Doylestown Historical Society

Mission
The mission of the Doylestown Historical Society is "To preserve and commemorate the history of Doylestown so that Doylestown, its persons, places, and events may long be remembered."

Our area covers the Doylestown Postal Zip Code 18901 and includes Doylestown Borough and Township and certain bordering localities.

Background: The Society and How It Came to Be
In 1995, the Doylestown Historical Society was begun as a committee of the Doylestown Revitalization Board in order to focus on historical preservation. The Revitalization Board, established by Borough Council, was based on a program originally sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation known as "Main Street." The purpose of the program was to compete with shopping centers and malls that were threatening to put historic districts out of business. The genuine appeal of history and historic preservation was one of the few competitive edges available to the downtowns. Even in Doylestown, a relatively affluent community, the tax base had been declining, and the number of vacant storefronts was on the increase. Since then, Revitalization in the Borough has been a great success.

Our Projects

• Doylestown Historical Society Headquarters and Visitor Center
• Doylestown Historical Society Park (with Borough)
• Video Histories
• Historical Highway Markers
• Bi-Annual Newsletter
• "Images of America", a Pictorial Book
• Reprint of Wilma Rezer's Classic History of Doylestown
• Educational Programs - General Davis; Theatrical Celebrities
• Exhibitions of Historical Memorabilia and Photographs
• Historical Walking Tour of Doylestown Borough

The Society has concentrated its efforts on projects.  It has presented to the public ten video histories, including   Jim Michener, Herman Silverman, Mike Pettine, Walter Conti, Milt Rutherford, and produced programs on W. W. H. Davis, Wilma Rezer, and literary and  theatrical celebrities who frequented Doylestown in years past.    It reprinted Wilma Rezer’s wonderful book, “Doylestown. . . and How It Came To Be,” and authored a pictorial book,  “Images of America: Doylestown,” published by Arcadia, now in a second printing. It has a bi-annual news letter, “The Doylestown Correspondent,” sent to more than 3,000 recipients, now in its fifth volume. All of its programs are available on video cassettes filmed by TullyVision.

The Society has also sponsored historical highway markers authorized by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, including ones erected for Margaret Mead, Charles Sheeler, Jim Michener, and W. Atlee Burpee, and its most recent, for General W. W. H. Davis, himself an historian of Doylestown, and founder of the Bucks County Historical Society.

In April 13, 2001, the National Trust designated Doylestown as one of twelve historic destinations in the United States - a distinctive and special honor.

The Society’s New “Home” – and First Exhibition, starting Sept. 28
In October, 2001 the Society purchased  the   former John and Jean Elfman  residence, a  fieldstone  building, at  56 South Main Street,  consisting of ten rooms and a finished basement and a sizeable barn. It was built ca. 1814,  before the Borough was incorporated. Being in the downtown area and near the Mercer  and Michener Museums and the Library, which comprise the cultural district, it is ideally located. Our first exhibition will be a selection from Milt Rutherford’s well known photographic collection,   weekends   (Sats. 10-4; Suns. 12-3) starting Sat. Sept. 28, 2002.

Our Mailing List and Membership
To be on the mailing list, just leave your name and address at Borough Hall –  or telephone (215) 345-9430  (leave message).  A membership form will be sent to you. Many thanks for your interest.

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