Thomas Chrostwaite

Thomas Francis Chrostwaite (1873–1958, USA) was a prominent figure in municipal governance and education in Pennsylvania. Born in Ashley Borough, Pennsylvania, Chrostwaite was widely recognized for his efforts to improve local government administration. In 1911, he founded the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB), an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for the state's borough governments. The PSAB provides resources, training, and a unified voice for borough officials, shaping municipal policy across Pennsylvania.

Chrostwaite graduated from Harvard University in 1898. Following his time at Harvard, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he worked as a school administrator in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Career In 1905, after graduating from Harvard, Chrostwaite was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and opened a law office in York County where he worked as municipal solicitor for Hanover Borough. Chrostwaite was interested in community organization, municipal law, and the history of local governments. He traveled around Pennsylvania and internationally to study local governmental systems and their responsiveness to citizens. His extensive experiences were instrumental in establishing the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. Later, he served as school administrator in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs In the early years, the Association advocated for health regulations to confront high rates of disease, promoted infrastructure development which led to job creation and served a vital role in helping to shape state programs that were important to citizens. Chrostwaite retired as President of PSAB in 1957 at the age of 84. To memorialize his contributions, PSAB created the Chrostwaite Institute.