Posts in “history” (162)
Blog Articles
Did you know that in 1654, 23 Jewish refugees sailed to the port of New Amsterdam (presently New York City) and established the first Jewish community in what we now call the United States?… continue reading Honoring Jewish American Heritage Month
By written by Inaara S. May 1, 2023 1
The Free Library of Philadelphia has some wonderful resources for people researching the history of children's literature in America. With just a library card , several databases are… continue reading Profiles in Literature
By written by Chris B. April 25, 2023
Visit one of our libraries to explore our newest database, Ancestry Library Edition , which provides the most extensive collection of genealogical information currently available… continue reading Ancestry Library Edition
By written by Sharyl O. April 17, 2023 2
Early in our Interior Chinatown unit, my co-teacher and I talked to our students about the idea of interior and exterior — an important contrast that structures Charles Yu ’s novel.… continue reading Teaching Interior Chinatown — With Appropriate Supports
By written by Administrator April 10, 2023 2
Over the years, the Philadelphia Commission for Women has partnered with the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women on vital programs to… continue reading Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party
By written by Suzanna U. March 22, 2023 1
NewspaperArchive is an online database of billions (and yes, that’s BILLIONS with a B!) of newspaper articles from Pennsylvania, the U.S. (all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin… continue reading NewspaperArchive Is a Blast From the Past!
By written by Sharyl O. March 22, 2023 2
Using your library card, you can now enjoy Black history in the oral tradition via The HistoryMakers Digital Archive : the largest video archive of African American history spanning from the… continue reading The HistoryMakers: Enjoy African American History On-Demand
By written by Bridget G. January 19, 2023
What better way to learn about Black history than through the lens of Black news sources, as written and published by the African American journalists of yesterday? The Free Library is pleased to… continue reading All the Historic Black Newspapers Available Online With Your Library Card
By written by Administrator January 18, 2023 2
Phew, the summer is heating up! As we all try our best to deal with the rising temperatures in our area, don't forget that the Free Library is a great place to cool off. Check your… continue reading Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer!
By written by Kate C. June 30, 2022
The Rosenbach's annual Bloomsday festival is BACK on Delancey Place after a two-year hiatus. Join the celebration on Thursday, June 16 anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. What … continue reading Bloomsday is back!
By written by Rosa D. June 15, 2022
The Free Library is celebrating Juneteenth! Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in the United States and a time when we come together to celebrate this monumental… continue reading Celebrating Juneteenth!
By written by Inaara S. June 14, 2022
This June, the Free Library is celebrating Philadelphia’s immigrant communities! June is Immigrant Heritage Month , a time when we celebrate the beauty and strength of our city’s… continue reading Commemorating Immigrant Heritage Month This June
By written by Inaara S. June 3, 2022
Written by Edward P. On May 26, 1897, visitors to bookshops in London found a new book, for just six shillings, published by Constable and Co., bound in a lurid yellow cloth cover with blood red… continue reading Dracula at 125
By written by Administrator May 26, 2022
Written by Isabel S. April 23 marks the day that we traditionally celebrate William Shakespeare’s birth and deathday, though neither of those occasions are confirmed to have actually been on… continue reading Rosemary for Shakespeare
By written by Administrator April 25, 2022
Just in time for spring cleaning, N. C. Wyeth's The Old Woman Tost Up in a Basket is back on display in Up Above: Thinking About the Skies in Parkway Central Library. Creating and… continue reading Up Above: Thinking about the "Little Old Lady Tost Up in a Basket"
By written by Chris B. April 19, 2022 2
History is found in the pages of a textbook—or so I thought! This February, celebrate Black History Month by learning more about the history of Black quilt makers! Do you know about the… continue reading The Quilts of Gee's Bend
By written by Inaara S. February 16, 2022 1
Was there a saint of love? Despite myths surrounding the "real" Saint Valentine , this holiday likely owes its origins to Medieval English poet Chaucer . At a time of growing romance… continue reading Who Was the Saint of Valentine's Day?
By written by Emily S. February 14, 2022
Araminta (Minty) Ross was born a slave in March 1821. As a free woman, she was reborn under the name of Harriet Tubman. As the conductor of the Underground Railroad, Harriet was named the Moses of… continue reading Harriet Tubman’s Legacy
By written by Mary Marques February 3, 2022
Most of us are familiar with the artwork created by the Works Progress Administration: the striking photography, the murals in state buildings and post offices, the posters, and the public… continue reading The Federal Writers' Project American Guides
By written by Nina C. January 18, 2022
Written by Lewis Shaw, who conducted extensive research in the Art Department as part of a Friends Select School Senior Internship Project. The following is a continuation of a previous blog post… continue reading A Continued Discussion on the Topics of Surrealism and Gender
By written by Administrator November 10, 2021