depositing all such 
 books, papers, and documents as may be received, and 
 there they will be preserved with great care, and, of 
 course, will be available to all interested parties for 
 examination. 
 
 The Society would be much pleased to have all 
 persons interested in local history to become members, 
 and thereby greatly assist in accomplishing the purpose 
 
 mentioned. 
 
 Samuel C. Mayer, 
 Thos. C. Zimmerman, 
 Morton L. Montgomery 
 
 Conunittee on Publ- 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 207 666 4 
 
 Officers and Coinmittees of the Society : 
 
 President^ 
 Albert G. Green. 
 
 Fice- Pre si den ts. 
 Samuel L. Young, Hon. G. A. Endlich, 
 
 Jesse G. Hawley, J. H. Sternbergh. 
 
 Recording Secretary^ 
 George M. Jones. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary^ 
 H. M. M. Richards. 
 
 Treasurer^ 
 Fred. M. Yeager. 
 
 Committee on Finance. 
 
 George B. Eckert, Hon. Daniel Ermentrout, 
 
 B. F. Owen. 
 
 Committee on Publication. 
 
 Samuel C. Mayer, Thos. C. Zimmerman, 
 
 Morton L. Montgomery. 
 
 Committee on Library. 
 Louis Richards, Frederick W. Nicolls. 
 
LIBRARY OF 
 
 CONGRESS 
 
 014 207 666 4 • 
 
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