Call Number:

03

Repository:

Thornbury Historical Society

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

circa 1989-1993

Creator:

Pyle, Richard C.

Abstract:

Richard C. Pyle is a resident of Cheyney, Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania who worked as a news director at KYW-TV in Philadelphia (a CBS affiliate) in the 1980s and 1990s. He wrote, directed, and produced the 1992 video "Historic Thornbury Township," a production of the Thornbury Historical Society. The video documents the history of the Thornbury area, including Thornton, Glen Mills, and Cheyney, from the 17th century through the 20th century. The Richard Pyle collection on "Historic Thornbury Township" video, circa 1989-1993, primarily consists of video tapes but also contains orders, binders with application materials for a Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations award, and a few other items.

Richard C. Pyle is a resident of Cheyney, Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania who worked as a news director at KYW-TV in Philadelphia (a CBS affiliate) in the 1980s and 1990s. In the spring of 1988 he met with Joan Dehm, the president of the Thornbury Historical Society (THS), to discuss making a documentary film about Thornbury Township. Pyle researched and wrote the narrative, and brought associates from KYW-TV to work on the project with THS.

The video "Historic Thornbury Township" was a production of the Thornbury Historical Society (THS) in Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It was a two year project sponsored by THS and funded with donations from 120 individuals, families, and the township's Board of Supervisors. The project was coordinated by Joan Dehm and the video was written, directed, and produced by Richard C. Pyle with an original musical score by Jim Bryan. The hour-long production documents the history of the Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania area, including Thornton, Glen Mills, and Cheyney, from early exploration and settlement in the late 17th century through the ensuing three centuries of change and growth. The presentation was intended to promote the history and beauty of Thornbury Township and the surrounding area in an interesting and convenient format.

Filming for the documentary commenced in the fall of 1990 and the project was completed in September of 1992. The video won an Award of Merit in 1993 from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations (now known as PA Museums), as well as a Delaware County Heritage Commission Preservation Award in the category of publication that same year.

Bibliography:

Dehm, Joan. "Summary of Achievement." Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations Awards Program Nomination Form, 1993. Viewed in collection June 13, 2014.

The collection primarily consists of video materials relating to the documentary, but also contains binders with application materials for a Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations award, and a few other items. There are about 30 VHS videocassette tapes of unedited footage filmed for the documentary, a U-matic videocassette tape of the edited master version of the film, and a Betacam videocassette tape copy. Some note cards with pricing information for the finished version of the video and orders placed, as well as two copies of a binder containing application materials for a Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations award, are also present in the collection.