Curator Josephine Low (Swarthmore ‘27) will give a talk about her exhibit “The Hidden World of Fungi: Mycological Mysteries at Swarthmore & Beyond;” this event will also be livestreamed. Continue reading
Category: in-person
Night of Lights Opening Night – October 2, 2026
The kick-off to Night of Lights 2026, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s free outdoor public history, architecture, and design exhibition celebrating more than 250 years of history, landscapes, and architecture in Northwest Philadelphia with family-friendly activities, projected exhibitions, illuminated buildings, live music, and more.
Talking with the Dead: Spirits & Spiritualists Tour – October 3, 2026
Can you hear the dead? Journey through Laurel Hill East to uncover Philadelphia’s fascinating Spiritualist past, where mediums, believers, and skeptics sought—or doubted—the possibility of communicating with departed loved ones. Continue reading
Springfield Township Historical Society Annual Open House – October 3, 2026
From Microfilm to Memories: The Springfield Sun Comes to Life! Continue reading
Spiritualism and Emerging Medical Technology – October 3, 2026
Come be mesmerized by spiritualism and emerging medical technology at The Legacy Center Archives! Continue reading
People’s Media Camp 2026: “Push Back! Push Forward” – Multi-day, October 3-4, 2026
People’s Media Camp makes a comeback this year, Saturday and Sunday, October 3–4, as a a two-day gathering for grassroots preservationists, archivists, community historians, artists, and memory workers to share skills, stories, and strategies for resisting erasure and imagining free collective futures.
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Night of Lights 2026 – Multi-day, October 3-5, 2026
A free outdoor public history, architecture, and design exhibition celebrating more than 250 years of history, landscapes, and architecture in Northwest Philadelphia. Continue reading
Fateful Departures: When Death Comes in Twos Tour – October 4, 2026
Step into the past with a cemetery tour that explores the stories of those whose final moments were shared — whether bound by fate, tragedy, or devotion — and now rest together for eternity. Continue reading
The Private Gardens of Three Philadelphia City Women, 1933-1943 – Multi-day, October 5, 2026 – February 26, 2027
Explore the lives of three modern Philadelphia women — Cora Cassard Toogood, Mary Febiger Fife, and Hilda Emery Davis — and the private urban gardens they created. Continue reading
Elwyn Open House – Multi-day, Tuesdays in October 2026
Elwyn is America’s oldest running institution that serves individuals with intellectual disability, come check out its archives that documents the state of care in America. Continue reading
The Gantz Sesqui-Centennial Collection at the Atwater Kent Collection – Multi-day, October 7, 14, 21, 2026
Highlights tour of the Gantz Sesqui-Centennial Exposition Collection of more than 1,800-objects exploring the cross-section of consumerism and patriotism in 1926. Continue reading
CCAHA’s Open House – Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Get a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of one of the largest conservation centers in the country during CCAHA’s Open House.
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Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon – October 7, 2026
Celebrate Archives Month Philly in the Wagner’s historic lecture hall as we view glass lantern slides from local special collections! Continue reading
Sacred Spaces and Storied Places Tour – October 9, 2026
Discover Laurel Hill West through its breathtaking architecture, lush horticulture, and the unforgettable stories of its residents on this essential introductory tour where every path—and every experience—is different! Continue reading
Hot Spots and Storied Plots Tour – October 10, 2026
In life and death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead? Continue reading
True Tales from the Tombs – October 10, 2026
Bearing true stories of mystery and murder, notable Laurel Hill residents return from the dead in these theatrical walking tours featuring a local cast from The Not Ready for After-Life Players. Continue reading
Darkly Departed Tour – October 11, 2026
Sometimes the dearly departed are darkly departed. Continue reading
HOW TO ATHENAEUM: Philadelphia Architects and Buildings (PAB) Database – October 12, 2026
An introduction to PAB and step-by-step lessons in searching and exploring the resources it contains. Continue reading
In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America Episode 6 of 10 – October 13, 2026
Sam Katz is a well-known Philadelphia history film-maker.
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Game On! In the Archives – October 14, 2026
The Free Library of Philadelphia, in partnership with the Delaware Valley Archivists Group, is hosting a free, interactive community fair featuring pop-up exhibitions, demonstrations, and table-top activities that showcase how sports, games, and play are documented in and catalyzed by archives and special collections. Continue reading
History’s Mysteries: The Revolutionary War – 1776 (What they didn’t teach you in high school.) by Herb Kaufman, M.Ed., Historian – October 14, 2026
OYRHS Lecture Series returns with History’s Mysteries: The Revolutionary War – 1776 (What they didn’t teach you in high school.) by Herb Kaufman, M.Ed., Historian Continue reading
Out of the Archives: Historical Medical Library Fall Open House – October 15, 2026
Join the Historical Medical Library as we step ‘Out of the Archives’ for our Fall Open House! Meet our team, explore fascinating collections materials hand-picked by staff, and discover what makes us one of the world’s premier research collections in the history of medicine. Continue reading
Night of Lights 10×10 History Jam – October 15, 2026
Night of Lights continues beyond the four-night exhibition with the 10×10 History Jam, a fast-paced community storytelling program featuring 10 speakers, each with 10 slides and 5 minutes to share a story about Chestnut Hill and/or Northwest Philadelphia. Continue reading
3rd Annual Germantown Community Archiving Fair: What’s Your Story? – October 17, 2026
What’s your Germantown story? Continue reading
Dearly, Yet Oddly Departed Tour – October 17, 2026
Sometimes a dearly departed soul is an oddly departed soul. Continue reading
Alexander Artway Archive Open House – October 17, 2026
Open House where you will engage with The Alexander Artway Archive’s historic black and white photography from the 1920’s – 1940’s of New York’s architectural heyday, meet the stewards of the collection, and learn about methods for preserving artwork for future generations. Continue reading
America’s Birthday Through the Eyes of the Union League – October 19, 2026
Come join us for a program at Founding Forward’s Philadelphia campus (within The Union League of Philadelphia), featuring items from our collections about how the Union League has celebrated major milestones in American history.
