These 1938 photographs by Sheldon Dick show a landscape destroyed by mining and the efforts of local residents to survive the Great Depression.
Photographs from the 1930s show a ramshackle mining operation on outskirts of Mount Carmel
The Coal Region’s economic woes featured in book: “The Year of Peril: America in 1942”
In Tracy Campbell's 2020 book, the author uses the examples from the anthracite coal fields to show how our national myths about World War II often miss the mark.
A 1938 photograph shows desolate Coal Region landscape during the Great Depression
This photograph of Mount Carmel, PA in reveals the physical and economic gloom that hung over the anthracite coal fields during the 1930s.
A colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery at Shamokin
We recently acquired this colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery near Shamokin
A rare photograph of Shamokin’s East End in the 19th century
We recently acquired a new image of this Coal Region community in Northumberland County.
An artist’s view of the village of Shamokin in 1851
James Fuller Queen sketched Shamokin at a key moment in the history of the Northumberland County community.
Petitions for a new Pennsylvania county called “Lykens” in 1837
In 1837, residents of three Pennsylvania counties filed petitions seeking to form their own county called "Lykens." Their efforts were unsuccessful.
“Due for a comeback?” – An address on the Coal Region on eve of Great Depression
Mining engineer Max Fredericks gave a prediction of a bright future for the anthracite industry the day before the stock market collapsed.
“Don’t Congregate” – Police enforced social distancing in Mt. Carmel in 1918
The full force of the law was used in Mount Carmel to enforce social distancing during 1918 influenza pandemic.
“Heroic Work” – The incredible effort of Schuylkill County residents to fight the 1918 influenza pandemic
As influenza killed hundreds in Schuylkill County in 1918, volunteers stepped up to save lives.
