Erie Lackawanna Historical Society

The purpose of the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society Collection is fundamental to the mission of the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society: to collect, preserve, and make available for use information that documents the rich history of the companies that came to make up the Erie Lackawanna Railway. These items come in a wide range of formats, photographs, audio and video tapes, engineering drawings, maps, and financial records, to mention only a few.

The Erie Lackawanna Historical Society archives are currently in the process of being moved from their former location at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio to a new permanent location which will be determined shortly.

The Erie Lackawanna Historical Society collection includes material dating from 1835 to the present, and it continues to grow. Since archives are intended to preserve history, great care needs to be taken when considering the value or appropriateness of potential donations. A common mistake for example, is to think that anything that is old must be of great value while overlooking the value of newer items. Potential donors should contact the ELHS archivist or the curator of the collection in advance of making a gift to the archivist to assure that we need, and can accommodate a proposed donation. For example, we generally cannot accept gifts of railroad hardware, but may suggest alternative recipients. Because we occasionally receive duplicate gifts of items such as maps, annual reports, and forms and publications, donors need to understand that some donated materials occasionally may be removed from the collection to avoid needless duplication and to make space available in the archives. When this is done, the items either are donated to other non-profit organizations or are sold to raise revenue for the continuation of the archives.

If you possess materials or know the whereabouts of items that have potential historical importance, we urge you to contact the Society archivist to discuss the possibility of providing for archival protection. Donors may be assured that all deposits are handled in ways that facilitate long-term preservation and usability. The Erie Lackawanna Historical Society Archivist has a supply of donation forms.

The Erie Lackawanna Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit historical and educational organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The Internal Revenue Code does not permit organizations such as the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society to place a value on donations. Any appraisals must be performed by an appraiser the donor selects without conferring with the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society.

The development of a useful archival collection is dependent upon the generosity of many donors. Please contact the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society Archivist if you feel you can contribute to this important effort to keep alive the history of the Erie Lackawanna Railway and its predecessors.