![The Stonewall Inn, Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan [Photo credit: Johannes Jordan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons]](https://libwww.freelibrary.biz/images/blog/FLPBlog/resized/the-stonewall-inn.jpg)
In celebration of Pride Month , the Free Library’s Social Science and History Department is displaying books from the collection that give an overview of the study of queer history. LGBTQ+ people have always existed and will continue to exist throughout human history and across the world. Queer history involves examining these lives and… continue reading Collection Spotlight: Exploring Queer Histories
By written by Sabrina W. June 20, 2024
Philadelphia has the highest incarceration rate of any city in Pennsylvania, and the most locked-up census tracts in North Philadelphia have 17 times as many people behind bars as census tracts in Center City, according to the Prison Policy Initiative . This is one example of how data can help us visualize mass incarceration, which has been… continue reading Author Event: The Warehouse: A Visual Primer on Mass Incarceration
By written by Ben R. May 30, 2024
From classics like In Cold Blood and Helter Skelter to recent bestsellers like In Light of All Darkness and If You Tell , readers love true crime. In addition to generating chills and thrills, a good true crime account sheds light on the society and the era in which the crime took place. That’s certainly true of Murder in a Mill Town:… continue reading 19th Century True Crime at the Free Library
By written by Ben R. April 19, 2024
Baseball: for over a century, the game has been known as "America’s favorite pastime." During the early parts of the 20th century, tuning in to a baseball game on the radio after a long day at work became a ritual of the American working class, beloved by citizens of all races. But while Black citizens loved baseball,… continue reading Collection Spotlight: Highlights from the Negro Leagues
By written by Chris M. April 19, 2024 1
March is Women's History Month! Did you know that Women’s History Month has its roots in the struggle for workers’ rights? In 1908, women garment workers protested the poor working conditions inside factories. This was just the beginning of a larger fight for equality, equity, and safe working environments for all, which… continue reading Teen Reads for Women's History Month
By written by Verónica M. March 6, 2024
Happy Women’s History Month , Philadelphia! What began as a local educational initiative in Sonoma, California 46 years ago, has evolved into a month-long celebration "commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American History." As President Jimmy Carter said, when he… continue reading It's Women's History Month in March!
By written by Jennifer E. March 1, 2024 2
I’ve been working in the Print and Picture Collection at Parkway Central Library for about a year now and I’ve still barely scratched the surface of learning about all of the art housed here. One of the first projects I was fortunate to work on was updating the collection of Ukiyo-E woodblock prints in our Digital Collections .… continue reading Japanese Ukiyo-E Prints in the Print and Picture Collection
By written by Nora R. February 27, 2024 3
Lately, there has been a resurgence of interest in African Americans' contributions to the classical music genre. Boston Conservatory is set to have a Florence Price Birthday Celebration Concert ; the film Chevalier (released in 2022) grossed $4.2 million worldwide; and, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The… continue reading African American History in the Fleisher Collection
By written by Danielle T. February 22, 2024
In celebration of Black History Month, the Free Library's Social Science and History Department is displaying books from the collection that tell a visual history of Reconstruction — the period from 1865 to 1877 that saw some of the most radical changes in American history. The images on display, from books published as early as 1866,… continue reading Collection Spotlight: A Visual History of Reconstruction
By written by Ben R. February 12, 2024
It’s the 50 Anniversary of the blaxploitation film Foxy Brown starring Pam Grier . The film is credited for revolutionizing the way women were portrayed in cinema. To celebrate this milestone, the legendary actress did a special interview for the Free Library and shared a list of some of her favorite books . "It is… continue reading Pam's Picks: Favorite Books of Legendary Actress Pam Grier
By written by Administrator February 9, 2024 6
Helen Adele Johnson Whiting (1885 – 1959) was a trailblazer in the education of African-American students, particularly those in rural areas of the South. Her education from Columbia University, Howard University, and several other institutions helped build a foundation as a teacher, supervisor, and mentor to those entering the field.… continue reading Advancing African-American Education: The Helen Adele Whiting Collection
By written by K. Michelle W. February 1, 2024
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the proud custodian of an astounding literary artifact in our Rare Book Department : a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio that belonged to English poet and intellectual John Milton (1608–1674). 2023 marks the 400th anniversary year of the publication of the First Folio… continue reading “Making Shakespeare: The First Folio” - Featuring a Cherished Free Library Artifact
By written by Bridget G. November 21, 2023 1
Beginning Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the Free Library of Philadelphia launches a unique seven-part series of live evening events exploring the life and career of George Orson Welles , one of the most remarkable producer/director/actors to come out of Hollywood. The Free Library invites you to listen to, question, and possibly meet some of the… continue reading Special Lecture Series: Orson Welles & The Golden Age of Hollywood
By written by Administrator October 12, 2023 10
In 2023, the Free Library is observing the 50th anniversary of hip hop with a limited-edition library card design commissioned by local artist Akinseye Brown . In honor of this milestone, here are must-reads from the Free Library's catalog authored by top hip hop artists that shaped the genre and made… continue reading 50 Years of Hip Hop: Books Authored by the Artists
By written by Bridget G. September 11, 2023
I am a Black woman living, thriving, and loving in Philadelphia. How we prepare our food has a history, and that history is often long and can be challenging to decipher. We live in a world where food often loses its place of origin. Many supermarkets carry ripe fruit and vegetables all year round. However, these easily accessible foods have… continue reading Sugar Don’t Go on Grits: An Archival Look at the Great Migration’s Effect on How We Eat
By written by Andrea L. August 18, 2023
This summer, the Free Library is observing the 50th anniversary of hip hop with a limited-edition library card design commissioned by local artist Akinseye Brown . In honor of this milestone, here are 15 must-reads from the Free Library's catalog that tell the many stories born out of this innovative genre of music. … continue reading 50 Years of Hip Hop: Essential Reading in Genre History
By written by Bridget G. July 18, 2023
Honor Juneteenth with the Free Library of Philadelphia! This year, we celebrate Juneteenth for the third time as a federal holiday, but it has been an important celebration for nearly 200 years! Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in U.S. history. Along with commemorating liberation and freedom, Juneteenth is a… continue reading Honoring Juneteenth at the Free Library
By written by Inaara S. June 9, 2023
Hip hop's 50th anniversary represents a milestone for an American genre of music and art that began in the 1970s at block parties in New York City — specifically the Bronx. Born out of the intersecting communities of the Black, Latin, and Caribbean Americans who lived there, hip hop culture became recognizable for a combination of… continue reading The Free Library Observes the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop
By written by Bridget G. June 5, 2023
The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music at the Free Library of Philadelphia offers a closing theme as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to an end for 2023. As we share a sampling of the rich cultural treasures from 59 Asian Pacific composers represented in our special collection, we endeavor to inspire… continue reading Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage in the Fleisher Collection
By written by Fleisher Collection May 24, 2023
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May! Also sometimes known as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, it first began during the 1970s with a week-long celebration, and eventually got extended into a full month. May is historically important to the heritage of the millions of Asian and Pacific Americans in… continue reading Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May
By written by Inaara S. May 1, 2023
