Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month and African American History as a whole, explore our resources on African American history and culture including famous African Americans From Philadelphia, Poets and Poetry, Speculative Fiction, Nonfiction, Books for Early Readers, The Harlem Renaissance, Tuskegee Airmen, Scientists and Inventors, Politics, Black Colleges and Universities, and Black History Month events throughout Philadelphia area.

Links
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Black Inventors A to Z
About.com's biographical guide to African American inventors also contains links to additional content including African American patent holders and a trivia quiz. -
Top Ten African American Inventors
A brief slideshow from Scholastic Magazine for grades 3-4. -
African American History
Major Speeches: Speeches from outstanding African American orators. -
African American History: Major Speeches
Speeches from outstanding African American orators -
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Exhibitions, collections, educational programs, and more. This is the official web site of the museum, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the culture of African Americans in Philadelphia and beyond. -
African American Senators
Photos and short biographies of African Americans senators, starting with Hiram Revels of Mississippi in 1870, the first African American U.S.senator. -
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in University City
Black History Month Events @ Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in University City -
Behind The Veil - Documenting African American Life in the Jim Crow South
A selection of 100 recorded oral history interviews chronicling African-American life during the age of legal segregation in the American South, from the 1890s to the 1950s. -
Bethune-Cookman College
Noted educator Mary McLeod Bethune founded what later became known as Bethune-Cookman College in 1904. -
Black Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database
This database serves as a starting point for relatives or researchers as they begin to piece together individual experiences of black soldiers and sailors in the Civil War. -
Black Dispatches
African American Contributions to Union Intelligence During the Civil War. -
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Located just outside of Philadelphia and founded in 1837 as the Institute for Colored Youth, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is the oldest of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in America. -
Desegregation of the Armed Forces
A Collection of Documents detailing President Truman's decision to desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces. -
Hampton University
Located in southeastern Virginia, Hampton University offers a broad range of technical, liberal arts, pre-professional, professional, and graduate degree programs. -
Howard University
This HBCU is located in Washington, D.C. -
Lincoln University
Lincoln University is located in southern Chester County, about 45 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Famous alumni include Langston Hughes and Thurgood Marshall. -
Morehouse College
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., filmmaker Shelton "Spike" Lee, and Olympic Gold Medalist Edwin Moses are among the renowned alumni of Atlanta, Georgia's Morehouse College. -
NAACP’s Criminal Justice Fact Sheet
Includes information on Incarceration Trends in America, Racial Disparities in Incarceration, Drug Sentencing Disparities, Effects of Incarceration, and Fair Chance Hiring. -
National Constitution Center
Daily events and activities including Decoding the Document, a workshop that examines the museum’s own rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln, and the interactive Breaking Barriers show, spotlighting the lives of Thurgood Marshall, Bessie Coleman, Jackie Robinson and other barrier-breaking African-Americans. -
Notable African Americans
Short biographies of prominent African Americans from all walks of life. -
Notable African-American Government Officials
Important African American Government Officials -
PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History
"Instead of shying away from hard truths, parents can explain that a long time ago, people were separated by the color of their skin. Some people did not think that was fair, and men and women of all races united to make a change. This is a straight-forward example that teaches empathy, cooperation, and the commonality of a shared goal. It is also a way to teach children how to connect their personal experiences with the larger world." - Nefertiti Austin -
Physicists of the African Diaspora
Short biographies of African American scientists prominent in physics, chemistry, engineering and mathematics. -
Project Ready’s Allies and Antiracism
A free online professional development curriculum by UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science, that helps to teach allyship. -
Talking About Race
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture today launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture. -
The 1619 Project
The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. -
The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar Nelson – I Am An American!
The Rosenbach’s exhibition, “I Am an American!” The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar-Nelson, explores these questions through the lens of an under-studied local author, teacher, and advocate for social justice who changed American society—starting more than one hundred years ago. -
The Combahee River Collective Statement
A collective of Black feminists who have been meeting together since 1974. [1] During that time we have been involved in the process of defining and clarifying our politics, while at the same time doing political work within our own group and in coalition with other progressive organizations and movements. The most general statement of our politics at the present time would be that we are actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression, and see as our particular task the development of integrated analysis and practice based upon the fact that the major systems of oppression are interlocking. -
The Faces of Science
African Americans in the Sciences: This site contains profiles of African Americans who have contributed to science and engineering. Many profiles contain photographs of the scientist. -
The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
This site contains profiles of African Americans who have contributed to science and engineering. Many profiles contain photographs of the scientist. -
The Philly Black History Syllabus: 13 Must-read Books to Understand Our City
Experts share what books spotlighting Philadelphia you should be reading during Black History Month. -
Timeline of African American History
From the Library of Congress, a timeline of events from 1852-1925 put together to support a special digital collection entitled "African American Perspectives: Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection".
Alice Dunbar-Nelson by explore
Free Library resources in support of the Rosenbach's Digital Exhibition: "I Am an American!" The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar-Nelson
Biographies For Kids by explore
Read biographies of famous and historical African Americans.
Barack Obama: The Making of an American President (14 items)
Learn more about the life and achievement of President Obama.
African Americans Win the West (12 items)
Pioneering African Americans of the Old West.
African Americans in the Cinema (9 items)
Lights, Camera, Action! Dig into the world of Black filmmakers, actors and actresses.
Memoirs and Reminiscences by African American Authors (14 items)
Autobiographical selections.
Award-Winning African American Authors (14 items)
Books by prize-winning writers.
African American Revolutionaries and Inventors from Philadelphia (6 items)
Inspiring stories and historical perspective of African American Revolutionaries and Inventors from Philadelphia through the years.
African American Quilts (8 items)
Discover the beauty of these treasures of American folk art.