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Open House and Book Sale – October 20, 2026
OYRHS Open House and Book Sale Continue reading
Hands on History: Daily Life in the New Nation – October 21, 2026
Join this intimate tour to explore life after the Revolution through getting up close and personal with household artifacts and their archival links. Continue reading
City Archives Behind the Scenes Tour – October 21, 2026
Journey into the stacks and see some neat stuff! Continue reading
Catholic Historical Research Center Exhibit Opening and Behind the Scenes Tour – October 22, 2026
Get an exclusive peek behind the scenes of the archives and check out the new exhibit. Continue reading
Hot Spots and Storied Plots Tour – October 23, 2026
In life and death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead? Continue reading
Archives Month Historical Campus Tour – October 24, 2026
Take a guided walking tour behind the 10-foot wall of Girard College, using archival maps and photographs to document the campus’s history and growth Continue reading
Soul Crawl – October 24, 2026
At these annual after-dark tours of Laurel Hill East, hear the storied lives of restless spirits from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue reading
Sinners & Scandals: the Seamy Side of Laurel Hill Tour – October 25, 2026
The final resting places of these troubled souls show Laurel Hill East’s scandalous, sinful, and sordid side. Continue reading
The Hawk, SJU’s student run newspaper, is 96 years old – October 27, 2026
Dr. Jenny Spinner, student writers, and alumni, will discuss the importance of preserving University history through student media and displays of past issues will be shown. Continue reading
Unique at Penn Live! – October 28, 2026
Celebrate Archives Month Philly with a special live edition of Unique at Penn, the blog series showcasing the fascinating discoveries found in Penn’s special collections and archives. Continue reading
Philly Archives Film Fest – October 28, 2026
Seldom-seen weird and wonderful short films from Philadelphia archives and museums! Continue reading
Tour of the Chester County Archives – October 29, 2026
Go behind the scenes at Chester County Archives to discover the work behind the records, from preserving historic documents to making Chester County’s history accessible to everyone! Continue reading
Archives Month Tour of Fairmount: Girard College to Eastern State Penitentiary – October 29, 2026
A walking tour through our historic neighborhood, using archival records and photos to explore past and present neighborhood sites. Continue reading
Spirits and Rappings: Pageants of 19th Century Séances – October 30, 2026
Visit Swarthmore College this Halloween to learn about the Spiritualism movement that swept mid 19th century America. What did Quakers – some alive at the time, some already deceased and sending messages from the Spirit World – have to say about the trend? Continue reading
Soul Crawl – October 31, 2026
At these annual after-dark tours of Laurel Hill East, hear the storied lives of restless spirits from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue reading
Springfield Township Historical Society’s History in Motion: Strawbridge and Clothier – November 5, 2026
Margaret “Meg” Strawbridge Butterworth, author of Philadelphia’s Strawbridge and Clothier: From Our Family to Yours speaks at Springfield Township Historical Society’s History in Motion event. Continue reading
Celebrating Labor and Local Workers with Special Collections – Multi-day, August 25 – November 6, 2026
Through photographs, documents and archival materials, Celebrating Labor and Local Workers with Special Collections offers a glimpse into the people, places and partnerships that shaped Delaware’s labor history and reminds us of the enduring impact of workers on our communities. Continue reading
Hallowed Grounds: Monuments and Memorials to Abraham Lincoln – Multi-day, August 25 – December 18, 2026
Through books, event programs, menus, maps and ephemera, visitors are invited to explore the many shrines and tributes to Lincoln across our land and reflect on the unique place he holds in American memory. Continue reading
Where Do We Go From Here? The History and Future of Sex Education in the United States – Multi-day, August 25 – December 18, 2026
Where Do We Go From Here? The History and Future of Sex Education in the United States brings together school curricula, legal documents addressing the implementation of sex education in public schools, as well as advice books aimed at both parents and adolescents to explore this complex history from the early 20th century to the present. Continue reading
Personal Lives: Staff Selections from Special Collections – Multi-day, August 25, 2026 – May 28, 2027
In Personal Lives: Staff Selections from Special Collections, visitors are invited to explore collection materials chosen by individual staff members that highlight a personal connection, interest or story. Continue reading
A Seminary in Mt. Airy – Multi-day, September 16 – December 22, 2026
“A Seminary in Mt. Airy” explores theological education, campus life, and architecture at the Lutheran seminary in Philadelphia. The exhibit is part of the Bicentennial Celebrations of United Lutheran Seminary, the institution formed by the merger of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Continue reading
A Pure Attachment to Our Republican Institutions – Multi-day, October 2026 (Wednesday-Friday) and October 24, 2026 (Saturday)
What does it mean to be a good citizen? As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, find out how Girard College has grappled with this question over the past two centuries Continue reading
Camden Centennials: 100 Years of Rutgers-Camden and the Ben Franklin Bridge – Multi-day, October 2026
Celebrating one hundred years of Rutgers University-Camden and the Ben Franklin Bridge, with photos and items from the Paul Robeson Library’s Special Collections Continue reading
