Unlike many of the other holidays and traditions that we celebrate, Kwanzaa is one of the newest, at only 54 years old. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 as a way for African American families to reconnect to their roots and their community. Dr. Karenga, who is a professor of Africana studies at California State University, got the… continue reading The History of Kwanzaa
By written by Kamilah C. December 22, 2020 3
One of my favorite treats for the holidays is making gingerbread! Did you know that gingerbread was derived from Greece in 2400 b.c and was originally meant to preserve ginger? Gingerbread was a term used for any recipe that combined ginger with honey, treacle, and molasses. Originally called fairings, its popularity grew from being served at… continue reading Celebrate the Holidays with Gingerbread
By written by Naquawna L. December 16, 2020
The night of Thursday, December 10 begins the Jewish Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah. That much we can agree on, eh? Well, err, kind of. Yes, the holiday begins on Thursday evening, but what is the correct spelling, in English, of the occasion? That is more complicated than the celebration itself! The good news is that you’re likely… continue reading The Jewish Festival of Lights
By written by Jenn D. December 10, 2020
Ah, Thanksgiving. It’s the holiday many of us look forward to in which we can gather with family and friends, eat delicious homemade food, and reflect on all of the things we are thankful for. Along with this holiday also comes the inevitable chatter about "Black Friday" deals, who has them, and who among us will be the brave… continue reading Buy Nothing Day 2020
By written by Kamilah C. November 27, 2020
I still remember as a child, coming along as my mother cast her ballot. Standing side by side with my mother, the first person in my family to vote in the U.S., left me with wide-eyed curiosity. The wait in line culminating in a thick dark curtain pulled around us, making the solemn hush of the space convey importance and weight. The… continue reading Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Digital Exhibition Launches
By written by Suzanna U. November 10, 2020
During the critical first presidential debate in 1960, the difference in the physical appearance of the two candidates could not have been sharper. Vice President Richard Nixon looked like a man who belonged in a hospital. The Republican was gaunt and pale. Nixon had injured his knee on the campaign trail and had been forced to spend precious… continue reading The Picture of Health: The Strange Case of John F. Kennedy
By written by Richard L. September 17, 2020 2
You may have heard the recent news that Free Library cardholders now have access to ProQuest’s Historical Black Newspapers , featuring coverage of The Philadelphia Tribune (the oldest continuously-published Black daily!) from 1912-2001. ( More recent Tribune articles are also available.) It’s just one way that the Free Library… continue reading Philadelphia History from Home: Digital Access to Primary Sources
By written by Caitlin G. August 25, 2020
If ever a man simply wore himself out while serving his country, Franklin D. Roosevelt is his name. First elected during the depths of the Great Depression in 1932, he was still on the job twelve years later in the midst of World War II. As "Doctor End the Depression," evolved into "Dr. Win the War," the years of unrelenting… continue reading A Dying Man Runs for President
By written by Richard L. August 12, 2020
During the years that Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, he had to contend with some of the most demanding and difficult personalities on two continents. The shortlist included Franklin D. Roosevelt , Winston Churchill , Charles De Gaulle , and General Montgomery , among others. However, of all the public… continue reading President Eisenhower, Senator McCarthy, and "The Junketeering Gumshoes"
By written by Richard L. August 5, 2020 1
The Free Library is pleased to announce a new digital resource that provides access to the most distinguished African American Newspapers in the United States. Cardholders now have access to 10 historic Black newspapers that help piece together a fuller story of American history, which features stories that were omitted from textbooks and… continue reading Black History. Black News. Black Voices.
By written by Jamie B. July 30, 2020 6
The 2020 Olympic Games were supposed to be starting today in Tokyo, Japan, but the Olympic flame will not be lit this summer . This year's Olympics were postponed back in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed until July 23 - August 8, 2021 . Since the opening of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the international sports… continue reading Digital Media Spotlight: Olympic Memories of the Past
By written by Peter SM July 23, 2020
Updated Friday, July 10, 2020 4:59 p.m. "The Social Justice Symposium Teen Planning Committee supports the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia ! CBWFLP Response to DEI/Board of Trustees' letter We are Philadelphia high school and college students who have been working for several weeks to plan the Free… continue reading Race in the United States: Social Justice Virtual Workshops for Teens
By written by Megan J. July 7, 2020
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." — George Washington Carver George Washington Carver lived an extraordinary life. Born a slave on a… continue reading George Washington Carver: Inventor, Environmentalist, Mentor, and Role Model
By written by Sharyl O. June 24, 2020 2
With current stay-at-home orders and social distancing precautions in place, I find myself more eager to spend time outside and walk (or jog if I’m feeling really motivated) around the neighborhood. This has sparked a growing curiosity about the history of the area—both its past and present. Using our Digital Collections ,… continue reading Explore Your Neighborhood Virtually with Digital Collections
By written by Megan M. May 18, 2020
Today, American novelist Harper Lee would have turned 94 years old. As a lover of novels in general, and To Kill a Mockingbird in particular, I jumped at the chance to write a celebratory blog about Ms. Lee’s work and the lasting impression it has had on me. But then I sat down to write such a blog and I hit a wall. The longer this… continue reading Harper Lee and the Novels That Help Us Remember
By written by Christine M. April 28, 2020 1
With the practice of social distancing and stay-at-home orders in place, people have been racing to stores to stock up on essentials, and one essential item in particular has become an infamous target for panicked shoppers – toilet paper. With such a sudden increase in demand , the supply chain has struggled to keep up, and store shelves… continue reading Unrolling the History of Toilet Paper
By written by Karen O. April 1, 2020 2
Women today often talk about the difficulty of "having it all", but Sadie T.M. Alexander was more concerned with "doing it all." She not only raised two children and worked to advance her husband’s political aspirations, she also achieved major milestones as a student, an attorney, a city administrator, a civil rights… continue reading A History Minute: The Many Firsts of Sadie T. M. Alexander
By written by Administrator March 31, 2020
As March draws to a close, we near the end of Women’s History Month. Here at the Free Library, we’ve celebrated this important observance in many ways: with the story of Mary Church Terrell ; by recommending picture books and young-reader biographies on incredible women; through exploring the forgotten socialist roots of… continue reading Stream a Film by a Woman to Celebrate Women's History Month
By written by Clare F. March 27, 2020
"Even if I believed that women should be denied the right of suffrage, wild horses could not drag such an admission from my pen or my lips, for this reason: precisely the same arguments used to prove that the ballot be withheld from women are advanced to prove that colored men should not be allowed to vote." Mary Church Terrell is… continue reading Women's History Month 2020: Stories We Know, Stories We'll Discover
By written by Kalela W. March 3, 2020
On Thursday, February 20 , David W. Young will appear at Parkway Central Library to discuss his book, Battles of Germantown: Effective Public History in America . Many Philadelphia residents are familiar with the annual reenactment of the historic 1777 Battle of Germantown—a loss for the Continental Army under the command of George… continue reading What is "Public History", Anyway?
By written by Nina C. February 19, 2020
