Scranton Christmas Windows

One of our most popular collections at this time of year is Scranton Christmas Windows. Enjoy!

The upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday

This is the first page of a letter from David Davis to his brother-in-law Joseph H. Scranton.  I chose this letter as it discusses the families upcoming Thanksgiving plans.  As you can see, the Scranton's were going to go to Lenox Pennsylvania for the holiday and David Davis and his family were going to Massachusetts.  It's interesting to see that while we live 150 years later that families are still the same and discuss family plans, except that now it's by text, email or the phone.

The interesting part of this letter is the request by David Davis for Joseph H. Scranton to buy him a trunk.  Here is the link to the rest of the letter. http://content.lackawannadigitalarchives.org/cdm/ref/collection/outwild/id/1657

Nay Aug Boat Ride

Generations of children who grew up in Scranton remember the Boat Ride at Nay Aug Park. This is one 29 historic photos in The Nay Aug Amusement Park collection in the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives.

Cornelius Comegys

Cornelius Comegys(1858-1938) came from a well-known family in Maryland. He was a member of the Lackawanna Bar Association and was an assistant district attorney. Comegys also wrote a few books such as The Mayor's Court of Scranton.  He was a member of the Scranton Public Library board of trustees from 1917-1937 which is where this photo was taken.

Historic Library TV Commericial

The History of the Scranton Public Library collection contains many very old photos and artifacts, but it also covers more recent history including this TV commercial from 2005. The commercial was produced using the talents of staff members and, in the case of at least one actor, relatives of staff members. Note that the web site shown in the video and the technology used by Library Guy are already outdated.

 

How Times Have Changed

This photo probably taken in the mid 1970s displays a glass drainage bottle.  This was before plastic drainage bags were introduced. Technology and innovation, especially in hospitals, have changed over the decades so now these bottles are obsolete. 

Coming in 2014! Centennial Books

 

We have begun work on a collection that will feature Centennial Books from towns throughout Lackawanna County. As local towns began celebrating their centennials and other anniversaries in the 20th Century, they produced commemorative books filled with rare photographs and histories. Thanks to a grant from the Willary Foundation, we are in the process of digitizing 35 of books from towns like Dunmore, Dickson City, Carbondale, and just about every municipality in Lackawanna County. This photo is from a book called Moosic '76. This new collection will go live in early 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

David Davis Letter

Today the digital archives team is looking back at some of our older collections on Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives, including the Out of the Wilderness collection, which was one of our first collections on the archive.

Pictured above is the first page of a letter written by David Davis, a United States Senator, Supreme Court Justice from Illinois, to Joseph H. Scranton his brother-in-law.  This letter written July 11, 1862 discusses the Civil War and family life of the relatives and their wives.  The personal details of this letter and others written by David Davis gives reader's information about family and political issues of this time period. If you would like to read the rest of the letter or others like it click on the link above to enter the archives. Once there search the Out of the Wilderness Collection.

Doctor's Receipt from 1865

This receipt can be found in the Out of the Wilderness collection. In 1865 a Mr. Phillips (first name illegible) had a leg amputated by Doctor J. W. Gibbs at a cost of $30 discounted to $25. The skilled researchers in the library's Reference Department have revealed that Dr. Gibbs practiced in Hyde Park (then a separate borough) and served as coroner of Luzerne County (before Lackawanna County was formed). An image of Dr. Gibbs from the book History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties (1880) appears below.

 

 

 

 

Evolution of the Community Medical Center Cafeteria

The photos above are from the Community Medical Center Cafeteria.  These photos show the transition and changes in dress and equipment that was used when preparing and serving food.  While both photos show women wearing dresses the 2nd photo shows the dresses to be much shorter.  The first photo was probably taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s, while the second photo is from the 1970s. It's also interesting to look at the choices of foods. In photo 1 the server appears to be spooning what looks like spinach, while in the second photo you have a great pic of donuts and brownies. The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archive team does not know who the individuals in the photos are so if recognize anyone please let us know. 

Community Medical Center Scrapbook

The Story of the Community Medical Center collection contains scrapbooks comprised of newspaper clippings, photos, and other artifacts. This volume covers 1897-1962. Subsequent volumes take us through the 1980s.

