Historic Stones of Bethlehem, PA: Resources
This webpage was designed for students in the Lehigh University course about Historic Stones of Bethlehem course, but can also be used by other persons doing research on local buildings and the materials out of which they were constructed. It is not an exhaustive list, but rather a starting point for research. It will evolve as relevant materials are identified. For students taking the class: if during the course you find additional resources that can help your classmates, please email them to Brian Simboli for inclusion in the list.
Because the research you will be required to do cuts across different disciplines--for example, earth sciences, local geology, local history, and architectural history--the amount of possibly relevant resource material is vast. To help organize things, resources are classified by the broad categories that appear in the table of contents immediately below. If a category seems to be missing, please let Brian Simboli know.
Check ASA, Lehigh's Online Library Catalog for further materials. It's critical to learn how to use ASA well. If you have difficulty finding what you need, check at the help desk. Learn how to find one or two relevant ASA records, then click on the subject headings in those records to bring up similar materials.
The guide Overview of Lehigh University Library Resources in the Sciences provides an overview of library resources at Lehigh and can be used in tandem with this guide.
Good luck!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Check ASA for architectural histories, either general guides to get ideas about styles in general, or more specific material. Examples:
Census population data is available on microfilm. See the microfilm section
of the library. Census population data is available for Northampton and Lehigh
Counties, 1790-1920.
You might want to take a look at these website listing virtual field tripsto get ideas (by analogy) about how to set up your own webpages describing the buildings you are studying.
The following was provided by Steve Firtko of Government Documents:
Northampton County Government would be a good place to start. The County Clerks Office would have the record of deeds to properties. The student would have to do a title search on a property to get a list of owners and a general time period of when the structure may have been built. For example, if a lot was sold in 1854 for $75 and in 1864 the same property was sold for $1250, that is a good indication that from 1854 to 1864 the structure was built. Sometimes tax records can be of help. A huge jump in valuation on a particular property could signal a structure was built. Occasionally, the tax assessor may break down the valuation (i.e. lot $ 1.25, house $5.50). The old tax ratables are located in the Northampton County Archives which is near the County Jail in Easton.
You may also wish to check Bethlehem city government for possibly useful contacts and information.
HISTORIES OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
Check ASA. See for example:
HISTORIES OF LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
Check ASA. See for example:
HISTORIES OF BETHLEHEM AND THE LEHIGH VALLEY
Check ASA. See for example:
Librarians are available to help you identify resources that will help you
develop the content of your webpage. Please contact Brian
Simboli, Science Librarian, x5003 for earth sciences related questions,
or Phil Metzger, Special Collections, for
historically related questions. Either librarian can help you identify other
librarians (scroll down) who may also be of help.
The following guides can help you in doing the research for your project:
LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS, AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The Morning Call archives:
"The online archives contain the full text of Morning Call staff
written articles; the database contains those news stories published since 1985
and articles are usually available within
24-48 hours"
Click here for various library guides about newspapers. These include coverage of historical runs of newspapers.
See also the information about Bethlehem Public Library above,
for information about their newspaper indexing.
Special collections contains a large file of photographs relating to Lehigh
University. You may find useful photographs of your building here. Please see
Phil Metzgers's assistant, Ilhan Citak,
who can assist you in searching the collection of photographs.
Special Collections is
in Linderman Library and houses many historical materials that may be of use
to you, including information about campus buildings and local history.
Last updated 2/28/01 Brian Simboli
Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas for this webpage.