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   

• Remembrances
• Nonprofit
• Community
• History of Philadelphia

What do books and objects from 800 years ago have to do with our present-day concerns? An exhibition taking shape online and in the  Rare Book Department 's William B. Dietrich Gallery… continue reading "Medieval Life" Comes to Parkway Central

By written by Janine P.    September 2, 2020   

• Exhibitions
• Archives
• Parkway Central
• Rare Book Department
• Manuscripts
• Special Collections

For more than 25 years, libraries have been digitizing their collections, and the Free Library has digital collections in abundance—providing the opportunity to browse through roughly 50,000… continue reading Diving into Digital Collections

By written by Janine P.    May 1, 2020   

• Archives
• Digital Collections
• Rare Book Department
• Manuscripts
• Print and Picture Collection
• Photography
• Special Collections

October 10 marks the opening of an exhibition that analyzes Philadelphia's growth across more than three centuries, presenting more than 80 rare and revelatory prints, photographs,… continue reading Philadelphia: The Changing City - An Exhibition from Special Collections

By written by Janine P.    October 9, 2018   

• Exhibitions
• Maps
• Rare Book Department
• Theatre
• History
• Print and Picture Collection
• Special Collections

A recent article and video at the University of Pennsylvania's  Penn Today highlights the work taking place to digitize all of the medieval manuscripts at Philadelphia area… continue reading Bringing Philadelphia's Rare Manuscripts to the World

By written by Janine P.    August 20, 2018   

• Digital Collections
• Rare Book Department
• Special Collections

To celebrate the landmark papal visit to Philadelphia, the Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library has opened a new exhibition of rare religious texts. Running through January 30,… continue reading Sacred Stories: The World's Religious Traditions

By written by Janine P.    August 31, 2015   

• Exhibitions
• Rare Book Department

bardolatry n. idolatry or excessive admiration of William Shakespeare 1 There is an exhibition going on in the Rare Book Department right now that you really need to see. It’s called… continue reading Bardolatry in the Rare Book Department

By written by Janine P.    April 9, 2014   

• Exhibitions
• Rare Book Department
• Year of the Bard

By   Edward G. Pettit The conviviality of the Dickensian world is nowhere more apparent than in Dickens’s Christmas books and stories. From Mr Pickwick celebrating at Dingley Dell to… continue reading A celebration of the Victorian conviviality of Charles Dickens

By written by Janine P.    December 10, 2012   

• Rare Book Department
• Charles Dickens
• Year of Dickens

This is the first of many blog posts about The Borneman Pennsylvania German Manuscript Collection, which has been part of the Rare Book Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) since… continue reading The Borneman Pennsylvania German Manuscript Collection Soon Available Online

By written by Janine P.    March 9, 2012   

• Digital Collections
• Rare Book Department
• Pennsylvania German Collection

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

• Exhibitions
• Rare Book Department

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   

• Exhibitions
• Rare Book Department