UNIVERSITY TIMELINE
RIDGE COLLECTION
History of The University Archives
The Mercyhurst University History Department established the Archival Center in the 1971. The archives were originally housed in the Learning Resources Center. In its beginnings, the Archival Center collected and preserved material related to university, local, and regional history. In September 1995, the Archives Center was named for Sister Mary Lawrence Franklin R.S.M, Mercyhurst Archivist from 1980-1994, and the Archives' focus has since shifted towards preserving primarily Mercyhurst institutional history. The archives is now held on the 3rd floor of Hammermill Library.
Sister Mary Lawrence Franklin
Sister Lawrence was born in Erie and was a graduate of Mercyhurst University. She taught at several elementary and secondary schools and served as the archivist for the Sisters of Mercy from 1986-1995. As a Sister of Mercy, she was active in the Mercy community and with several local volunteer organizations. A poet, Sister Lawrence had published five booklets of her work and authored From Eire to Erie, a history of the Erie Sisters of Mercy
History of The Thomas J. and Michele Ridge Collection
The Thomas J. and Michele Ridge Collection at Mercyhurst University covers the timeline of their years in public service. Consisting primarily of documents, audiovisual material, photographs, and artifacts, the Ridge Collection includes Thomas Ridge's services as the U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania's 21st district (1983-1995), and, more extensively, his two terms as the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania (1995-2001). The Collection also includes Michele Ridge's papers from her time as First Lady of Pennsylvania (1995-2001).
Governor and Mrs. Ridge's papers incorporate subjects of research interest regarding Erie, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and national and international topics. These subjects range from welfare reform, education, the environment, Americans with Disabilities Act, and budget balancing. Of note, the Collection includes both Governor and Mrs. Ridge's daily schedule and every speech given from 1995-2001, the September 11th terrorist attack, and the subsequent forming of the Office of Homeland Security, the predecessor to the Department of Homeland Security.
Mercyhurst Library Website
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​​​​​​​Archivist Contact Form
Bryan Colvin
University Archivist
Email: scolvin@mercyhurst.edu
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.