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American Heritage Electronic Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1992.
Application by the Delaware River Basin Commission for a Department of Energy Hydroelectric Feasibility Study Loan: Blue Marsh Dam. Trenton, N.J.?: Delaware River Basin Commission, 1980
As you can see, not all the exploitation has ended with the arrival of the second half of the twentieth century.
Busch, William F. Extent and frequency of inundation on the Perkiomen Creek flood plain from Green Lane Reservoir to the Schulkill River (near Oaks, Pennsylvania). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey, 1969.
One of many geologic and hydrologic studies of the watershed conducted throughout the fifties and sixties. You can find more information through USGS and the US Army Corps of Engineers, including the dredging that was done to remove huge accumulations of coal dust from the river bottom.
Clean streams for Philadelphia: the city's $500 million river clean-up. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Water Dept., 1970.
The 1970's - clean water, Earth Day, and a new concern for the environment.
Coalseam: poems from the anthracite region. Scranton, London: University of Scranton Press; Associated University Presses, 1993.
20th century poetry from and about the anthracite coal region.
de Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America, 1840
Delightful summer resort, for society excursions, and pic-nic parties. Philadelphia: J.C. Robb, printer, 1840.
How times have changed. Now Belmont Mansion and the surrounding area are within the city limits. Many would say that the city now extends all the way south to Wilmington, north to Allentown, and west to Lancaster. Although thousands still "pic-nic" in Fairmount Park, few would label it a "delightful summer resort, three miles from Philadelphia".
Duane, William J. Observations on the importance of improving the navigation of the river Schuylkill, for the purpose of connecting it with the Susquehanna, and through that river extending our communication to the Genesee lakes and the Ohio. Letters. 1818.
...letters addressed by William J. Duane to the people of Pennsylvania, on the importance of improving our internal intercourse...
An ecological study of the Schuylkill River in the vicinity of Limerick Generating Station, Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Ithaca: Ichthyological Associates, 1972.
Nuclear Power comes to the Schuylkill Valley.
A Description of the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, the Niagara river and falls, and the falls in summer and winter; the prairies, or life in the west, Fairmount water works and scenes on the Schuylkill, &c. &c. Boston : J.M. Hewes & Co., 1850.
After its construction in the early 1800's the Fairmount Water Works was one of the wonders of the modern world, obviously ranking in this author's opinion alongside natural wonders like Niagara Falls and the Mammoth Caves. It has been reported that in the mid-1800's the Water Works and Fairmount park wer the most reproduced images in the world.
Feasibility report for flood control at Pottstown and vicinity, Schuylkill River basin, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Philadelphia District, 1973.
This is just one example of many studies of different areas of the river which have been studied by the Corps of Engineers for flood control or drinking water resevoirs. If you are interested contact your local library or the Corp fr additional information.
Fernon, Thomas S. The Valley Forge Railroad.Philadelphia? , 1863.
" a new project its termini at the south bow of the Lehigh River and the west bend in the Delaware River, uniting with the Lehigh Valley Railroad at or near Allentown, with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in the valley of the Schuylkill, with the Pennsylvania Railroad in the great valley, and with the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad near tide-water.
Flashing oars: rowing on the Schuylkill . Videocassette. Videographer, Paul Kreft. Philadelphia Maritime Museum, 1985 (15 min. : si., col. ; 1/2 in.)
Filmed at the Philadelphia Maritime Museum on Dec. 23, 1985. An exhibition of the history of rowing on the Schuylkill River and the various rowing clubs in Philadelphia.
Grolier's New Multimedia Encyclopedia. Online Computer Systems, 1993.
Hints for the representatives of the country. Book. Pennsylvania? : Schuylkill Navigation?, 1830.
Pennsylvania Rail-way : the route on the western side of the Schuylkill is the cheapest and the best -- Rail-way : route recommended by the canal commissioners, continued over Market Street Bridge / Mr. Strickland's report, 1830 -- Certificate from the engineer employed by the state, in conjunction with Major Douglass / George Merrick -- City surveyor's certificate / Samuel Hains -- Engineers and canal commissioners' opinions in favour of the western route -- Major Douglass' estimate by Peters' route / D.B. Douglass, 1829 -- Navigation and advantages of the River Schuylkill for foreign trade : established by affidavits / [by Jno. Blakiston and George C. Lentner, 1829.
Klein, Esther M. Fairmount Park.Byrn Mawr, Pa.: Harcum Junior College Press, 1974
Lewis, John Frederick. The redemption of the lower Schuylkill: the river as it was, the river as it is, the river as it should be. Philadelphia: City Parks Association, 1924.
A very early foreshadowing of the modern development of environmental concern about the health of our streams.
List, Friedrich. Reports on the improvement of the Little Schuylkill. Reading Pa., 1829
This was written in the midst of the exploitation stage of the "exploration - exploitation - redemption" history of the Schuylkill. We can be sure that the "improvements" might not seem like positive changes to us today, who have seen the results of exploitation.
