A long-lost original book of minutes from the Revolutionary War era has finally found its way back home to Pennsylvania, and it has been placed in the Penn State Archives, writes Sara Hoover for WHYY.

Minutes of General Assembly kept track of the daily work of the 1779 Pennsylvania General Assembly. This included giving military widows pensions and obtaining supplies for the Continental Army.

“It gives us a better idea of what was going on, what was being considered, and what they prioritized during that time period,” said Aaron McWilliams, archivist with the Penn State Archives.

The commonwealth’s oldest General Assembly minutes recently turned up at Belden Noble Memorial Library in upstate New York. The entries outline travel per diems for legislators and citizens’ oaths of state allegiance, as well as the pay for state militia.

To ensure its validity, archivists looked at several factors, including handwriting and signatures. Another indicator it was an original is that it ends on page 183 with the next volume starting on page 184.

The book’s owner, Edie Morris, decided to donate the book back to the state.

“That’s what makes this even more unique, especially something this valuable.” said McWilliams.

Read more about the long-lost book from WHYY by clicking here.