Tagged Special Collections
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…
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…
Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art
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
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
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…
Film Screening: Clash of the Titans (1981)
To accompany "Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art," the latest Special Collections exhibition on the 2nd floor of Parkway Central Library , we are showing three films related to mythology this fall! The series includes…
Film Screening: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
To accompany "Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art," the latest Special Collections exhibition on the 2nd floor of Parkway Central Library , we are showing three films related to mythology this fall! The series includes…
I Wish To Say: Write a Postcard to the Next President
On Election Day, dictate your messages to the next president of the United States in the lobby of Parkway Central from 11 AM to 3 PM. This free, all ages public program will be led by Sheryl Oring, an artist who formerly served as the…
We Are What We Eat: An Exhibition from Special Collections
The Free Library’s exhibition, We Are What We Eat , explores the intersection of food, community, and identity. With recipes and cooking techniques passed down through generations, culinary heritage helps preserve flavors and…
Peter Rabbit Piracies in America
The unauthorized reproduction or use of copyrighted text, also known as book piracy, is nearly as old as the printing press itself. Its prevalence across the last several centuries has resulted in the creation and refinement of…
Film Screening: Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
To accompany "Telling Tales: From Oral Tradition to Art," the latest Special Collections exhibition on the 2nd floor of Parkway Central Library , we are showing three films related to mythology this fall! The series…