Welcome to Pennsbury Manor

American Public University System, Charles Town, West Virginia

Public History Final Product Submitted By Geoffrey M. Fisher.

4080844. HIST521Submitted to the Department of History and Military StudiesTuesday, July 22, 2014

Welcome to Pennsbury Manor

1. Pennsbury Manor,17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

Table of Contents• Why Might Someone Want to Study Penns

bury Manor?• Map of Pennsbury Manor• Date of Original Construction• Preservation Justifications• The Written Evidence• The Exteriors• Pennsbury Manor’s Ruins• Excavation• Reconstructing Pennsbury Manor• Limited Historical and Archeological

Evidence• Plans for the Reconstruction of the

Manor House started in 1937• Ground Breaking at Pennsbury Manor

was on April 21, 1938• Framing up the Manor House started on

June 10th, 1938• Another View of the Manor House’s

Frame• The Framing of the Manor House

Continues• The Reconstruction of Pennsbury

Manor was Completed in 1939• What is the Necessary House?

• This is the Necessary House….Is it Really Necessary?

• The Patio• The Great Hall• The Common Parlor• The Best Kitchen• The Best Chamber• The Nursery• William and Hannah’s Bedroom• Penn’s Cosmopolitan Vision• Pennsylvania: A Model for Colonial Diver

sity• Penn’s Vision was Complex• Has Penn’s Historical Legacy Been Tarnis

hed?• Pennsylvania’s Populace was Diversified

for its Time.• Penn’s Interests to Diversify His Colony

Translates to Fair Treatment to the Indians

• Religious Tolerance• Penn’s Religious Tolerance Stemmed from

the Intolerance he Experienced in England.

• Penn’s Persecutions Continued• Penn’s values spread throughout Pennsylv

ania….• …and they have been applied throughout T

he United States of America.• Presidential Honors• Bibliography

Why Might Someone Want to Study Pennsbury

Manor?• The preservation and reconstruction of Pennsbury Manor enables us to build upon William Penn’s high ideals created in an age in which he saw an opportunity to establish a culture of diversity, free of religious strife one which has direct citizen participation on this new world, issues which continue to be a struggle in today’s society.

Map of Pennsbury Manor• When at the Manor, visitors can a dial number for a particular part of the site. The number is 215-399-0611 and just put in the extension number.

2. “Map of the Manor,” last modified 2014, accessed June 26, 2014, http://www.pennsburymanor.org/plan-your-

visit/sitemap/

Date of Original Construction

• William Penn (1644-1718) began construction of his rural home in 1683. Penn wanted to live in the country since he enjoyed the tranquility and closeness to God. He once said, “A country life and estate I like best for my children.” The building stood till 1775.

5. Ibid.

4. “Brief History of William Penn,” last modified 2012, accessed July 20, 2014,

http://www.ushistory.org/penn/bio.htm

3. Cropped Initials and Construction Date, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

Preservation Justifications• In 1987, the historic preservation firm John Milner

Associates, Inc. published the Historic Structures Report for Pennsbury Manor. The appendices titled “Oakie’s Justification” enumerates many rationalizations why R. Brognard Okie (1875-1945), designated as the main architect on November 6, 1936, preserved the Manor in its current state. During the reconstruction Okie referenced physical and written forms of evidence to inform his preservationist methods. First, the physical evidence:– the entire brick construction at Pennsbury has been done with hand made brick to as nearly as possible match the old brick found in the ruins and laid to match the above mentioned fragment.

– The outer walls of the cellar foundations were toothed to additional masonry.

6. John Milner Associates, Inc., Historic Structures Report for Pennsbury Manor, Evelyn M. Tidlow, Frederick L.

Walters, Patrick W. O’Bannon, and Kenneth Jacobs, (West Chester, PA: 1987), 105.7. Ibid., 106.

The Written Evidence• The written evidence proved helpful to Okie in determining the location of a fireplace in the manor house. The HSR quotes from one of Penn’s papers dated March 19, 1685, it reads as follows:– “The partition between ye best parlor and ye great room ye servants used to eat in, should be wainscoted up & even with ye chimneys at least double leavid doors, one next one & tother next tother room, which makes a kind of dark closet between no matter for wainscoat. The doors have best be large between ye other parlor & ye withdrawing room.”

8. Ibid., 110.

The Exteriors• Pennsbury Manor is made up of 43 acres of green scenery.

• “…the outbuildings contain reproductions that allow visitors to experience history through demonstrations and hands-on activities.”

9. “About,” last modified 2014, accessed July 26, 2014, http://www.pennsburymanor.org/about/

10. Ibid.11. Aerial View of Pennsbury Manor, 29 October, 1932. Photograph by Henry Paul Busch. Tiff Image file. Accessed 30 May 2014.

