October is American Archives Month, an opportunity for archives and archivists around the country to raise public awareness about the value of historical records and collections. Archives Month Philly is a new annual celebration of archives, special collections and cultural institutions that draws inspiration from both the national American Archives Month effort and past Archives Week initiatives organized by the Delaware Valley Archivist Group.

Archives Month Philly gets underway on October 1st with two truly unique events. The first is a poetry reading and roundtable at Temple University Libraries featuring Lyn Lifshin, Elaine Terranova and Daniel Scott Snelson. The reading and discussion focus on material from Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center and will be moderated by Matthew Kalasky, Director of the Nicola Midnight St. Claire. Immediately after is the official Archives Month Philly Happy Hour at the Trestle Inn, featuring projections from PhillyHistory.org and a talk by Annie Anderson, author of the forthcoming Philadelphia Organized Crime in the 1920s and 1930s. 

Throughout the month there’s a diverse array of tours, workshops, screenings, exhibits and lectures. This Archives Month, discover, explore and get inspired by historical treasures and programs at Philadelphia’s most notable archives, special collections, repositories, and other cultural institutions. See you around at Archives Month Philly!