For most of their histories, Marple and Newtown Townships were farming communities on the western outskirts of Philadelphia. The thriving farms supplied local grocers, while the fresh air and clean water in Marple and Newtown attracted city dwellers seeking recreational opportunities. With the West Chester Pike linking the townships to other areas, they quickly became quintessential suburban communities. Marple and Newtown Townships captures the growth of the two communities from the early 20th century through the 1990s. A trolley line established early in the century provided transportation for commuters, but it was not until the 1950s that Marple and Newtown were transformed from sleepy outposts to sprawling suburbs. Housing developments such as Lawrence Park attracted thousands of new families to the area. Included in this collection are local landmarks which have long since vanished, including Bonsall's General Store, the old Marple-Newtown High School, Bessie Parker's, and the Bergdoll Mansion.

During the years 1764 through 1766, John Dickinson became a leading figure in the Pennsylvania Assembly and in the growing American resistance to unjust British taxation. The documents in this volume show that, in both roles, he sought to protect the fundamental rights of ordinary Americans. In the 1764 Assembly, after working to punish those responsible for the slaughter of peaceful Indians, Dickinson challenged Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Galloway in their plan to abolish Pennsylvania’s unique Quaker constitution that secured liberty of conscience and place the colony under the control of the Crown. Then, in 1765, he served as primary draftsman at the Stamp Act Congress in New York, producing the first official American documents of the Revolutionary Era. In his private capacity, Dickinson continued to write through 1765 and 1766, publishing, among other documents, the first practical advice to Americans on how to resist Great Britain. The present volume also contains draft legislation, fascinating case notes from his legal practice, and personal correspondence.