Pennsbury Manor’s Ruins• Picture of the Manor’s Foundation Ruins, 1934. After Penn’s death in 1718, his son, William Penn, Jr. let the Manor fall into disrepair.

12. Manor Foundations, 1934. Unknown photographer. JPEG file. Accessed 30 May 2014.

Excavation• In July 18, 1932, Commences and ends in January 1933.

13. Foundation of Manor House, 1932-1933. Unknown photographer. JPEG file. Accessed 30 May 2014.

Reconstructing Pennsbury Manor• The Reconstruction Plans for Pennsbury Manor proved

difficult for the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and Okie.– The Pennsbury reconstruction contains many accurate and inaccurate specifics. The HSR acknowledges “the historical and archeological records revealed only scanty evidence about many architectural details, much of the restoration or recreation is actually Okie’s conjectural interpretation of William Penn’s home.”

– The excavation and reconstruction started during the Great Depression and Commission members knew that money would be hard to get from local and state authorities. “The committee was pursuing additional funding from the federal government to be used for the construction of a dike along the (Delaware) river bank.”

14. Milner Associates, HSR,, 10.

15. Ibid., 18.

Limited Historical and Archeological Evidence

• The limited historical and archeological evidence created controversy when the Commission applied for federal money. Carl Ziegler, an architect, and Leicester B. Holland, chairman of the Committee on Preservation of Historic Buildings for the American Institute of Architects discussed these issues.– Ziegler “claimed that the members had agreed there was not enough evidence for a reconstruction and that the new building would be built near the old foundations, thereby preserving them for future investigations. He requested that Holland try to intervene with Secretary of the Interior (Harold L.) Ickes to prevent the expenditure of public money for such a dubious project.”16. Ibid., 19.

Plans for the Reconstruction of the Manor House started in

1937• Before Okie’s appointment as Pennsbury’s main architect, the Pennsylvania Historical Commission needed to procure funding from the United States government. In February, 1937, the Commission received $237.000 from the General State Authority (GSA). Due to the lack of historical specifics and the use of federal funds to recreate something of national importance, all “public works would be administered by the Branch of History in the National Park Service.”

• On January 26, 1938, Okie sent over a dozen architectural and landscape drawings to Frank Melvin, Chairman of the Commission.

17. Ibid., 28.

18. Ibid.7.

19. Ibid., 32.

Ground Breaking at Pennsbury Manor was on

April 21, 1938• In the preceding month, Sessinghaus and Ostergaard, Inc., the contracting firm for the construction, began scouring the local area for the proper materials and a building crew for the Manor House’s construction.

Framing up the Manor House started on June

10th, 1938

20. Framing up Manor House 3, 1938. Unknown photographer. JPEG file. Accessed 30 May

2014.

Another View of the Manor House’s Frame

21. Framing up Manor House 2, 1938. Unknown photographer. JPEG file. Accessed 30 May

2014.

The Framing of the Manor House Continues

22. Framing up Manor House, 1938. Unknown photographer. JPEG file. Accessed 30 May

2014..

The Reconstruction of Pennsbury Manor was Completed in 1939

23. Back View of Pennsbury Manor, 1950s. Unknown photographer. JPEG file. Accessed 30 May 2014.

What is the Necessary House?

• This picture was taken during the reconstruction of Pennsbury Manor.

24. Necessary, 1938. Unknown photographer. Tiff Image file. Accessed 30 May 2014.

This is the Necessary House….Is it Really

Necessary?

• To find out what the Necessary House is call this number 215-399-0611 ext 8.

25. The Necessary House, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG

file.

The Patio• The patio served as the place to meet people. Note the long wooden plank. The long wooden plank served as an indicator of Penn’s wealth.

26. The Patio, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

The Great Hall• If any slaves worked in the house, this is where they would eat their meals.

27. The Great Hall, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

The Common Parlor• This is where Penn and his family would partake in their meals.

28. The Common Parlor, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

The Best Kitchen• The best kitchen was used more for medicinal uses than used as a kitchen. If you were stung by a bee or broke your leg, you would be placed onto the table and given medical attention.

29. The Best Kitchen, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

The Best Chamber• Historians are not sure what family member occupied what room. However, they do know there was “a chamber Penn referred to as the ‘best chamber’ which had very fine and expensive furnishings.”

30. “The Manor House,” last modified 2014, accessed July 26, 2014,http://www.pennsburymanor.org/the-manor/the-

manor-house/31. The Best Chamber, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

The Nursery• The nursery served William and Hannah’s son, John Penn. John has been nicknamed “The American” since he was born in Pennsylvania. Ann Harrison was his nanny.

