WINTER 2009- Pennsylvania Heritage magazine

Our thirty-fifth anniversary edition of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine promises to be a beautiful and fascinating memento for our readers, with both a glance backward and an eye forward through uncertain times. Throughout 2008, we delivered a look at the bleak years of the Great Depression. Our co-publisher, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) had the ironic foresight to remember the 75th anniversary of the New Deal as an agency theme. That led us to look back at the recovery from the Great Depression, ironically and unknowingly on the eve of our current economic crisis. This is another reason to be part of our magazine’s history. We strive to provide our readers with a critical, intelligent, and objective interpretation of Pennsylvania’s history, often interwoven with national and world events, even as Pennsylvania continues to make new history nearly everyday.

A Backward Glance at Thirty-five Years Young
Editor Michael J. O’Malley III looks back at popular icons of Pennsylvania’s history that have appeared in our pages during the past thirty-five years. Cherished covered bridges, youthful memories of merry-go-rounds and drive-in theaters, and a priceless and monumental glass mosaic by Maxfield Parrish, have all been endangered as being lost forever. Based on past articles, respectively, by Susan M. Zacher (Summer 1985), the late Linda Kowall Woal (Spring 1988), Brian A. Butko (Summer 1994), and, for the Maxfield Parrish mosaic, William D. Cisna (Fall 1985), along with Rich Wagner and Rich Dochter (Summer 1991), O’Malley adds his own assessment on the outlook for their preservation. For Pennsylvania’s citizens, too many of those familiar public landmarks are nothing but romantic memories, lost to present generations. Readers will recall the glory days for each icon; understand the real reasons behind their diminishing numbers; and explain why there is new optimism about the preservation of remaining sites. Readers will learn also which of those icons is actually growing in number.

William C. Kashatus: Bringing History to Life
No author has been more engaging, entertaining, and contributed more to the pages of Pennsylvania Heritage during the past 35 years than William C. (Bill) Kashatus. When he was a young, beginning writer, author James A. Michener wrote to him and declared, “You can write!” And write he has! A prolific published author of books on such topics as sports history, the Underground Railroad, and oterh historical subjects, he has written forty-four feature articles for our readers on a wide variety of topics on Pennsylvania history, with many more scheduled in future editions. His freelance writing relationship with the magazine began with the Fall 1987 edition, in “The Mollie Maguires: Fighting for Justice,” and continues with the Fall 2008 edition with rare insights into one of the world’s greatest comedians of The Three Stooges fame, in “Laughing with Philadelphia Stooge Larry Fine.” What our readers may not know is Bill’s total investment and immersion in American history, including live portrayals of some of the very figures about whom he has written. Our Chief of Publications Ted R. Walke sat down with Kashatus in a one-on-one interview. The result is readers will gain insights into this writer, and in his own words, how he approaches writing and history while balancing career and family.

Celebrating a Milestone with the Rest of the Past
Over the past thirty-five years, Pennsylvania Heritage has enjoyed the distinct pleasure—and great privilege—of presenting readers a veritable treasure trove of works of art held by historical organizations and cultural institutions throughout the Keystone State. The total span of illustrated fine art, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, glass, crafted wood, and other illustrations alone could fill an entire book. In this edition, nineteen of those past art images from seventeen separate institutions are reprised on our cover and between our pages for the enjoyment of readers—a visual banquet for any art lover. Further, some images that appeared in earlier editions in black and white have been reproduced in full color in our latest edition. Even though this is barely a dent in highlighting celebrated artists whose works have appeared on our pages, readers will agree that this result is stunning. With this, our 137th edition, we offer you, our loyal readers, a visual celebration with these iconic, important, and impressive artworks.