We Remember: Service to the State and Nation (2019)

June 3, 2019 - September 25, 2019

French and Indian War. Vietnam. Global War on Terrorism.
War of 1812. World War I. American Revolution. Korean War.
American Civil War. Iraq War. Whiskey Rebellion. World War II.

Members of the Senate of Pennsylvania and Senate Librarians served in each of these conflicts. Along the front lines, in reserves, building supply routes, in communications - wherever these men and women served their nation, they served with honor.

In the halls of Pennsylvania's Senate, it was no different. These men and women, in addition to serving their nation, spent years representing the people of the Commonwealth as Senators and Senate Librarians. Join the Senate Library in honoring the memory of the many Members of the Senate of Pennsylvania whose lives were distinguished by service to both the people of the Commonwealth and the nation.

The Library of the Senate extends heartfelt gratitude to the Members and their families for their service, as well as their willingness to share it with all who visit Pennsylvania's Capitol Building. This exhibition is presented by the Library of the Senate of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Capitol Preservation Committee.

Senate Remembrance Ceremony

On June 5, 2019, the Senate of Pennsylvania unanimously adopted Senate Resolution No. 149. This Resolution remembers the sacrifices of the brave men and women in our armed forces.

Thanks to Senator Mike Regan and Senator Pam Iovino for speaking on the occasion, as well as to the families of Senators Cooper, Donlan, Hankins, and Reibman for being present.

We Remember: Service to the State and Nation exhibit May 2019 — September 2019

Thomas V. Cooper. Color portrait. c. 1800s. Courtesy of Mr. Thomas Marshall Cooper, great-great grandson of Thomas V. Cooper. Special thanks also to Sarah Jenkins Smith, great-great granddaughter of Thomas V. Cooper.
Thomas V. Cooper. Silver set. c. 1877-1878. Courtesy of Mr. Thomas Marshall Cooper, great-great grandson of Thomas V. Cooper. Special thanks also to Sarah Jenkins Smith, great-great granddaughter of Thomas V. Cooper.
Thomas V. Cooper. Silver plated soup tureen. c. 1883. Courtesy of Mr. Thomas Marshall Cooper, great-great grandson of Thomas V. Cooper. Special thanks also to Sarah Jenkins Smith, great-great granddaughter of Thomas V. Cooper.
Thomas V. Cooper. Caricature of Senator and Newspaper editor Thomas V. Cooper. c. 1900. Courtesy of Mr. Thomas Marshall Cooper, great-great grandson of Thomas V. Cooper. Special thanks also to Sarah Jenkins Smith, great-great granddaughter of Thomas V. Cooper.
John Carroll Delaney. "The Story of Rescuing the Flags of the 107^th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers at the Battle of Antietam." c. 1910. Senate Library Special Collections.
Oil on canvas. Portrait of a young John C. Delaney in uniform c.1865. c.1950s. Courtesy of John B. Lang, great-grandson of John C. Delaney and Kathryn Blystone, great-grand daughter of John C. Delaney.
Picture. John C. Delaney family heirlooms. Courtesy of John B. Lang, great-grandson of John C. Delaney and Kathryn Blystone, great-grand daughter of John C. Delaney.
William Perry Brady. Medal. Reproduction. Courtesy of the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
William Perry Brady. Silhouette of William Perry Brady. Reproduction. Courtesy of the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Thomas Forster to John Forster. Letter. 12.28.1831. Courtesy of Historical Society of Dauphin County.
Albert A. Rose. Oil Painting of John Forster. c. 1930s. Reproduction. Courtesy of Historical Society of Dauphin County.
Artist unknown. Etching of John Forster. From Luther Reily Kelker. History of Dauphin County. Lewis Publishing Company: New York, 1907. pp. 492.
John Trumble. Portrait of General Richard Butler (1743-1791). Oil on wood. c. 1790. Courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery, public domain.
Samuel Postlethwaite. Ledger. Rations issued to Pensylvania Regiments. 1794. Reproduction. Courtesy of Cumberland County Historical Society.
Joseph H. Thompson. Dress sword. c. 1910s. Courtesy of Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society.
Joseph H. Thompson. Newspaper picture. Reproduction. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4.15.1919. Accessed on Newspapers.com.
Joseph H. Thompson (on right) and Marshall Foch (on left) during the WWI Supreme Allied Commander's visit to Pittsburgh. Newspaper picture. Reproduction. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11.11.1921. Accessed on Newspapers.com.
Jeanette Reibman. Color Portrait. c. 1940s. Courtesy of Jeanette Reibman family.
Jeanette Reibman. United States War Department Commendation letter. c. 1940s. Courtesy of Jeanette Reibman family.
Fraser Donlan. World War II medals. c. 1940s. Courtesy of Fraser Donlan family.
Fraser Donlan. Portrait. c. 1940s. Courtesy of Fraser Donlan family.
Freeman Hankins. Photograph of Hankins in uniform. Courtesy of Bernadette Hankins, daughter of Freeman Hankins.
Freeman Hankins. Senate Portrait. Senate of Pennsylvania.
Freeman Hankins. Military flag. Courtesy of Bernadette Hankins, daughter of Freeman Hankins.
George Sarraf, M.D. Portrait. Courtesy of Roberta Sarraf.

Goals

Generally, the viewer will recognize that these stories have been brought to life for the first time through this exhibition. Thanks to the many families' whose records and treasured heirlooms have preserved this past, the Senate Library is now able to honor and share it with a wider audience.

The viewer will be able to identify Members and Librarians of the Pennsylvania Senate who also were involved in major military conflicts throughout the history of the Unites States of America.
The viewer will remember and honor, as part of the many holidays dedicated to veterans, the military service of the Senate's many veterans &mdash both past and present.
The viewer will recognize that Members and Librarians of the Pennsylvania Senate came to the legislature with their own unique perspectives, often based on their military service/career.
The viewer will understand that Members and Librarians of the Pennsylvania Senate have gone beyond the call of duty, as evidenced by their distinguished careers during wartime.
The viewer will be exposed to the major conflicts involving what is known today as the United States of America, from the 1750s until the present day. (Specifically, the French and Indian War, the Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion, War of 1812, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War, and War on Terror).

Pennsylvania Academic Standards (met in whole or in part by the Senate Library's exhibitions)

Note: *The text for this exhibition is written (with the exception of field-specific language) for the sixth grade level. For more information on Pennsylvania's Department of Education Standards, and more related standards, please visit PDE SAS.

Exhibition Team Megan Martin; Evelyn Andrews; Jess Rodic; Sarah Greenwald; Donna Wheeler; George Soule.

Other Organization and Individuals: David Craig, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee; Jason Wilson, Historian, Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee; Christine Turner, Executive Director, Historical Society of Dauphin County; Ken Frew, Librarian and Acting Curator/Archivist, Historical Society of Dauphin County; Jonathan Stayer, Supervisor of Reference Services, PA State Archives; Helen Mabus, Graphics Illustrator, Senate Democratic Caucus Operations; Linda Bolla, Exhibits, Research, and Curatorial, Erie Maritime Museum; Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society; Cara Curtis, Archives and Library Director, Cumberland County Historical Society; Madi Wolfe, Photographer, Senate Republican Communications; Chris Guerrisi, Photographer, Senate Republican Communications; Jason Tully, Legislative Applications Supervisor, LDPC and David Burton, Computer Programmer, LDPC.