Lancaster County’s 500 19th Century Schoolhouses

On Thursday, January 14, author Mary Virginia “Ginger” Shelley will discuss LancasterHistory.org’s newest publication, Lancaster County’s One-Room Schoolhouses and the History of the Common School Movement. This collaborative effort brings together 19th century documents, historic photographs, new photos captured by the Camera Club at Willow Valley, the cartography of Martha Tyzenhouse, and the design skills of Mike Abel. Lancaster County has some of the best examples of one-room schoolhouses in the nation.

Mary Virginia “Ginger” Shelley is a retired librarian from the Lancaster County Historical Society, now known as LancasterHistory.org. She is interested in history and published other works, particularly children’s biographies on General Edward Hand (Dr. Ed: The Story of General Edward Hand) and Harriet Lane (Harriet Lane: First Lady of the White House). Lancaster County’s One-Room Schoolhouses and the History of the Common School Movement was published in 2015 and is her most recent publication.

The colloquium, Lancaster County’s 500 19th Century Schoolhouses, takes place on Thursday, January 14, 2016 in Ryder Hall at LancasterHistory.org, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster. A social gathering and book-signing by the author will begin at 4pm, followed by the lecture from 4:30-5:30pm. This event is free and open to the public.