Formerly part of the James Madison Papers, vol. 78, p. 27., Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
Lower Schuylkill waterfront: Fall 1981 GSFA Studio. Philadelphia, Pa.: University of Pennsylvania, School of Fine Arts, 1981.
FORMAT: 79, [4] leaves, [10] leaves of plates : maps (some folded) ; 28 cm.
MacOwen, Arthur H. Rhymes of the road and river,
by Chris. Wheeler [pseud.]. Philadelphia: E. S. Hart & co., 1885.
Lays of Lancaster pike.--Songs of the Schuylkill River.--Bent oars and broken spokes.--Cycling Bab ballads.
Mills, Charles K. The Schuylkill: a centennial poem. Philadelphia: Jno. A. Haddock, 1876.
Moran, John. Scenery of Pennsylvania: Catawissa Railroad. Audiovisual. Philadelphia: John Moran, 1863-1868.
30 stereographs. Views on Catawissa Creek and Railroad: Catawissa Island: men wading in creek, artists at work under umbrellas, landscape and trees of the island; Danville: ironworks, one view with wagon going down the hill in foreground; view on Lycoming Creek; Maineville bridge with train, a view of McCauley Mt. from bridge; railroad bridge over the Susquehanna River at Williamsport, man and children in the foreground; Summit Station: pine forest, headwaters of the Schuylkill, tunnel, one view with locomotive, base of Summit Hill, Quakake R. R. Some views duplicated.
Museum of Art, Boat House Row, Philadelphia, PA.Audiovisual. Boston: A.S. MacLean, 1992.
Philadelphia Museum of Art, originally known as Pennyslvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. Built 1919-1928, Horace Trumbauer and Charles L. Borie, Jr., architects, collaborating architect Clarence C. Zantzinger. Boat House Row is ten river-boat clubhouses of brick or rough-hewn stone built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Photograph taken April 1981. A.A. Aerial view.
Nolan, J. Bennet. The Schuylkill. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1951.
The authoritative work on the Schuylkill River, viewing the river in the context of its history, its impact on mankind, and mankind's impact on the river. It was the first, and so far the only, work to consider the river in its own right. Before this work studies of the river generally focused on how to exploit the river, and more recently they have focused on how to repair the damage we have caused.
Nutting, Wallace. Pennsylavania Beautiful. New York: Bonanza, 1924.
Lots of photos and sketches of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Pennypacker, Samuel W. Annals of Phoenixville and its vicinity - from the settlement to the year 1871, giving the origin and growth of the borough with information concerning the adjacent townships of Chester and Montgomery counties and the valley of the Schuylkill. Philadelphia : Bavis & Pennypacker, 1872.
Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (1843-1916) was a man of local renown, from a well-established local family. He was among the first to record the history of the Schuylkill Valley, and also a Governor of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia water troubles at an end. Philadelphia: The Pasteur-Chamberland Filter Co.,1890.
"The Schuylkill River water made pure, healthful and clear as crystal, and free from all germs of typhoid fever, cholera, cholera infantum, diphtheria, etc., by being purified through the only germ-proof filter in the world-the Pasteur germ-proof water filter ..."
This is an pamphlet advertising this firm's water filter. At the time Philadelphia's water was world famous for its poor quality. It did indeed carry typhoid and other diseases. A WW I-era cartoon even alleged that "fighting the Kaiser" would be safer than staying home and drinking the water.
Ramblings along the Rivers, Wissahickon and Schuylkill. Audiovisual. New York: E. & H. T. Anthony (Firm), 1860-1870.
Includes views by J. Storey from the series "Rambles along the River Schuylkill, Philadelphia, Pa.," including a view that duplicates one published by Anthony. Views on the Wissahickon and the Schuylkill: bridges: Columbia bridge, Germantown bridge; man in beached boat: "Coroner of Fairmount Waterworks in quest of dead cattle"; man in wooded glade; Red Man's Bluff; men digging and loading cart at Snake Rocks, "site of the new waterworks above Manayunk"; man on Wissahickon Creek, with Red Bridge Mill, beyond; "Ostrich eggs," rocks in the river, Dumpling Rock, barefoot boys with bucket climbing on rocks; Strong Run, Springs Dell, Deer Run, Devil's Bath, Cressom Creek; rowboat of people at steamboat landing for Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Report of the Watering Committee, on the subject of obtaining water power from the river Schuylkill. Microopaque. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Watering Committee, 1820.
As noted above, there are many volumes of reports to both the Navigation Company and the Watering Committee. For the sake of brevity just these two titles are included as examples.
Roberts, Solomon W. Report to the Board of Managers of the Schuylkill Navigation Company on the improvement of the Schuylkill navigation. Philadelphia: Joseph & William Kite, Printers, 1811-1882.
Probably the most extensive writings on the subject of the river are the reports to and proceedings of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, although the reports of the Philadelphia Watering Committee are also extensive. These volumes are archived at the Philadelphia Water Department.
