Join the Rare Book Department for extended evening hours on the first Wednesday of every month. Our October event is all about “The Raven,” Edgar Allan Poe’s poetic masterpiece, and will give guests a chance to view the manuscript up close. Continue reading
Step into a world where big ideas come in small packages. Hagley library’s miniature model exhibit brings together three fascinating fields — interior design, miniatures, and conservation — and invites you to explore how they connect in surprising ways. Continue reading
From land to sea, learn the role of the nation’s founding forces Continue reading
Join the Mercer Museum for this special presentation with Chase Palmer, author of Postcards of Bucks County: The Complete Arnold Brothers Series and explore the history of Bucks County and its landmarks through early postcards of images taken by the Arnold Brothers. Continue reading
Come learn about floppy disk archiving with the Digital Archivists of Philadelphia! Continue reading
“Why do Quakers create and keep so many records?” Join us to find out! Continue reading
Explore peacebuilding through an exhibit highlighting activists and organizations represented in the Peace Collection. Continue reading
Sometimes the dearly departed are darkly departed – from killers and thieves to their victims, uncover the dark past of Laurel Hill Continue reading
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
Join colleagues in a review of how folks around the PACSCL community have integrated AI in their daily work. Continue reading
Bill Tilden not only won tennis championships and unceasingly promoted the game, he also wrote books, performed in stage plays, loved classical music, and played bridge at a championship level. Catered to by European, Asian, and Hollywood royalty, Tilden was very much a Renaissance man, and his contributions are worthy of recognition and study. Continue reading
If you are interested in learning more about the wonderful resources that the Mercer Museum Research Library has to offer, join our library and archives staff at this free “Research Library 101” Open House drop-in program! Continue reading
Our curators tell all in this behind-the-scenes tour! Continue reading
Take a guided walking tour behind the 10-foot wall of Girard College, looking at the campus as it exists today, along with archival maps and photographs that document its history and growth. Continue reading
On this historic tour, uncover the twisted tales of our cemetery residents odd paths to the great beyond. Continue reading
Join Dr. Zara Anishanslin, Associate Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware, for an afternoon of discovery as she shares stories of the American Revolution highlighting artists armed with paint, canvas, wax, activism, and espionage on both sides of the Atlantic. Continue reading
In 1918 the influenza pandemic ripped through Philadelphia, killing 12,000 people in six weeks, but what happened in the aftermath? Join this online talk by Dr. Bethany Johnson to hear how she mined archival resources, including rarely-used Girard College student records, to explore the challenges facing the stricken families and efforts of institutions and organizations to respond to the epidemic’s scars. Continue reading
Discover the DPD Archives and hear how the planners of today are learning from the past! Continue reading
The first 11 women ordained as Episcopal priests did so on their own terms: in a controversial ceremony, held on July 29, 1974–two years before the ruling body of the Church explicitly allowed it. Meet the Philadelphia Eleven, learn about their hard-earned path to ordination, and watch how they broke down barriers with grace and perseverance. Continue reading
Join the Chestnut Hill Conservancy for a unique and inspiring exploration of oral history and audio storytelling with award-winning producer Molly Murphy. In this free virtual session, Murphy will introduce participants to the power of capturing family and community stories through sound—sharing how anyone can begin preserving voices using simple tools like a smartphone, a few thoughtful questions, and a quiet space. Continue reading
Celebrate Archives Month Philly in the Wagner’s historic lecture hall as we view glass lantern slides from local special collections! Continue reading
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
Where history and nature connect through stories of Laurel Hill’s permanent residents! Continue reading
From land to sea, learn more about the many connections to our nation’s founding forces Continue reading
Some say his stories were inspired by the graves and gardens.. on this historic tour you’ll hear tales of Poe’s friends, associates, and foes from our city. Continue reading
Founded in 1852 as a school for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Elwyn now offers services for children and adults while preserving its historical legacy through manuscript and photo displays; curated with the help of day program students at the Judy and Bill Strine Student Transition Center, this open house will highlight both institutional care models and personal narratives. Continue reading
