Explore: Special Collections

Tagged Special Collections

Blog 20
Events 13

The Human Who Was Amazed by "The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man"

In 1973, author Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) wrote The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man , a comical fantasy novel about a housecat who is magically transformed by his wizard-owner into a human. The story is everything you'd…

Confession: I’m an Accidental Music Librarian

Hi, my name is Gillian and I’m an accidental music librarian. Specifically, I’m an accidental orchestral music librarian. I recently joined the staff of The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music (Fleisher…

Bicycling Resources for National Bike Month

Happy National Bike Month ! Founded in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bicycle Month is full of activities and initiatives to inspire people to take to the road on bikes rather than cars. If you’re heading back…

Up Above: Thinking about the "Little Old Lady Tost Up in a Basket"

Just in time for spring cleaning, N. C. Wyeth's The Old Woman Tost Up in a Basket is back on display in Up Above: Thinking About the Skies in Parkway Central Library. Creating and researching an exhibition is always an…

Tweet, tweet! An Update on the Birding Backpack Program

If you've spent any time around here, you know we love talking about some of the more unique and unexpected items available for lending at the Free Library! You know, beyond the books, DVDs, and other more conventional materials you…

Free Virtual Arabic Language Programs Return in February and March!

In the Path of Islam, in collaboration with Al-Bustan Seed of Culture, are excited to announce the return of the well-received, virtual, free Arabic conversation classes this February and March. Students will practice the sounds…

Grip: A Poem, Book, and Raven

Updated Wednesday, December 15, 2021 4:20 p.m. One of the most popular attractions of the Free Library's Rare Book Department is Grip the Raven, the late lamented pet of author Charles Dickens. A few years ago, we shared Grip's…

The ABCs of the WPA at FLP

As part of his bold New Deal aimed at national reform and recovery in the wake of the Great Depression , President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the Work Projects Administration (WPA) . The federally funded program focused on putting…

Let's Speak Arabic!

Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Al-Bustan Seeds of Cultural are offering free, virtual Arabic Conversational Classes! There are many reasons to learn conversational Arabic... There are over ten words for "love". It’s…

Uncovering the Real James Bond in the Rare Book Department

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, the intrepid agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service—James Bond, designated Agent 007—has epitomized masculine cool. Everyone knows how he likes his vodka martinis. Everyone knows…

For the Greatest Number: The New Deal Revisited

by Laura S. and Caitlin G. It’s been ninety years since the crisis of the Great Depression inspired the New Deal’s government investment and aid. But it’s not just history. The country is again facing a choice: What do…

Who Said It: Shakespeare, Milton, or Shake Milton?

The Rare Book Department has some true treasures within its collections, but perhaps one of its most special collections is the First Folio of William Shakespeare . What is the “First Folio”? It contains the collected works…

Spotlight on Special Collections: Artist Dox Thrash and the WPA Printmaking Collection

Dox Thrash was an innovative artist and printmaker who gained recognition for his realistic and moving depictions of Black life while working for the federally-funded Philadelphia Fine Print Workshop. Dox…

Happy Ramadan: Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Beyond!

What are the most popular Googled questions about Ramadan? Here's what we found: When does Ramadan begin and end in 2021? What is allowed and not allowed during Ramadan? What does Ramadan celebrate? What can’t you do…

Women's History Month | The 19th Amendment and Making Her Mark

When the 19th Amendment passed in 1920, the ways many American women engage civically forever changed. Voter enfranchisement continues to be a touchpoint for movements dedicated to participatory democracy. Count Every Vote, Stroll to…

Reimagining a Recipe for Radical Self Care

by Jena Harris and Suzanna Urminska "In every race, in every nation and in every clime in every period of history there is always an eager-eyed group of youthful patriots who seriously set themselves to right the wrongs done to…

Online Exhibition Experiences to Welcome in the New Year

While the days of immersing ourselves at an in-person exhibit at a favorite gallery or museum are still out of reach for so many of us, as we continue to follow health guidelines to help manage the spread of COVID-19, online versions…

Story Search from Special Collections: An Interview by Hannah Cho

Hannah Cho is a University of Pennsylvania Work-Study student from Davis, CA. During the Fall semester, she studied, recorded, and edited the Story Search podcasts remotely from South Korea. I’ve always been more of a talker…

Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Digital Exhibition Launches

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…

Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Exhibition Opens Fall 2020

As we find ourselves weeks away from Election Day, consider this question: Who was the first person in your family to vote? The stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights is…

Beauty on the Horizon: The Art of Landscapes

Landscapes are more than pictures—they are representations of the world around us, an artist’s interpretation of time and place. These interpretations evoke mood through medium, style, and design. Natural features like…

Beauty on the Horizon: The Art of Landscapes

Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building

The Free Library’s newest exhibition, Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building explores the creative and artistic choices that mapmakers use to build worlds and enhance storytelling. The exhibition delves into the…

Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building

“Mapping Imagination” Curator-Led Exhibition Tour

Hands on History: Mapping (More) Imagination

Have you seen the exhibition Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building and want to learn more? Now’s your chance with this hands-on event featuring materials that were considered (but sadly not included) in the exhibition.…

Hands on History: Mapping (More) Imagination

“Mapping Imagination” Curator-Led Exhibition Tour

Mapping Afrofuturism: Samuel R. Delany in conversation with Science Fiction Scholar Alex Wermer-Colan

The writer Samuel R. Delany, in conversation with literary scholar Alex Wermer-Colan, reflects on a life of imaginative mapping, talking about his experiences growing up reading and writing science fiction, building and mapping…

Winnie the Pooh and Honey Too!

Join us for a very special Saturday family program that combines maps, children's literature, and real live honeybees! The Free Library’s newest exhibition, Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building , explores the…