Rinker, Harry L. The Schuylkill Navigation : a photographic history. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Canal Captain's Press, 1991.
A history of the Schuylkill as a means of industrial transportation.
Rowing on the Schuylkill. Videocassette. Photographer. J.W. Replogle. Philadelphia Maritime Museum, 1985 (11 min. b&w ; 1/2 in)
Video reproduction of film shot between from 1924-1927. Vingetes of the Malta Boat Club practicing and racing on the Schuylkill River.
The Schuylkill River basin. Map. Wyomissing, Pa. Schuylkill River Greenway Association, 1993
Creating the greenway in Schuylkill County, Berks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County. Includes text, membership application, ill., and col. insigne.
Schuylkill River Park: Center City redevelopment area. Philadelphia: Philadelphia City Planning Commission, 1964.
The 1960's - urban renewal, and hopes for the River to be a center for the rebirth of the city.
Schuylkill River recreation map. Map. Delaware River Basin Commission, 1982.
Schuylkill River study.Harrisburg, PA?: Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 1979.
Technical report. "The Schuylkill River Study covers a ninety-mile segment of the river from its forks at Port Clinton, in southern Schuylkill County, to Philadelphia's Fairmount Dam. ... evaluates the segment for inclusion in Pennsylvania's new Scenic River System."
Smith, Philip Chadwick Foster. Philadelphia on the River. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Maritime Museum, 1986.
Many, many photographs, drawings, and paintings of Philadelphia's history as it relates to the two rivers between which it sits.
Stereoscopic views of Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. Audiovisual. Photo. Cremer, James, 1865-1880
29 stereographs (photoprints) : albumen, some col. ; 89 x 178 mm. or smaller. 27 stereographs (photoprints) : albumen, some col. ; 100 x 178 mm. Many of the views are hand numbered and captioned. Includes the series' "Scenery in Fairmount Park," and "Zoological Gardens, Philadelphia." Negatives of zoo views by Schreiber & Sons, copyright, 1875. Includes 7 hand-colored views. One view has view of "Washington's headquarters" (Valley Forge?) mounted on verso. One view stamped "William Y. McAllister, Optician, Philadelphia.";"Scenery of Fairmount Park" series is numbered: 18, 19, 24, 25, 33, 34, 42, 80, 100, 132, 142, 145, 150, 158, 162, 170, 171, 173, 176, 186, 189, 192, 195, 216, 217, 222, 226, 233, 234, 237, 242, 246, 252, 256, 257, 528, 690. Views of Fairmount Park: general views; bridges: Girard Avenue, the wire bridge, a covered bridge, possibly on the Wissahickon; homes with field on hill behind them train at right from across the river; Sweet Briar Mansion; views of the waterworks, including Fairmount falls and the reservoir; boats and boathouses; Sedgeley's guard house; man gardening in front of the Pavilion; gazebos; sculpture: Lincoln Monument; carousel; paths, fountains, including Iron Springs; views of the Zoo: entrance, American Elk, Zebra, the spring and Deer Paddock, Monkey House; railroad tracks.
Stereoscopic views of Pottsville, Pennsylvania and vicinity. Audiovisual. Photo. Allen, A. M. and George M. Bretz. 1865-1885.
One view identifed as "Pottsville Panoramic View No. 1" and may be part of a series that viewed together form a panorama. Views of Pottsville, and vicinity: general views showing the town and the dams and locks on the Schuylkill River; farms; a view of Hillside Park, man sitting in front of Fairview hotel; two general views of Port Carbon; woman with a book sitting on a low tree.
Stereoscopics (other locales). Please note: there are many other catalogued stereoscopic images of the region. For sake of brevity they are not all included here. You can retrieve them from a university or other electronic catalogue. The above two descriptions should give you an idea of the rich historical data available in this medium.
Thompson, Ray. The Walking Purchase Hoax of 1737. Fort Washington, PA: The Bicentennial Press, 1973.
The story of an early hoax perpetrated on the natives by the white man. One of the first abuses of a treaty with the natives, this set an unfortunate precedent for deception, lies, and betrayal in relationships with the natives. Many treaties were broken.
Van Diver, Bradford B. Roadside Geology of Pennsylvania. Missoula: Mountain Press, 1990.
Watershed work plan Little Schuylkill River Watershed, Schuylkill, Carbon and Berks Counties, Pennsylvania. U.S. Soil Conservation Service, 1958.
Watershed work plan for watershed protection and flood prevention: Little Schuylkill River Watershed, Schuylkill, Carbon and Berks Counties, Pennsylvania. Prepared with assistance by U.S. Soil Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service.
Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary. New York: Dorset & Baber, 1983.
Wurman, Murphy Levy , Venturi and Rauch (Associated Architects and Planners). The Schuylkill River Corridor. Philadelphia: Murphy Levy Wurman, Venturi and Rauch, 1974.
"... a summary of all work undertaken for the City Edges Study." Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. City edges technical report.
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