Bubble bubble toil and trouble, Distinctive Collections is up to no good! Come explore poisonous books, potions, spells, and all things Halloween from the collection. Continue reading
Venture beyond closed doors and see some neat stuff! Continue reading
Celebrate Archives Month Philly in this special live edition of the ever-popular blog series Unique at Penn where you will hear from your favorite writers discussing their contributions to the series, give updates on their posts, and provide additional context for their content. Continue reading
Behind the ominous name lies a practical process: debt collection in Chester County. Continue reading
Join the Chestnut Hill Conservancy for Ask the Experts: The Art of Protection with Michelle Impey (Chubb) and Jessica Silverman (CCAHA). This free session offers practical guidance on protecting valuable collections, including fine art, rare jewelry, and archival materials, through preventive care, risk preparedness, and informed insurance strategies. Continue reading
Join us at the Mercer Museum for morning coffee, donuts, and an exclusive early-bird guided tour of our special exhibition The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution. Continue reading
Travel back in time to the Jazz Age – an era of glamour, rapid change and enduring cultural impact. Continue reading
Whose Story? Narratives of Philadelphia’s History is an exhibition that explores the people, organizations, institutions, and communities that have shaped the narrative of Philadelphia’s past. Continue reading
Explore the sculpture that marked the partnership between landscape architect, Thomas W. Sears and Dr. R. Tait McKenzie of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, to produce three years of groundbreaking Philadelphia Flower Shows. Continue reading
Absolute Trash Philadelphia: An Investigation into the Postwar City, Wall Writing, and Local Media features selections from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Temple University Libraries. Continue reading
Panel event for the general public on how to protect your personal digital files (family photos, medical records, etc) for the long term Continue reading
A narrow band of territory along each side of the Delaware River, including what became Frankford, was included in the Colony of New Sweden from the colony’s founding in 1638 until conquered by Dutch gunboats in 1675. Continue reading
In our state-of-the-art lab, CCAHA’s expert conservators will share some of the exciting projects that they’ve been working on – whether they be rare books, unique works of art, or priceless historical documents. Continue reading
Join the Revolutionary City team in a day-long transcribe-a-thon, using machine-learning tools to transcribe documents from the American Philosophical Society, the Library Company of Philadelphia, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Continue reading
The Free Library of Philadelphia, in partnership with the Delaware Valley Archivists Group, is hosting a free, interactive community fair featuring unique pop-up displays, demonstrations, and table top activities showcasing how movement and change are both documented in and catalyzed by their archives. Continue reading
Curious about audiovisual preservation? Check out our facility where we can digitize over 200 formats and learn about our process. Continue reading
Ask a Chester County Archivist Continue reading
This exhibit is an homage to history, heritage and preservation of Filipino diaspora stories that would have otherwise been lost. Continue reading
Through four large scale paintings, Philadelphia artist Mark Thomas Gibson’s Lineage examines the proposition of “the future of humanity” proposed by the Library Company of Philadelphia’s Samuel Jennings’ 1792 painting Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences (or The Genius of America Encouraging the Emancipation of the Blacks). Continue reading
In What They Saved: Souvenirs and Mementos in Special Collections, visitors will explore keepsakes from the University of Delaware’s collections, learning about the people who held onto them and the reasons why. Continue reading
In person, enjoy our display on the Beltran Kropp papers, the collection ties into the labor movement, freedom of the press, Peruvian history and travel, we include a link to our digital collection on PA Photos and Documents for more fascinating detail and more great photographs. Continue reading
Delve into the rich history of traditional Irish folk medicine! Continue reading
Disasters and Archnemeses of Archives: Fire, Water, and Mold Oh My! Continue reading
Dr. Yamin will discuss several newly discovered burial grounds, nineteenth-century working-class neighborhoods uncovered during renovations to Interstate-95, and the long history of the site where the Museum of the American Revolution now stands. Continue reading
Archives Month Philly 