THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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.