Note 857 — Chapter XII · (continued 2)

The first ten volumes of the series known as the Colonial Records bear the title of Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, from the Organization [1683] to the Termination of the Proprietary Government; the last six: Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania from its Organization to the Termination of the Revolution. They contain, however, the Minutes down to 1790. The publication of this series was begun by the State in 1837, the American Philosophical Society and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania having petitioned the Legislature to adopt measures for this end. After three volumes were issued (Harrisburg, 1838-1840) the publication was suspended. In 1851, at the request of the Historical Society, the matter was again brought before the Legislature by Edward Armstrong, Esq., a member of the Society, then a delegate to the Legislature. The sixteen volumes of the Colonial Records and twelve of the Pennsylvania Archives were issued between the years 1852 and 1856. The volumes issued in 1838-1840 were reprinted in 1852, and an index volume to both works in 1860. The latter does not apply to the volume of the Records published in 1838-1840.