Quaker Philadelphia with Bartram's Garden

Tue, February 19, 2019 4:00 P.M.
Kingsessing Library

Who were the Quakers who helped shape our garden and our city? How does their culture impact us today? We’ll tackle place-based history and the art of urban planning, working together as a class to construct a full-fledged city of our own. Presented by educators from Bartram's Garden

School Age Discussion and Participation Workshops and Enrichment Children Philadelphia

The Secret Cinema presents: Philadelphia - The Changing City

Wed, February 20, 2019 6:00 P.M.
Art Department at Parkway Central Library

The Free Library of Philadelphia is thrilled to partner with Philadelphia's beloved film screening series, The Secret Cinema , now in its 27th year.  As usual, The Secret Cinema will present selections from their collection shown on 16mm film onto a big screen. This…

Adult Young Adult Senior Film Screening Speakers and Lectures Other Great Programs Philadelphia Philadelphia History History Changing City

Authors Up Close: Marquis Bey

Mon, February 25, 2019 6:30 P.M.
Falls of Schuylkill Library

Cost: FREE

Marquis Bay will discuss his new book " Them Goon Rules:  Essays on Radical Black Feminism" (due out February 2019), which reads like a critical memoir and queries the function and implications of politicizing Blackness, Black feminism, and queerness. " Them Goon Rules"…

Adult Young Adult Senior Black History Month Author Events African American Author Events Philadelphia Teens Social Justice

Discussion: Natural Gas Plant in Nicetown

Mon, February 25, 2019 6:30 P.M.
Lovett Memorial Library

Join us for a discussion on SEPTA's plans to build a natural gas plant in the Nicetown neighborhood.  Northwest Village Network's Peter Winslow will tell us about the project and share the potential environmental and health consequences. Program runs from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Adult Senior Discussion and Participation Philadelphia

Monument City

Sat, March 2, 2019 10:30 A.M.
Falls of Schuylkill Library

Check out  Last Stop on Market Street , talk about landmarks in our neighborhood, and create your own dedication to a landmark around you.  This self-guided program will be available from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m, in the children's area.  

School Age Other Great Programs One Book, One Philadelphia One Book, One Philadelphia Philadelphia

Hands-on History at The Free Library, Parkway Central

Sat, March 9, 2019 2:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

From Blimps to Buildings: Exploring Philadelphia through Historic Photographs and Maps Before the advent of Google Maps and online satellite images, people relied on printed maps and aerial photographs. Come learn about the history of these “outdated” resources, and how they can be…

Adult Young Adult Senior Family Programs Speakers and Lectures Workshops and Enrichment Philadelphia Special Collections Maps Print and Picture Collection Changing City Hands-On History

Democracy and Truth: a Short Philadelphia History

Wed, March 20, 2019 6:30 P.M.
Literature Department at Parkway Central Library

What is democracy?  It's a word often debated; a word we often overhear; a word with many subtleties and connotations; a word held dear by many throughout the world.  Join University of Pennsylvania's Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History Dr. Sophia Rosenfeld as she presents…

Adult Young Adult Discussion and Participation Other Great Programs Speakers and Lectures Free Library of Philadelphia Free Library of Philadelphia Programs & Services Philadelphia Philadelphia History Social Science History

Historic Architecture of West and Northwest Philadelphia

Wed, March 20, 2019 6:30 P.M.
Philadelphia City Institute

Minardi will give a talk on the varied residential architecture of West and Northwest Philadelphia. The author has written three books about historic architecture in Philly and serves on the Board of Governors of the University City Historical Society. In 2014 he received the Save Our Sites…

Adult Other Great Programs Philadelphia Philadelphia History Photography

Hands-on History at The Free Library, Parkway Central

Sat, April 13, 2019 2:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

Take history in the palm of your hand: turn pages, hold manuscripts, and handle artifacts with the Hands-on History series from the Free Library's Special Collections. Curiosity seekers age 13 and up are welcome! Registration is free, but required.  In this month's Hands-on History…

Adult Young Adult Senior Family Programs Speakers and Lectures Workshops and Enrichment Philadelphia Special Collections children's literature Hands-On History

Survivors and Casualties: Domestic Housing in Philadelphia During the 18th and 19th Centuries

Now through Sat, April 13, 2019 5:00 P.M.
Art Department at Parkway Central Library

Explore the long history of working-class housing in Philadelphia including the ubiquitous row home and the many residences that have disappeared in the name of progress. On display in the Art Department Hallway Gallery until mid-April, 2019

Adult Young Adult School Age Senior Exhibitions Philadelphia Philadelphia History History architecture

Philadelphia: The Changing City

Now through Sat, April 13, 2019 5:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

October 10, 2018 – April 13, 2019 From river to skyline and stoop to stoop, Philadelphia has been re-formed and re-shaped throughout its history. Its transformation from bustling port to workshop of the world to World Heritage City and hub for education, medicine, and entrepreneurship has…

Adult Young Adult School Age Senior Exhibitions Other Great Programs Citizenship Philadelphia Philadelphia History Photography Special Collections Maps Print and Picture Collection Changing City

Nicole Weisensee Egan | Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad

Tue, April 30, 2019 7:30 P.M.
Parkway Central Library

Cost: FREE

A 14-year veteran crime reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News , Nicole Weisensee Egan was the first journalist to delve into Andrea Constand’s 2005 sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby. As other news organizations lost interest, she dug deeper, developing sources and…

Adult Author Events Speakers and Lectures Author Events - Free Series Author Events Biography & Autobiography Movies & Television Newspapers, Magazines, & Journals Philadelphia Philadelphia History Hearing Loop

Lorene Cary | Ladysitting: My Year with Nana at the End of Her Century

Tue, May 7, 2019 7:30 P.M.
Parkway Central Library

Cost: FREE

“A powerful storyteller, frankly sensual [and] mortally funny" ( New York Times ), Lorene Cary is the author of the novels Pride , The Price of a Child , If Sons, Then Heirs , and the memoir Black Ice . A senior lecturer in creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and the…

Adult Young Adult Author Events Speakers and Lectures Author Events - Free Series African American Author Events Biography & Autobiography Body, Mind & Spirit Family Philadelphia Philadelphia History Hearing Loop

Author Talk: Bill Double

Wed, May 8, 2019 6:30 P.M.
Philadelphia City Institute

Author Bill Double will present his book Philadelphia’s Washington Square and sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase. This book recounts the fascinating history of Washington Square, which has played a prominent role in the growth and evolution of Philadelphia for…

Adult Speakers and Lectures Philadelphia Philadelphia History History

Hands-on History at The Free Library, Parkway Central

Sat, May 11, 2019 2:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

In coordination with Tempesta di Mare GREAT BOOKS Classic Tales for Orchestra , Hands-on History explores literary masterpieces in Western literature that have inspired outstanding musical compositions. A selection of books and musical compositions will be shared, and on…

Adult Young Adult Senior Family Programs Speakers and Lectures Workshops and Enrichment Literature Music Philadelphia Special Collections children's literature Hands-On History