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Chestnut Hill Conservancy Receives $25,000 Grant Supporting Community Archives
Dear Chestnut Hill Conservancy Members,
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy has been awarded a $25,000 Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) to support planning for a multiyear effort to enhance public access to our historic headquarters building and our community archives.
This grant will help us plan for the continued preservation and adaptive reuse of our historic headquarters at 8708 Germantown Avenue—enhancing the first floor of the 168-year-old Gothic Revival building as a more accessible, multipurpose community space for exhibits, research, meetings, lectures, and workshops. The first floor has long been used for public programs and exhibitions, including the recently opened Mapping the Wissahickon: From the Colonial Era to a Reclaimed Watershed, our first in-house archives exhibition in a decade and a model for future displays. With this support, we can thoughtfully plan improvements that make the first floor more welcoming and accessible for community use, strengthening the archives as a hub for community engagement.
These archives are a cornerstone of the Conservancy’s mission to preserve and celebrate the unique character of Northwest Philadelphia and the lower Wissahickon watershed. They hold one of the region’s richest collections of images, records, architectural drawings, and maps documenting the evolution of our community.
They currently contain more than 66,000 items, making them a vital resource for researchers, homeowners, students, planners, and local leaders.
“Our community archives document our past, but also serve as a critical tool to plan the future of our neighborhoods” said David Gest Esq., Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy. “Preserving the stories of our built and natural environment is essential to careful planning for a sustainable future. This grant is a meaningful step toward making that history more accessible to everyone, and will allow the Conservancy’s headquarters to serve the community as a destination for public education and resources.”
The PHMC’s Keystone Historic Preservation Project Grants support planning and development initiatives that protect and enhance Pennsylvania’s historic places. This year, the program awarded $3 million in funding across 24 counties, and the Conservancy is honored to be one of just 37 recipients.
This grant affirms the importance of community archives in statewide preservation efforts and directly supports the Conservancy’s new five-year Strategic Plan, which will be shared later this year—advancing goals for archival expansion, stronger public engagement, increased access to history and resources, and equipping our region to protect its historical architectural and community history as well as its natural landscapes .
This exciting milestone would not have been possible without the collective effort of our staff, board, volunteers, and members. Special thanks to Ashley Maass (Development), David Gest Esq. (Executive Director), Krista Gebbia (Conservation and Easements), Alex Bartlett (Curator and Archivist), and Chrissy Clawson (Programs and Communications) for leading or supporting this effort.
Most importantly, thank you—our members—for making this work possible. Your commitment ensures that local history is not only preserved but shared, understood, and used to shape a more informed future. We’re deeply grateful for your support and look forward to sharing more updates as this important project continues.
Your support allows the Conservancy to continue free or low-cost public programs, preservation efforts, and advocacy for Chestnut Hill’s historic architecture, open space, and cultural resources. Donations directly sustain educational initiatives, conservation easements, and the Archives, ensuring our shared history is protected for future generations.
Looking to sponsor the Conservancy in 2025? Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to support local preservation efforts while gaining visibility among a community passionate about history, conservation, and sustainability.
Contact Development Manager Ashley Maass to explore available sponsorship options.
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