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Jenkins Blog

Historical
March 3, 2020

Historical Philadelphia Building Code Research

Have a case where you need to find an older version of the Building Code for Philadelphia? We can help. The Philadelphia Code (hereafter referred to as the Code) was first published in 1956. The Building Code was codified at Title 4. At this time, a researcher only needed to consult Title 4 to see...
Historical
January 9, 2020

Works from 1924 Enter the Public Domain

This year, copyrighted works published in 1924 have entered the public domain after 95 years of copyright protection. In 2019, published works entered the public domain for the first time in decades after a 20 year lapse. Several amendments to federal copyright law throughout the 20th century...
Historical
October 31, 2019

The Witch Trial of Margaret Matson

In February 1684, eight years before the infamous Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts, a Swedish woman named Margaret Matson was brought to trial in Philadelphia. Accused of practicing witchcraft, she was tried before a jury of 12 men that was presided over by Governor William Penn and the...
Historical
October 15, 2019
William Penn Statute

William Penn and Pennsylvania's Founding Documents

William Penn , the founder of Pennsylvania and advocate of religious freedom, was born October 14, 1644*, 375 years ago. It was his influence that set the framework for not only Pennsylvania's Constitution, but also the U.S. Constitution. For researchers interested in exploring this connection,...
Historical
February 26, 2019

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes - Archived Historical Editions

One of our most popular questions at the Reference Desk at Jenkins involves finding old versions of the Pennsylvania Statutes. The people we help often need to know how a section of Purdon's read in a specific year, since a case may hinge upon the language of the statute at a particular time. In...
Historical
February 14, 2019

Presidential Documents Online

Presidents’ Day, the day celebrating George Washington’s birth, became a federal holiday in 1879. The day was celebrated on February 22nd each year, until a 1968 law mandated that many federal holidays be noticed on Mondays. We now celebrate Presidents’ Day on the third Monday of February. In...
Historical
March 29, 2018

Research Lawyer Biographies with Jenkins

Are you looking for information about your firm's founding partners? What about prominent Philadelphia attorneys throughout history? Our Reference Department may be able to help. Throughout the years, librarians at Jenkins have combed through newspapers, including The Legal Intelligencer , The...
Historical
May 12, 2017

Philadelphia Code of Ordinances Prior Editions

The Philadelphia Code represents the official codification of City Ordinances. The First Edition , mandated in 1951 by the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, became effective February 29, 1956. The current edition is the Twelfth Edition, the print version of which is current through March 1, 2020 and...
Historical
March 16, 2017
Portrait of William A. Schnader, in a frame.

William A. Schnader (1886-1968)

William A. Schnader (1886-1968) Although he's been gone for almost 50 years, the legacy of William A. Schnader continues on. During his time as Special Deputy Attorney General and Attorney General he drafted revisions and codifications to many Pennsylvania administrative, banking, corporation, and...
Historical
September 22, 2016

The Pennsylvania Constitution turns 240!

September 28 marks the 240th anniversary of the original Pennsylvania Constitution. According to the Pennsylvania Manual , in June of 1776, extralegal committees fed up with the Provincial Assembly that ruled Pennsylvania at that time called a state convention to be held on July 15, 1776. Benjamin...