Posts in “remembrances” (20)
Blog Articles
In 2026, the country will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. All eyes will be on Philadelphia as we recognize the historic events that occurred here in 1776. The Free… continue reading Get Ready: 2026 Starts Now!
By written by Janine P. April 8, 2022
We were very saddened to hear about Jerry Pinkney’s sudden passing yesterday at the age of 81. He was a Philadelphian by birth and spoke at the Free Library numerous times to share his… continue reading Remembering Jerry Pinkney
By written by Monica C. October 21, 2021 3
Tomie dePaola (1934 - 2020) knew how to tell a story. In person, he could keep you spellbound with his stories. His eyes would twinkle and he knew just the right moment to pause and let… continue reading Remembering Tomie DePaola (1934 - 2020)
By written by Chris B. March 31, 2020 1
When I first read The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison , at 15 years old, I knew it would haunt me. The story fed my soul—I was shocked at its lovely, yet stinging taste, but realized I had… continue reading Remembering Toni Morrison, 1931–2019
By written by Lo I. August 7, 2019 11
Over the weekend, the French filmmaker Agnès Varda died at the age of 90. She was, and had been for decades, one of the world’s greatest living directors. Often called the grandmother… continue reading Remembering French Filmmaker Agnès Varda
By written by Clare F. April 3, 2019
Like lots of ‘80s kids, I grew up with repeats of The Monkees on television and couldn’t wait for my weekly Saturday morning dose of their hijinks and bubble gum pop. Unlike lots of… continue reading A Daydream Believer’s Tribute to Peter Tork
By written by Alix G. February 25, 2019 4
Tomi Ungerer (November 28, 1931 - February 8, 2019) was a complex man. His artwork reflected that complexity. Ungerer’s work has often been called subversive for its themes of war,… continue reading Remembering Author, Artist, and Illustrator Tomi Ungerer (1931 - 2019)
By written by Chris B. February 11, 2019 1
Another Wednesday is upon us and that means new comic book day , but this week's usual trip to my local comic book shop will be a somber one, as not just the comic's world but the entire… continue reading Stan Lee: Excelsior Everlasting!
By written by Peter SM November 14, 2018 1
Chef. Raconteur. Explorer. Enthusiast . Anthony Bourdain was all of these things and much more. He had a lust for life that was all encompassing, whether it was his dream of traveling to the Congo… continue reading Anthony Bourdain's Endless Exploration of the Intersection between Food and Life
By written by Peter SM June 8, 2018
If you are reading this on March 14 at 1:59 p.m., then it must be Pi Day (Pi at 5 decimal places = 3.14159, natch!) This annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (Pi), or in its… continue reading Pi Day: Stephen Hawking Travels to Infinity
By written by Peter SM March 14, 2018
The literary world lost a genre-defying icon last week with the passing of Ursula K. Le Guin . The author of scores of children's books, short stories, poetry, and essays, her voice—and… continue reading Free Library Staff Remember Ursula K. Le Guin
By written by Administrator January 30, 2018
Superheroes aren't supposed to die—they're larger than life, courageous, fight for what's right, and are here to help and protect us. They are immortal. Adam West, whose double… continue reading The Bright Knight Shines Immortal: Remembering Adam West
By written by Peter SM June 16, 2017
Pioneer. Innovator. Original. From the first time he slung on a guitar to the first time he belted out a tune, Chuck Berry was all of these things, and much, much more. The music icon passed away… continue reading Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry and Rock 'N' Roll!
By written by Peter SM March 20, 2017
I met Mary Tyler Moore on the TV in my family’s basement somewhere in the late 1980s or early ‘90s, as I poured through repeats of her eponymous sitcom just as fast as Nick at Nite… continue reading Remembering Mary
By written by Alix G. January 26, 2017
It's been almost a year since pop pioneer and provocateur David Bowie passed away at the age of 69, presumably rocketing off past outer space and transmogrifying into some other otherworldly… continue reading Philly Loves Bowie
By written by Peter SM January 6, 2017 1
The Grim Reaper sure was clocking in a lot of overtime throughout 2016. It's definitely not an ordinary year when you wake up one day and the likes of David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Gene… continue reading People We Lost: 2016 In Memoriam
By written by Peter SM December 30, 2016
The anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks is a time for reflection, but it’s also a time for conversation. The generation of children that can remember the attack is now… continue reading Talking about September 11 with Children
By written by Chris B. September 9, 2016
The world is mourning the death of another larger-than-life pop culture icon, hero, and force of sheer nature: Muhammad Ali . The self-described, but no less true, "Greatest of All Time"… continue reading Muhammad Ali's Philly Ties
By written by Peter SM June 8, 2016 1
Prince . One word. One being. Thousands of songs. Millions of fans . A purple pop polymath. That guitar SOUND! And now, he's left this mortal coil (as if he could ever be contained by it in… continue reading Prince
By written by Peter SM April 22, 2016 1
It's been a few days, but it's still hard to process that David Bowie has left us . Newspapers, television news broadcasts, the internet as a whole—and more than likely—your… continue reading David Bowie Has Left Us
By written by Peter SM January 14, 2016