Bill Text: PA HR291 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring the life of Sara Louisa Vickers Oberholtzer, a distinguished poet, novelist, philanthropist and advocate for the School Savings Bank System in this Commonwealth and around the United States.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-8)

Status: (Passed) 2009-05-12 - Adopted [HR291 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR291-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1755
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 291 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY McILVAINE SMITH, CLYMER, BRADFORD, FLECK, BRIGGS, HARHART, CALTAGIRONE, MOUL, DeLUCA, PHILLIPS, DONATUCCI, SWANGER, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, McCALL, MELIO, MURPHY AND PARKER, MAY 5, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 5, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life of Sara Louisa Vickers Oberholtzer, a
distinguished poet, novelist, philanthropist and advocate for
the School Savings Bank System in this Commonwealth and
around the United States.
WHEREAS, On May 20, 1841, Sara Louisa Vickers was born into a
large Quaker family in Chester County, in the township of
Uwchlan; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Vickers was the daughter of Ann Lewis Vickers
and Paxson Vickers, who served as a member of the Pennsylvania
General Assembly during the mid-nineteenth century; and
WHEREAS, In 1862, Ms. Vickers married a Philadelphia
merchant, John Oberholtzer, and they had two sons; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Oberholtzer published several books of poetry
that were well received by notable poets of the day, supported
numerous social and philanthropic concerns and actively promoted
the School Savings Bank System in this Commonwealth and in many
areas of this nation; and
WHEREAS, The School Savings Bank System was designed to teach
students the values of thrift and personal responsibility by
providing them with the opportunity to begin saving money in a
regular, systematic way; and
WHEREAS, Under the School Savings Bank System, funds were
collected and recorded by every teacher each Monday in the
school year and sent to the school principal, who in turn would
forward the collections from all of the rooms to the cooperating
bank; and
WHEREAS, When a deposit reached $1, the depositor was
individualized and received a bank book, and once a sum of $3
was deposited, it drew 3% interest; and
WHEREAS, In time, hundreds of thousands of dollars were saved
by students across the country, which enhanced their prospects
for personal and financial success; and
WHEREAS, In the fall of 1889, officials of Norristown,
Montgomery County, where Mrs. Oberholtzer resided, passed a
resolution to adopt the system in the schools at the option of
the districts; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Oberholtzer is quoted as having said,
"inclination and genius are inherited, but character and fortune
are made"; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Oberholtzer also stated, "this subject of
school savings banks is one of great national interest because
as we develop in thrift and individuality the wealth and
strength of the nation increases"; and
WHEREAS, Contributing to the current economic crisis has been
the failure of many Americans to save enough of their personal
income and to rely too heavily on credit, which serves to
highlight Mrs. Oberholtzer's wisdom in seeking to promote the
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School Savings Bank System among America's youth; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Oberholtzer died February 2, 1930, in
Germantown, having contributed greatly to the promotion and
support of the School Savings Bank System; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life of
Sara Louisa Vickers Oberholtzer, a distinguished poet, novelist,
philanthropist and advocate for the School Savings Bank System
in this Commonwealth.
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