Item 30: The Founders of Scranton, c.1916

Item — Box: 18, Folder: 3

Staff Only

Dates

Created: c.1916

Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities

Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Publication.

Condition Note:

Good, booklet is slightly worn on the edges.

Measurements:

9 5/16 in. x 6 ¼ in.

Title:

The Founders of Scranton

Description:

A booklet documenting the beginnings of the city of Scranton. This is a transcription of a speech given at the Lackawanna Institute of History and Science by Edward Merrifield on January 20, 1916. Merrifield was an author who published many history books about the region. He also personally knew many of the founders of Scranton. This publication began in 1742 when Count Zinzendorf came to the region on a mission trip. Count Zinzendorf was a German religious reformer and missionary. He came to the area to preach Moravian Christianity to the Iroquis in 1742. Scranton is located on the land that was once called Providence. The first Connecticut settler in Providence was Isaac Tripp in 1771. This area became the origin of many industrial enterprises. The most notable of these businessmen were Ebenezer Slocum, William Henry, Seldon T. Scranton, George W. Scranton, Joseph H. Scranton and Sanford Grant. These men were responsible for the rise of the region as a coal and railroad hotspot. They formed the company Scrantons, Grant & Co. in 1840. In 1851 the borough of Scranton was formed where Providence used to be. This publication also discusses the characters of the city’s three namesakes. The three Scrantons were involved in public life and many local charities.