Raising the profile of the Luzerne County Historical Society has been one of Tony Brooks’s several priorities since he became the new executive director in 2008. Over the last year he has strived to put Pennsylvania’s oldest county historical society back on the map with an aggressive speaking schedule to classrooms and community organizations throughout Luzerne County.
    “I have reached 3,500 students, residents, and visitors through local history presentations and walking tours,” Brooks said. “I’m amazed by the response. Some weeks I would have two to three speaking engagements.”
    Public speaking is not the only way to increase awareness of the Historical Society. A new website, increased visibility in the newspapers, a Facebook page, and character costume playing have all contributed to new enthusiasm for our local history. Costume playing, you ask? This past summer, at the Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market on Public Square, John Wilkes and Col. Isaac Barré made a debut visit to their namesake city. John Wilkes was portrayed by Brooks, and Col. Isaac Barré by Historical Society Operations Manager Mark Riccetti.
    “We decided to do character costume playing of Wilkes and Barré as a way to link our area back to its Revolutionary War history and as a marketing initiative for the Historical Society,” said Brooks. “Most people don’t think of the historical figures of Wilkes and Barré when they think of the city. Through costume playing, we not only educate folks about them as people but we also put on a new face for the city.”
    John Wilkes and Isaac Barré were two British members of Parliament who voiced their support for the American colonists in the 1760s and 1770s. Look for Wilkes (Brooks) and Barré (Riccetti) during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Wyoming Commemorative Association’s exercises at the Wyoming Monument on July 3rd.
    Some less-than-public changes have also occurred over the last year. When the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was negotiating its annual budget this year a list of historic properties and state-run museums were put on the chopping block. The 1790 Denison House in Forty Fort was one such property.
      “We couldn’t possibly let the state sell off one of the oldest houses in the Wyoming Valley,” Brooks said. “So, the Historical Society stepped in and became the holder of the deed to the property. For years the Denison Advocates and the Historical Society provided programming around the historic house. Now we own it as well.”
    There have been other behind-the-scenes changes as well.
    “Digitalization is the way of the future,” said Amanda Fontenova, director of Library and Archives. “Through a state grant for technology, the Historical Society purchased five new computers and collection management software to digitize the entire collection and will make it available online.”
    Membership is the lifeblood of the Society and 120 new members have joined in the past year, raising the total membership to 900.
    “The greatest accomplishment has been new members,” said Brooks. “Also, I have to commend the loyalty of our present members. Despite the recession, giving to the Society has increased. I think that says much about our members and this community.”
    Brooks believes that the Historical Society has an active role to play in community building and maintaining  a strong sense of place. Sense of place is defining oneself in terms of the landscape, history, and shared experiences of a given place. The emotional factor makes a community psychologically comfortable, shapes local identity, and gives one a spiritual bond  to the land.
     “The goal and role of historic preservation and the story telling that goes with it is to pass the torch of civilization through the generations,” Brooks said. “My greatest honor and awesome responsibilty is to pass the collections of the Luzerne County Historical   Society to the next generation.”