| Home
Society
Information
Collections
Programs
Publications
& Gifts
Articles
Town
History |
History and Overview of the Collections
When Gleason Public Library opened in 1896 some 50 items were presented
for display in the Historical Room. These, along with other records
and artifacts preserved by the town, formed the basis of the Town's
Collection. Today, this collection numbers well over 810 individual
artifacts.
The Society's Collection began with its founding in 1933. Members
could donate an item in lieu of the annual 50 cent membership dues!
A number of artifacts were accessioned during the early years and
displayed with the Town Collection in the Historical Room of Gleason
Library. The two collections have separate documentation records,
both of which are being entered into a data base as part of a current
project of the historical society.
The society continues to collect artifacts associated with Carlisle.
Among recent donations are: archival collections of music and maps,
and cream bottles from Bates Farm.
What's in the Collections?
The collections are being catalogued using The Revised Nomenclature
for Museum Cataloguing based on Chenhall's system. The largest
category for both collections is that of documentary artifacts, which
includes books, photographs, letters, town records and a collection
of 1,000 postcards! The artifacts document Carlisle's history from
its earliest times. There are a number of representative stone tools
and points from the Native American period. Geological specimens also
occur, in the form of rocks and minerals.
From infant's clothing to soldier's gear, the personal artifacts reflect
the everyday lives and occupations of earlier times. There are fireplace
cooking utensils, fine ceramics, carefully executed samplers, a large
collection of carpenter's tools, dance programs and mementos of all
kinds!
The Heald Collection of Gettysburg Relics, part of the Town Collection,
is particularly noteworthy. It is said to be the third best collection
in existence of such relics, and includes everything from canteens
to cannon balls to both a union and rebel drum!
For questions about the collections, contact the
Collections Manager, Janet Hentschel.
To learn more about the artifacts, link to articles
previously published in the Carlisle Mosquito.
YOUR Collection Tip!
Have a newspaper clipping you want to preserve? Photocopy it
onto acid free paper and save the photocopy. Do the same for those old,
yellowing clippings -- they won't last!
Personal and family heirlooms are our own historical collections.
To help preserve your links with the past check out these resources:
Top of Page
© 1999-2007 Carlisle Historical Society
|