The Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society is named in honor of local historian and philanthropist Thomas T. Taber III.
Mr. Taber graduated from Madison (N.J.) High School in 1947 and as a mechanical engineer from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. After a stint in the Army, he joined the Worthington Corporation at Wellsville, New York, doing time study work. He relocated to Muncy, Pennsylvania, where from 1959 until 1971 he worked for Sprout-Waldron Company (now Andritz) as their industrial engineer. Mr. Taber then worked at the George E. Logue Company in Montoursville where he was vice president until 1980 at which time he became self-employed. In his own modest words, he “never retired from doing productive work.”
Mr. Taber has shared his extensive knowledge relating to the golden days of railroads and the lumbering industry in his writings — a whole bookshelf of works including Sunset Along Susquehanna Waters, Williamsport Lumber Capital, Sawmills Among the Derricks, and Williamsport and Elmira Railroad. He is the author of thirteen books. Along with his generosity to the Lycoming County Historical Society, Mr. Taber has assigned the rights to republish these books to various historical societies throughout the region.
In 1962, Tom Taber married his wife Barbara. They are the parents of one son Thomas IV, daughter-in-law Debby, and their children Thomas V and Jessica, all of whom reside in Chicago. Barbara Taber has been an active volunteer at the Williamsport Hospital since the mid 1960s. She is a major benefactor for their current expansion program.
From his parents’ influence, Mr. Taber has been active within the community. He is a member of the Muncy Historical Society, serving on the board for many years and acting as editor of their Journal. As well, he served as President of the Muncy Public Library and as a council member of the Muncy Borough Council for twelve years. During his tenure on Council, Mr. Taber was responsible for planting 157 shade trees in the downtown area during 1997-1998.
The Thomas T. Taber building of the Lycoming County Historical Society was named in his honor “in recognition of his generous contribution to the 1999 Capital Campaign and in grateful appreciation for his long time support of the Historical Society.”
Mr. Taber died on August 13, 2022. His memory lives on in the name of the Thomas T. Taber, III Museum, along with a legacy of generosity and support for local history.