Step into the past at the Depreciation Lands Museum’s library, where history comes alive through our extensive collection of books, manuscripts, and records. Whether you’re a history buff, a curious visitor, or a dedicated genealogist, our library offers a treasure trove of resources to explore the rich tapestry of local heritage. Uncover fascinating stories, delve into family histories, or simply lose yourself in the charm of yesteryears. Visit us today and let every page turn take you on a journey through time.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. The library is open to members and volunteers only. Members can come to the museum when our librarian is there and read, photograph, or make copies, but they can’t check anything out. Volunteers are the only people who can check out books, binders, or folders. The librarian meets with people who have ancestors from Hampton Twp. and other Depreciation Lands townships.  

2. The library is usually open on Fridays between 9:30 am and 12:00 pm or by appointment. It’s always a good idea to check before coming out. We are there most Friday mornings, but not all of them. 

3. Collections? We do have a lot of people’s old photos. The heirs of the Sample family and the Reuss family (former farm on Mt. Royal Boulevard) loaned us their family photos to scan into the museum laptop. Dr. Hugh Fullerton donated Civil War-era letters written to his great-grandmother, Violet Trimble, from her brother and cousin. Both were serving in different regiments during the war in 1862. Those letters are also scanned into our laptop and stored in archival-quality envelopes and boxes. 

There are binders of photos of early Hampton Township schools, roads, farms, stores, family reunions and anniversaries, etc., and the museum’s early days. Our library books are shelved by subject, then alphabetically by title. Our collections of U.S. History, Western Pennsylvania History, Local History, Pioneer Life, Fiber Arts, and Native Americans are the largest. Other subject categories are Biography, Forts, Cemeteries, Clothing, Medicine, Gardening, Weapons, Children’s Literature, Occupations, Woodworking, Cooking, Personas, and Music, to name a few. 

4. Do we have maps? Yes, we do. We also have a copy of the 1876 Hampton Twp map, all the maps in the Warrantee Atlas of Allegheny County, and copies of maps showing the changes and founding dates of the counties of Western PA.

5. We have some genealogies people have donated to the museum. Some of them are very detailed. We have great family trees for the Sample and Blackham families. We also have much information about the Anderson, Armstrong, and Herr families.