Explore: Special Collections

Tagged Special Collections

Blog 20
Events 20

Temporary Closure of the Rare Book Department

The Rare Book Department , located on the Third Floor of Parkway Central Library , is closed as of November 4th, 2024 for the installation of a new HVAC system. Climate control is of the utmost importance for our Special…

Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art

The Map Collection , Print and Picture Collection , and Children's Literature Research Collection have joined together to create a new exhibition in the West Gallery on the Second Floor of Parkway Central Library . The…

First Fleisher Collection Scholarship Awarded to Philadelphia Composer and Pianist, Rhyuhn Green

The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music is excited to announce our new partnership with Play on Philly (POP). We are particularly enthusiastic about this alliance as POP echoes Edwin Fleisher’s original concept in…

Discovering Rare Books and Special Collections at the Free Library

The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is to "provide resources and advocacy to advance the mission of The Free Library while stewarding and promoting our special collections for the benefit of all…

Celebrating World Photography Day

Photography means "to draw with light." It is derived from the Greek words photos , meaning "light," and graphos , meaning "drawing." We celebrate World Photography Day every year on…

Love and Revolution: James Baldwin Speaks to Our Time

Celebrate 100 years of James Baldwin (August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) with selections from across the Free Library’s collections highlighting Baldwin’s work, influence, and legacy. On display outside the Social…

Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music Gifts Avshalomov Works to China

The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music is excited to announce the gift of three complete performance sets for works by Russian-born Chinese national composer Aaron Avshalomov to the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. The three…

The Fleisher Collection in LGBTQ+ Cinema

The Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music at the Free Library of Philadelphia houses over 22,000 pieces. Works are available for loan to amateur and professional performance groups worldwide, and many motion picture…

One More Bite

Join us Wednesday, June 5, 2024 in the Print and Picture Collection for a hands-on history event inspired by We Are What We Eat , the latest exhibition from the Free Library's Special Collections . Drop in anytime between 4:30 p.m.…

Will This Make Me Eat My Vegetables?

If you're a history- and vegetable-lover who DOES NOT suffer from coulrophobia, then we have a program for you! If you do suffer from a fear of clowns, then we *might* have a program for you. The choice is yours;…

Celebrating Printmaker Chen Lok Lee

The Print and Picture Collection is proud to present a program highlighting the work of artist and Master Printer Chen Lok Lee on Wednesday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m. Born in China in 1927, Lee studied at the Canton Public Art College and…

Snow-Drop: A Märchen, a Mouse, and a Mystery

The exhibition Into the Night features two paintings by N. C. Wyeth, The Admiral's Ghost and Snow-Drop . The first's title is somewhat explanatory ( It's a ghost! ), but the second is more confusing. Who or what is…

We Are What We Eat: An Exhibition from Special Collections

We Are What We Eat is on view from Monday, April 1–Saturday, November 2, 2024 on the Third Floor of Parkway Central Library in the Dietrich Gallery. "Food is more than just fuel to sustain our bodies;…

We Are What We Eat: Recipes and Resources

The Free Library's newest exhibition from the Special Collections Division, We Are What We Eat , explores the intersection of food, community, and identity. On view in the Dietrich Gallery on the Third Floor of…

Japanese Ukiyo-E Prints in the Print and Picture Collection

I’ve been working in the Print and Picture Collection at Parkway Central Library for about a year now and I’ve still barely scratched the surface of learning about all of the art housed here. One of the first projects I was…

Spotlight: The Letter People

For the last year, the shared offices of the Children's Literature Research Collection and the Map Collection have had a consistent litmus test for visitors. When a new visitor enters (either a researcher or a staff member),…

The Art and Influence of John Dowell: An Exhibition from Special Collections

by Laura S. and Karen K. In 1967, the Print and Picture Collection at Parkway Central Library purchased a print by a young Philadelphia artist named John Dowell. That first acquisition led to a relationship that has spanned 50…

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…

Reviewing Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews may be responsible for more open bottles of champagne and tears of sorrow than any other entity associated with the worlds of children’s literature and publishing. As a result of its direct and…

Lay it on the Line: Creating a Graphic Novel with Angela Dominguez, Jamar Nicholas, and Isabel Roxas

In November 1964, Richard Kyle coined the term “graphic novel” in “Richard Kyle's Wonderworld 2,” written for the second issue of the comics fanzine Capa-Alpha . In his essay, Kyle used the term to…

Music Special Collections Showcase

Join Special Collections staff for a pop-up event highlighting materials from the Music Special Collections including the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music , the Drinker Collection of…

Music Special Collections Showcase

Special Collections Showcase: Map Collection

Explore and learn about objects from the Map Collection in a curated talk offerered by Special Collections staff. This drop in event will be held in the Map Collection at the Parkway Central Library from 11:00am to 11:30am. This…

The Phillypino Oral History Project: Exhibition

The Phillypino Oral History Project is an intergenerational, community-based oral history and photography project capturing the rich narratives of Filipino immigrants who arrived in Philadelphia, particularly in the 1980’s, after…

"Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art" Exhibition

Storytelling has shaped cultures and captivated imaginations throughout history. Whether teaching moral lessons or celebrating epic heroes, each tale reflects our values, fears, and dreams. Stories reflect the context—past or…

"Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art" Exhibition

Music Special Collections Showcase

Exhibition Tour: Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art

Join us Saturday, January 11 at 11 AM for a tour of the latest exhibition from the Free Library's Special Collections Division: Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Ar t . Meet on the Second Floor of Parkway Central…

Exhibition Tour: Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art

Special Collections Showcase: Map Collection

Rare Books Roadshow

While construction continues on Parkway Central Library's third floor, join staff from the Rare Book Department , Theatre Collection , and Children's Literature Research Collection for a daily pop-up event highlighting…