Item 86: Ladies Luzerne Monumental Association Memorandum, ca. 1841

Item — Box: 12, Folder: 126

Staff Only

Ladies’ Luzerne Monumental Association memorandum, ca. 1841

Dates

Created: ca. 1841

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:

Memorandum

Condition Note:

Good

Measurements:

8 in. x 10 in. (Closed) 16 in. x 10 in. (Open)

Title:

Ladies Luzerne Monumental Association

Description:

This is a Memorandum created by the Ladies of the Luzerne Monumental Association in regards to gaining funds to finish a monument in memory of those who fell while defending the Valley of Wyoming during the Revolutionary War. Talk of the monument being created began in 1809, at the home of Jason Scovell. Obadiah Gore was appointed chair and Anderson Dana the secretary of the committee. Sixty men were on the committee overall and represented the various towns within Luzerne county. Since efforts to raise money fell flat, the construction of the monument did not officially happen until 1833.In July 1833, a ceremony was held in which 500 people attended and a cornerstone was placed by a survivor of the massacre, Samuel Carey. The remains of those who had fallen were placed in the base of the monument. Again, due to lack of funds construction slowed down. It was not until 1841 when a major fundraiser was spearheaded by the Ladies Wyoming Monumental Association. They raised money by hosting fairs and calling out to adjacent counties for support. The Ladies eventually raised the 8,000$ needed to finish construction and fix up the surrounding landscape. Since 1841, there have been ceremonies that take place annually at the site to remember those who fought and fallen heroically during the Battle of Wyoming. See more Library of Congress. There is a Mrs. Donley named in the manuscript. It may be referring to the wife of David Donley, a man from Dallas county. There is some record of him in the Proceedings and Collections by the Wyoming Historical and Genealogical Society.

Location:

Wilkes-Barre (Pa.)

Transcription:

LADIES’ LUZERNE MONUMENTAL ASSOCIATION The undersigned, in behalf of the Ladies of Wilkes-Barre, who have recently founded themselves into a society for finishing the monument designed to perpetuate the memory of those who fell in defense of this Valley on 3rd of July, 1778, solicit the Ladies throughout this county, to assist in this patriotic work, by forming societies in every township auxiliary to ours, by obtaining donations for us of money to saleable articles, or in other way which their good sense and judgment may dictate. And we further invite the Ladies in the several townships of this county, and in the adjoining counties, to meet with us in the Borough of Wilkes Barre, on the 3rd and 5th days of July next, where a FAIR will be held for the sale of such articles as may be furnished. And suitable accommodation made for those who may be disposed to help us. And we would still further say to our sister countrywomen, wherever they may be, throughout all the land, that their assistance in this enterprise will be gladly received and gratefully acknowledged. Say not, in answer to this appeal fair countrywomen, that our object is entirely of local nature, one in which you have no interest— not so: on the contrary, it is a national object, and you are Americans all. Shall the three hundred who bled at the celebrated pass of Thermopylae be honored by their Monument, in history, in story and in song, and shall the remains of our own brave Spartan band be suffered to lie mouldering [sic], with nought but a shapeless mass of rubbish to mark the spot where they so gloriously fell? We anticipate your answer. You will extend to us a hand of fellowship; one and all, you will unite with us to prove , that the amor patriae is not confined to the nobler sex; heart and hand you will join us in this good work , and thus stimulate your husbands, brothers and sons to deeds of virtue and patriotism.

Executive Committee: Mrs. C. Butler, Mrs. Nicholson, “ Hollenback, “ Conyngham, “ Bennet, “ Cary, “ Lewis, “ T.W. Miner, “ Beaumont, “Covel, “ Ross, “ Drake Corresponding Committee: Mrs. Woodward, Mrs. Donley, Mrs. L. Butler