Posts in “rare-book-department” (119)
Blog Articles
When Charles Dickens died suddenly of stroke in 1870 he had written half of a novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood . Dickens published all of his novels in serial format and wrote the chapters… continue reading Boz Bicentenary Speaker Series - Matthew Pearl
By written by Caitlin G. March 2, 2012 1
With all the glitz and glamour that Hollywood is known for, it is easy to imagine that the Oscars have always looked like they do now with red carpets and galas and tear-soaked speeches. … continue reading Looking Back at the First Annual Academy Awards
By written by Caitlin G. February 24, 2012
Today marks the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, and the Free Library joins the global celebration honoring the life and legacy of the world's first literary superstar. Philadelphia is… continue reading Happy 200th Birthday Charles Dickens!
By written by Caitlin G. February 7, 2012 2
A vibrant and colorful exhibition at the Parkway Central Library highlights one of the most enduring legacies of Charles Dickens's genius: the unforgettable characters he brought to life.… continue reading Character Sketches from the World of Charles Dickens
By written by Caitlin G. December 28, 2011 4
With 2011 coming to an end, we want to recognize the 75 th anniversary of one of our favorite children’s books: Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson’s The Story of Ferdinand. Published by… continue reading Happy Birthday to Ferdinand the Bull!
By written by Caitlin G. December 16, 2011 6
![Mrs. [Susanna] Rowson. Charlotte Temple, a Tale of Truth. Harrisburg, Pennsyl. Printed for Mathew Carey of Philadelphia, by John Wyeth, 1802. Guy deFuria collection.](https://libwww.freelibrary.biz/images/blog/FLPBlog/orig/Charlotte Temple 217.JPG)
Yesterday marked 200 years since the death of Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe (1787–1811), mother of Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar was just 2 years-old when his mother died. Born in… continue reading Eliza Poe
By written by Janine P. December 9, 2011 2
It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . the time when we get to show off all of the beautiful artists’ Christmas and New Year’s cards in the children’s… continue reading “All smudged with paint and smeared with clay, We wave our greeting this Christmas day”: Artists’ Christmas Cards in the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Special Collections
By written by Caitlin G. November 29, 2011 2
Today marks the opening of the eagerly anticipated Rare Book Department exhibition on the life and work of Charles Dickens. "From the Desk of Charles Dickens: Celebrating the Great Writer at… continue reading From the Desk of Charles Dickens
By written by Caitlin G. November 28, 2011
Among the many treasures of the John Fredrick Lewis Collection in the Free Library of Philadelphia are twenty-five elaborately illustrated folios from a single Mughal manuscript, the Razmnama… continue reading The Book of War: Folios from the Razmnama in the Rare Book Department, October 21st to November 10th.
By written by Caitlin G. October 21, 2011 2
Recently, I began processing the papers of children’s book author and illustrator Munro Leaf. Having already processed the Frederick R. Gardner collection of Robert Lawson, it was a perfect… continue reading “This Is a Watchbird Watching YOU”
By written by Caitlin G. October 14, 2011 32
This past weekend, the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Rosenbach Museum and Library hosted an event for the Beatrix Potter Society . “Preserving Beatrix Potter’s Legacy:… continue reading Preserving Beatrix Potter's Legacy: Collectors & Collections
By written by Caitlin G. September 22, 2011
With the opening of the newly refurbished Shakespeare Park directly across the street from Parkway Central, it seems fitting to highlight the Library's holdings related to the man… continue reading The First Folios
By written by Janine P. August 11, 2011
![Illustration from Beatrix Potter’s first published work, written by Frederick Weatherly. <i>A Happy Pair.</i> Illustrated by H. B. P. London: Hildesheimer & Faulkner, New York: George C. Whitney, [1890].](https://libwww.freelibrary.biz/images/blog/FLPBlog/orig/HappyPairC.jpg)
Scarcely a day goes by in the Rare Book Department without a visitor asking about our Beatrix Potter Collection. It's not surprising since we have the largest collection of her… continue reading The Charming Little Bunny: Collecting Beatrix Potter at the Free Library of Philadelphia
By written by Caitlin G. June 27, 2011 4
We are excited to present a new exhibit featuring Robert Lawson’s original illustrations for Mr. Popper’s Penguins , on display on the ground floor of the Parkway Central Library,… continue reading The Original Mr. Popper's Penguins
By written by Caitlin G. June 15, 2011 1
The Rare Book Department at the Free Library is lucky to own the papers of children’s book author and illustrator Robert Lawson, donated by the rare book dealer and collector Frederick R.… continue reading History According to Ben Franklin's Mouse and Captain Kidd's Cat
By written by Caitlin G. May 31, 2011
We here at the Free Library of Philadelphia are thrilled to see the children’s book author and illustrator Robert Lawson (1892-1957) getting some press for upcoming film projects based on… continue reading The Frederick R. Gardner Collection of Robert Lawson
By written by Caitlin G. March 3, 2011
“Not Since Nineveh: Artifacts from the Ancient Near East in the Free Library of Philadelphia, 3100-300 B.C.E.” The Rare Book Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s… continue reading Rare Book Department Mounts Exhibition of Ancient Cuneiform Tablets
By written by Michelle S. September 17, 2010 4
![Charles I by A.H. Payne after the painting by Van Dyk. London: J. Haggen, [n.d.]](https://libwww.freelibrary.biz/images/blog/FLPBlog/orig/RBR Charles I.jpg)
Court cases can sum up the events and movements swirling through a given period of history. They can distill important issues, as well as demonstrate the origins of legal rights we take for… continue reading Controversy in the Courts: Regicide, Rebels, and Regal Indiscretion
By written by Joe S. April 7, 2010 1
The Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia presents The Spirit of Satire in the Rare Book Department an exhibition that explores the various dimensions of the… continue reading The Spirit of Satire in the Rare Book Department
By written by Joe S. December 23, 2009 6