Week 2: Collections
Chester County Historical Center
225 N. High Street, West Chester. PA 19380
Contact: cchs@mycchc.org | 610-692-4800
Museum Hours
Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Library and Photo Archive Hours
Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Closed 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday - Saturday 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Center Staff Information
Librarian
Wyatt Young
Assistant Librarian & Archives Technician
John Kovatch
Chester County Archives at Chester County Government Services Center Director of Archives and Records Services
Cliff Parker
Archivist
Stacy Hutcheson
Assistant Archivist
Maureen Iplenski
Chester County's policy regarding photography, photocopying, and reproduction of images or artifacts is established by the Research Center and Curatorial Staff upon request through the "Collections Access Request Form." Collection Photographic Reproduction is done by a quote, and fees will apply for requests for certain collection items that are not available for public viewing for research purposes.
Any specialized inquiries are to be made to the staff of the respective department: Photo Archives: photos@mycchc.org
Museum Collections: museum@mycchc.org
Library Collection: library@mycchc.org
The Chester County Historical Center offers a range of finding aids for its collections, which are available upon request from the Library and Archival Department. In addition to using the Request Collection Form, there is also an online catalogue. This catalogue, available on the CCHC website, provides detailed information about our collections and how to access them. You can also find directions to access more information through the office of Commonwealth Libraries, POWER Library, in the online catalogue section of the CCHC website.
The archives of the Chester County Historical Society are extensive and contain numerous finds that are easily accessible through request and appointment, covering not only Philadelphia history but also early colonial America. I selected one of Albert Cook Myers' Collections housed in the Chester Repository. I began looking for Indigenous presence, particularly mentions of the Unami Lenape, in the Albert Cook Myers Historical Collection: William Penn Papers. In addition to discovering the presence of Unami Lenape, I also found historical information on Lenape place names and other significant documents that relate to research on Native Americans from William Penn's time. Using this repository will provide access to more materials from early colonial America and the various events that occurred during that era.
The extensive collection of the Chester County Historical Center boasts a substantial archival collection, featuring a wealth of information and personal accounts that provide a clear sense of the many eras that Philadelphia has endured. From collections of books, journals, and papers to companion collections of artifacts and objects in the museum, the Chester County Historical Center is a valuable resource for gathering research on materials that are not easily accessible online when exploring the history of Philadelphia.
