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Special Select Committee for Selecting the Official Pennsylvania State Song (unofficial), 1985-1995

 Collection
Identifier: 03-2011.011

Scope and Contents

As Chairman of the State Government Committee, Frank Oliver spearheaded the movement to adopt an official state song for Pennsylvania. During the 1987-1988 session, he headed a Special Select Committee to do just that. This committee was not an official select committee of the House, not being formed by legislation. It was more of an "ad hoc" committee including members of the general public.

Representative Oliver served as Chair of this special committee. Representing the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association were Sandra R. Sitter, Roland Dollhopf and Cynthia Conway. Randall Rosenbaum and Christine Voight represented the Governor's Council on the Arts. Jean W. Gilmore, a professional musician, also served on the committee.

Advertisements were sent out across Pennsylvania asking for residents to submit ideas, suggestions, new songs, old songs for consideration. Hundreds of submissions were sent to Sandra Bennett, Executive Director of the State Government Committee, including audio cassettes, vinyl record albums, sheet music, and lyrics. After deliberation, "Pennsylvania" by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner was chosen and presented to the House for adoption. House Bill 2212 of 1988 was proposed, but was not approved.

In 1989, the same song was presented again as House Bill 200. After some debate, the Bill was adopted and the Governor signed Act 150 into law on November 29, 1990, making this song the official state song of Pennsylvania.

The collection contains hundreds of submissions, including cassettes of original music, as well as suggestions for already existing songs. Correspondence and news clippings from 1985 to 1990 are also housed in the collection.

Dates

  • 1985 - 1995
  • Majority of material found in 1987-1989
  • Acquisition: 09/12/2011

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

User hereby agrees that in exchange for downloading material from this Website, such material will be used for private, non-commercial and educational purposes only. Website material may not be used for commercial purposes without the express written permission from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Additionally, all laws of privacy and any copyright restrictions posed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives apply.

User may not create a link to this website from another website or document without the written approval of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Unauthorized use of the Website may be a criminal offense.

© Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Office of the Chief Clerk.

Extent

1.50 Cubic Feet : Three half boxes

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

Correspondence is housed chronologically and the submissions are housed alphabetically by name.

Custodial History

Frank Oliver to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives.

Source of Acquisition

Frank L. Oliver.

Method of Acquisition

Donation.

Title
Special Select Committee for Selecting the Official Pennsylvania State Song (unofficial), 1985-1995
Author
CS
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives Repository

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