World War I will be the subject of the first lecture in the Trust’s Fall 2017 Lecture Series. Ryan Conroy, Historian and President of the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area, will lead a discussion about the history of the men and woman who served during WWI from the northern Chester County region, from towns …

Social change in America during the 1930’s brought about innovation in the design of domestic architecture.  Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries interpreted the new American lifestyle first into architectural theory, then design and finally built form.It was during this period that Wright’s first ‘USONIAN’ homes were built, incorporating “natural” materials and the latest advancements …

The King of Prussia Inn (c. 1756), “The Sign of the King” welcomed visitors for almost 200 years, and may have been the source for the town receiving its name.  A day’s ride from Philadelphia, it was a meeting place for locals and for travelers alike, where the news of the day was discussed over …

Philadelphia’s grand mansions and architectural treasures reflect its iconic status in American history, for each Greek Revival home and Corinthian column tells a compelling story of the people behind it. Historic Strawberry Mansion in North Philadelphia was home to Judge William Lewis, a Patriot who defended colonists accused of treason and was Aaron Burr’s defense …

In 2003, Doug Humes began leasing space for his law office in an old Bryn Mawr mansion.  His curiosity about the original owners, the Jacobs, sent him on a quest to find their story, and over the years he collected photos, genealogy, and stories on the family, and finally the Holy Grail was delivered to …

Jefferson’s Daughters by Catherine Kerrison is the remarkable untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s three daughters — two white and free, one black and enslaved — and the divergent paths they forged in a newly independent America.Thomas Jefferson had three daughters: Martha and Maria by his wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson, and Harriet by his slave Sally …

William L. Price was one of an influential group of architects working during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Philadelphia. Aside from his importance in the area of design based on Arts and Crafts Movement ideals, Price was one of the founders of an arts and crafts community, Rose Valley, outside of Philadelphia.In …

7 PM  Reception, 7:30 PM LectureThis presentation highlights details from a study examining African American participation during the Valley Forge encampment of 1777 to 1778. Justin B. Clement brings their stories to life by sharing research from a Historic Resource Study funded by the National Park Service and facilitated through a cooperative agreement with the …

7 PM  Reception, 7:30 PM LecturePeople may know the well-known camp meetings and Chautauquas - Oak Bluff, MA, Ocean Grove, NJ and Chautauqua NY. But did you know there are several in Southeast Pa? And that most share a communal plan around a central green and meeting hall, surrounded by cabins that were often originally …

7 PM  Reception, 7:30 PM LectureJoin us for a presentation on Brigadier-General Duportail at his headquarters during the Valley Forge encampment of 1777-78, the historic “Duportail House” (c.1740) in Chesterbrook.Within a year of his joining the Continental Army in November 1777, General Louis Le Begue Duportail, a French military engineer, had become a trusted aide …

7 PM  Reception, 7:30 PM LectureJoin C.J. McGroarty for a reading and discussion of her new book Clara in a Time of War, a compelling story of historical fiction set in 1777 Chester County, Pennsylvania. For ticket purchase using Paypal/credit card, see below. How Many? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 …

7 PM  Reception, 7:30 PM LectureIn advance of Veterans Day on November 11, the Trust welcomes local historian Bart Van Valkenburgh to its Fall Lecture Series. Presenting “A Salute to Main Line Veterans”, the talk will focus on some of the veterans from our area, as well as many of the veterans or-ganizations active in …