32. The Nursery, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file

William and Hannah’s Bedroom• The object on the bed would be

placed over one’s lap. Penn used it to sign documents while in bed. It was called a “laptop.”

33. William and Hannah’s Chamber, 11 July 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

Penn’s Cosmopolitan Vision for his colony.

34. Cropped Diverse Community-1, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

Pennsylvania: A Model for Colonial Diversity

• Penn’s invitation to his colony was heard by many people. Many belonged to religious sects that experienced abuse due to their beliefs.– these people include the Welsh, Huguenots (French Protestants), Mennonites, Amish, Lutherans from Catholic German states, and German and Dutch Quakers



Penn’s Vision was Complex

36. Cropped Diverse Community-2, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG

file.

Has Penn’s Historical Legacy Been Tarnished?

• Penn was not averse to using slaves in order to meet his objectives in his colony. In 1685, he wrote his dismissive thoughts about using slavery in the New World:– “The reproaches I hear daily of the conduct of things bear hard upon my spirits. I wonder you had no wampum of mine, for I left about 20 or £ 25 worth that came from New York, as part of the goods I paid so dear for there. I hear my sloop has been ill-used by Captain Dore, and is now laid up in the Schuylkill. I have disposed of her to Richard Song, the bearer. If she be not fit, then hire him a sloop for his turn. I send rigging by him, which preserve if not wanted for him. He is to be loaded with pipe staves on my account, or any others that will freight to Barbadoes. Let him have one of the blacks of (Captain Nathanial) Allen, --- two of which are as good as bought, --- such a one as is most used to sea; and if George Emlen will go with him, hire him. He will return to thee, by way of Saltitudoes. If George Emlen be settled, [he was wanted as mate] pick out an honest, true man.”37. “William Penn Slave Owner,” accessed July 20, 2014,

http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/livingeaston/local_history/Penn/Penn_family_part_1.html#iv William Penn

Pennsylvania’s Populace was Diversified for its

Time.

38. Cropped Diverse Community-3, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

Penn’s Interest to Diversify His Colony Translates to Fair

Treatment to the Indians• In order for the colony to be successful and for his family to live happily in their country estate, Penn needed to generate good relations with the native populations. To get the Indians on his side, he saw them as equals. For instance:– he studied and learned some Indian languages

– he instituted laws that gave Indians fair treatment under the law

– when buying land from the Indians, he compensated them generously.



Religious Tolerance

40. Cropped Penn’s Religious Tolerance, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

Penn’s Religious Tolerance Stemmed from

the Intolerance He Experienced in England.• Penn went through persecutions due to his Quaker beliefs. In 1688, he was jailed for subversive language that went against the state’s supported religion, which was Anglican at the time, by denouncing the philosophy of the trinity: – “If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him....Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.”



Penn’s Persecutions Continued• Penn was arrested and brought to trail for

preaching at a Quaker sermon. He was educated to be a lawyer and he knew his rights. – For example, he was allowed “to see a copy of the charges laid against him and the laws he had supposedly broken, but the judge…refused.”

• The only way Penn could be free of religious persecution was to leave England.– “The persecution of Quakers became so fierce that Penn decided that it would be better to try to found a new, free, Quaker settlement in North America.”


http://www.ushistory.org/penn/bio.htm43. Ibid.

Penn’s values spread throughout

Pennsylvania….

44. Cropped Puzzle- 1, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

…and they have been applied throughout The

United States of America.

45. Cropped Puzzle- 2, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file.

We Hold His Legacy Today

46. Cropped Penn’s Legacy, 17 May 2014. Personal photograph by author. JPEG file

Presidential Honors• “On November 28, 1984, Ronald Reagan, upon an Act of Congress by Presidential Proclamation 5284 declared William Penn and his second wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn, each to be an Honorary Citizen of the United States.”



BibliographyDigitized Sources

• Fisher, Geoffrey M., “Author’s Personal Photographs,” accessed May 17 and July 11, 2014.

• Galle, Todd. “Historical Photographs,” accessed May 30, 2014. Printed Sources

• Tidlow, Evelyn M., Frederick L. Walters, Patrick W. O’Bannon, and Kenneth Jacobs, Historic Structures Report for Pennsbury Manor. West Chester, Pa: John Milner Associates, Inc., 1987.

Online Sources• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. “Pennsbury Manor,

1939-2014,” Last modified 2014. http://www.pennsburymanor.org/• The Penn Family, “William Penn Slave Owner,” accessed July 20, 2014,

http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/livingeaston/local_history/Penn/Penn_family_part_1.html#iv William Penn

• William Penn, “Brief History of William Penn,” Last modified 2012, accessed July 20, 2014. http://www.ushistory.org/penn/bio.htm

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