Compassionate Nurses

There are always stories about the compassion and help nurses give you as a patient in the hospital.  Here is a beautiful photo of a nurse holding a child.  We don't know who the nurse or child are but the looks on their faces are lovely. The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives is unsure of the date of this photo but is believed to have been taken in the late 1970s or early 1980s at the Community Medical Center.

High Heels and Medical Records

Ah...the 70's....when fashion trumped workplace safety. The woman filing medical records is perched precariously on a step-ladder in high heels. One would assume these records are now digital. This photo is one of many in the Story of the Community Medical Center collection.

CMC Softball

This photo was in the Community Medical Center archives at the Lackawanna Historical Society.  We aren't sure who the ladies are or if this was a CMC fun day or an actual softball team. If anyone knows please let us know!  Either way this was probably taken in the mid 1970s. You have to love those bell bottoms and the classic cars in the background!! Fun Stuff. 

Brain Scan Courtesy of Sgt. Pepper

It may look like this patient is about to get her head laundered, but in truth she is being placed in the EMI Brain Scanner. According to Making the Modern World, this was the first medical device capable of providing detailed pictures of the brain. This is one of many historic, medical-related photos in The Story of the Community Medical Center Collection. As an interesting aside, the British company EMI is better known for releasing Beatle records. According to Making the Modern World, profits from Beatle recordings enabled EMI to invest in side ventures like this.

Communi-K Newsletter Comedic writing

The Communi-K was a monthly newsletter published at the Community Medical Center.  Usually there was information about different departments, new staff, and a few letters to the editor.   The above image is a reference to one of the letters to the editor from an L.E. Vator with a reply from Dr. John L. Otis. This is a hilarious bit of writing about when it is more appropriate to use the stairs.  Please keep in mind that this was published in the August of 1969 newsletter. If you have trouble viewing this image please try this link for the Communi-K and find page 6. Enjoy!!

The Story of the Community Medical Center

The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archive team is proud to announce the launch of our newest digital collection: The Story of the Community Medical Center.  This collection contains 117 items including; scrapbooks, photos, newsletters, and nursing graduation programs from CMC's 100 plus year history!  With the help of the Lackawanna Historical Society and Geisinger CMC we were able to bring you this wonderful collection.

For direct access to the collection: http://content.lackawannadigitalarchives.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/CMC

Nay Aug Boat Ride with Nuns

This photo from the Nay Aug Amusement Park Collection shows unidentified, formally dressed dignitaries and nuns posing grimly on a summer's day while kids enjoy the boat ride and merry-go-round. This photo is undated, but we believe it is from the early 1960s.

New Collection: Nay Aug Amusement Park

If you grew up in the Scranton area anytime before the 1990s, you may remember the amusement area at Nay Aug Park. Karl and Ralph Strohl owned and operated the Nay Aug Amusement Park for nearly 70 years, and we have added 29 vintage photos from their personal collection to the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives. This one shows the entrance to the amusement area.

 

Albright Front Hall

This photo pulled from the History of the SPL collection on Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives shows the front hall of the Scranton Public Library.  We are unsure when the photo was taken but if you walk into the library today the front hall looks exactly the same.  Library directors and staff have maintained the integrity and look of the building and this photo is an example of that. We will be posting a photo in the next few days of what the front hall looks like today.

Scranton Book, Wall Paper, & Variety Store

Scranton Directory 1859-1860, which is part of the Out of the Wilderness collection, contains, in addition to business and residential listings, many interesting advertisements like the one below for a "Book, Wall Paper, & Variety" store. Students would apparently go there to get their "slates" which I assume are a precursor to the iPad.

104 Years Ago

This was the 29th concert of the Scranton Symphony Orchestra was held on January 18, 1904 at the Lyceum Theater.   This concert was conducted by Louis Baker Phillips who was the conductor for other concerts as well.  There were two parts to the program. The first part included a piece by Beethoven, and in the second part there was a piece by Schubert along with some others.

Albright Reference Room 1969

In this photo, which is part of The History of the Scranton Public Library Collection, the camera is facing west. In this era, the Reference Room stacks were arranged around the perimeter of the room. In the 1990s all of the stacks were relocated to the south side of the room. They are now being removed as electronic content is replacing print materials in the library's Reference Collection.