Talk, book-signing focus on ‘Pennsylvania Farming’

STATE COLLEGE — The Centre County Historical Society invites residents to a talk and book-signing for “Pennsylvania Farming: A History in Landscapes” by Dr. Sally McMurry at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Centre County/Penn State Visitor Center, 800 E. Park Ave. 

McMurry will present an illustrated talk based on her book. 

According to the University of Pittsburgh Press, “‘Pennsylvania Farming’ presents the first history of Pennsylvania agriculture in more than 60 years. McMurry goes beyond a strictly economic approach and considers the diverse forces that helped shape the farming landscape, from physical factors to cultural repertoires to labor systems. Above all, the people who created and worked on Pennsylvania’s farms are placed at the center of attention. More than 150 photographs inform the interpretation, which offers a sweeping look at the evolution of Pennsylvania’s agricultural landscapes right up to the present day.’

McMurry is professor emerita of history at Penn State University. She is the author of numerous books and articles in the fields of agricultural and landscape history. From 2003 to 2012, she served as principal investigator of the Pennsylvania Agricultural History Project, a collaborative effort with Penn State and state agencies. The project resulted in a Web-based resource that aids in evaluating Pennsylvania farming properties for eligibility on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Pennsylvania Farming” will be for sale at the talk, or may be ordered online at www.upress.pitt.edu.

The talk is part of the distinguished author series underwritten by the Anne Hamilton Henszey Pyle and Kenneth B. Pyle Educational Fund for Regional Heritage Preservation of the Centre County Historical Society.

The program is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted.

For more information, visit www.centrehistory.org.