Hannah Benner Roach

Hannah Benner Roach 1907-1976 I T IS with deep sadness that the Society reports the death, on 7 August 1976, of Hannah Benner Roach, BFA, BArch, FAS, FASG, FGSP, a vice president of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania and member of the Fellowships and Publication committees. She was the editor of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine for 15 years. With her passing, the Society loses a staunch friend, and the field of genealogy loses a strong leader and a steady beacon of excellence in its field. It is not generally known — especially to recent members — how much the character of this Society was formulated and upheld by Hannah Roach's initiative in establishing many of the ideals of documented genealogy and its relation to the history of the American people. These ideals she passed on to, literally, hundreds of genealogical scholars who will continue to pass them along to future scholars. From 1956 to 1959, she taught a Course in Genealogical Methods with The Reverend Carl T. Smith, at the Genealogical Society. At the Institute of Pennsylvania Life and Culture, she was a member of the Seminar Faculty in 1966. In 1969, she lectured at the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Society is deeply indebted to her for many fine lectures and workshops over the years, the most recent of which, "Genealogy and the Carpenters' Company," was given in 27 January 1976. Among her many published works were "Historical Report First Block Independence Mall," 1952; "The Pennsylvania Mititia in 291 292 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 1777," Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, 1964; "Thomas Nevell, Carpenter, Educator and Patriot," Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 1965; "The Planting of Philadelphia, a Seventeenth-Century Real Estate Development," Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography, 1968; "Biography of Hannah Callowhill Penn," Notable American Women, 1971; and many other articles and book reviews in various publications. Her many memberships included the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Daughters of the American Revolution, Elfreth's Alley Association (Historian) , Library Company of Philadelphia, National Genealogical Society, Pennsylvania-German Society, Pennsylvania Historical Association, Society of Architectural Historians and the Swedish Colonial Society. She was also a member of the Art Alliance and the Peale Club in Philadelphia. Her awards included the Herbert C. Rorer Award, Pennsylvania Society Sons of Revolution, in 1965, for her comprehensive article "The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777," and a medal awarded by the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia in 1976. for her work in updating the biographies of its founders. From 1969 to 1975, Mrs. Roach was Research Associate of the very important "William Penn Papers." She earned a listing in Who's Who of American Women and Two Thousand Women of Achievement. The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania will be forever in Hannah Benner Roach's debt for the talent, interest and service she gave so generously. Her contributions were unique and irreplaceable. The officers and directors of The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania have established the Hannah Benner Roach Memorial Trust Fund. The income from the fund will be used to continue the quality of The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine to which she was so devoted. It is felt that all who have benefited from her efforts to maintain a high standard of excellence in the magazine will wish to see this continued and will help to establish this fund through donations in her memory. Tax-deductible checks, drawn to The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania may be sent to the chairman of the fund committee: Mrs. Charles B. Howland, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia 19107. Yours will be a gift to both the past and the future, a gift that Hannah Benner Roach gave to us all.