George F. Heckler 4W2 Archives
Research appointments, to use the archival materials on site, can be made by emailing Williamson’s archivist, Lesley Carey, archives@williamson.edu.
The George F. Heckler Archives at the Williamson College of the Trades was named for George F. Heckler, the first college archivist. Mr. Heckler was a graduate from the class of 1942, an instructor and President of the College from 1979-1984. Mr. Heckler had an interest in preserving Williamson College’s history from his first years here when he was a member of the camera club and a staff member of The Mechanic, the Williamson College of the Trades yearbook.
Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (now known as Williamson College of the Trades) in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) was established in 1888 with an endowment from Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist Isaiah V. Williamson. The tuition-free school initially offered vocational training for high school-aged men in areas such as bricklaying, carpentry, and machine shop. Since becoming a post-secondary institution in 1961, the school now offers associate degrees in various fields of specialized technology. The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades records, 1746-2014 (bulk 1888-2014), consist of administrative and financial records; a variety of visual, audio, and audiovisual materials; alumni and student publications; alumni records and personal papers; blueprints, deeds, and other documents relating to the School’s property; and several other materials that document the functions of the School and the individual experiences of its students, teachers, and other associates.
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| Williamson Trade School History (Pennsylvania photos and documents from Power Library) | Isaiah Van Sant Williamson History (Pennsylvania photos and documents from Power Library) | Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL) – Finding Aids | Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) |
The forty member libraries and archives of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL) collect, care for, and share with a world-wide audience collections that, in their depth and variety, comprise an internationally important body of unique materials for students, scholars and lifelong learners at any level.