initially launched with 14 members as the friends of the pennsylvania historical and museum commission, the pennsylvania heritage foundation was officially established in 1983, and provided grants management, membership coordination, and program direction services to the pennsylvania historical and museum commission (phmc), as well as assistance with retail operations in order to facilitate the work of phmc archivists, historians, preservationists, and other staff in safeguarding 237 million documents and other archival items, 5 million objects, and 24 historic sites statewide, thereby ensuring access to the state's rich heritage for generations of present-day and future pennsylvanians. the phf also helped to improve awareness of and access to pennsylvania heritage items for educators and students statewide through its early 21st century support of the phmc's teaching american history initiative.