African American Celebrations (11 items)
Explore the rich cultural traditions that are an integral part of the African American experience.
African American Books for Early Readers (20 items)
Books starring African Americans for Early Readers.
Electronic Resources
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American State Papers, 1789-1838
The essential record of the first decade of the United States. Browse legislative and executive documents of the first 14 U.S. Congresses and find information on the major events that shaped the Early Republic. *Chrome browser not supported.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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America's Historical Imprints
Explore centuries of history through books, pamphlets, & other material on culture and daily life. Includes: American Broadsides and Ephemera and Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans & Series II: Shaw-Shoemaker. *Chrome browser not supported.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Historical Newspapers - Black Newspapers
Primary source material from ten historic Black newspapers, including the Chicago Defender, The Baltimore Afro-American, New York Amsterdam News, Pittsburgh Courier, Los Angeles Sentinel, Atlanta Daily World, and the Cleveland Call and Post
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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HistoryMakers Digital Archive
Explore the nation's largest African American video oral history collection. Access high-quality primary source content, with fully searchable transcripts, from thousands of people from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001)
Full access to the oldest continuously published daily Black newspaper in the United States.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Slavery in America and the World: History, Culture, and Law
This HeinOnline collection brings together essential legal materials on slavery in the U.S. and the English-speaking world. It includes nearly 2,000 titles with every statute and case on slavery, and hundreds of historic texts and modern histories.
Available To: All Free Library locations.
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Upcoming Events
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The Art and Influence of John Dowell: Curator-Led Exhibition Tour
Join the curators for a tour of The Art and Influence of John Dowell , the latest exhibition from the Free… more details
Fri, December 8, 2023 3:00 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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The Art and Influence of John Dowell: Curator-Led Exhibition Tour
Join the curators for a tour of The Art and Influence of John Dowell , the latest exhibition from the Free… more details
Fri, December 8, 2023 3:00 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Kwanzaa Celebration
Kwanzaa is a time of learning, family, and celebration Families & communities come together to learn, honor the… more details
Mon, December 11, 2023 4:00 PM
Greater Olney Library
5501 North 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19120-2805
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Kwanzaa Storytime
Join us for a special Kwanzaa storytime with Mama Carla Wiley of Keepers of the Culture. Learn all about… more details
Thu, December 14, 2023 10:30 AM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Blog Posts
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…
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6 New Children's Books Celebrating Juneteenth!
We have some new books about Juneteenth to recommend! Last year our similar blog post suggested new titles that had been published and added to our collection. Here are some more to add to your reading list! A Flag for…
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Honoring Juneteenth at the Free Library
Honor Juneteenth with the Free Library of Philadelphia! This year, we celebrate Juneteenth for the third time as a federal holiday, but it has been an important celebration for nearly 200 years! Juneteenth is the oldest known…
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"La femme noir" by Philadelphia's Youth Poet Laureate, Telicia Darius
The City of Philadelphia in conjunction with the Free Library administered the title of Youth Poet Laureate to Telicia Darius in September 2022. This civic position recognizes an exceptional poet who also demonstrates a commitment to…
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Celebrating Black Voices with the Free Library Podcast
It’s Black History Month and the Free Library has an extensive archive of podcasts and videos to help you celebrate a diverse range of writers working in politics, fiction, food, poetry, religion, memoirs, sports, and much more.…
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Picture Book Highlights | Black History Month
This February as we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recommend some pictures books published in 2022 that were written and/or illustrated by Black creators. In the following list, you’ll find books about self-love and…
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Six Upcoming Black History Month Author Events at the Free Library
February is Black History Month and, as we do throughout the year, the Free Library’s Author Events series is excited to celebrate diverse voices, viewpoints, and topics. This includes the story of one Black Philadelphian…
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Black History Month for Kids and Families
Welcome to Black History Month! The theme of this year’s annual celebration is Black Resistance , an acknowledgement of the continued fight against historic and on-going oppression. Join the Free Library to celebrate Black…
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New Titles Coming to the Free Library in February!
It may be chilly outside, but the Free Library has some titles to warm you up this month! Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) You So Black by Theresa Tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. Based on Theresa Wilson’s (a.k.a. Theresa…
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The HistoryMakers: Enjoy African American History On-Demand
Using your library card, you can now enjoy Black history in the oral tradition via The HistoryMakers Digital Archive : the largest video archive of African American history spanning from the 1700s to the present day. This special…
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All the Historic Black Newspapers Available Online With Your Library Card
What better way to learn about Black history than through the lens of Black news sources, as written and published by the African American journalists of yesterday? The Free Library is pleased to highlight a digital resource…
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Celebrating Juneteenth!
The Free Library is celebrating Juneteenth! Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in the United States and a time when we come together to celebrate this monumental occasion across the country, within our…
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New Children's Books for Celebrating Juneteenth!
In 2020, the city of Philadelphia declared June 19th a city holiday in recognition of Juneteenth, an important day in the history of African Americans and our country. New children's books have been released in the last couple of…
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Award-Winning Black Authors and The Newbery’s 100th Anniversary
The John Newbery Award is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022! Commonly referred to as "The Newbery", the literary award is given each year by the American Library Association (ALA) to the author and their book…
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Robert Bogle and Philadelphia’s Dynastic Black Caterers
Philadelphia’s Food Service History is Black History From the Historical Marker Database , photographed by Carolyn Martienssen, June 2015 You might have noticed on South 8th Street a historical marker that reads: “A noted…
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Newspapers: A Guide Into the Past
Many of us may get our news from online sources these days—social media feeds provide a constant source of information about everything from policy proposals, the weather, celebrity news, and more, as the events unfold in…
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Black Authors and Voices: Podcasts from the Author Events Archive
Our podcast archive dates back more than 25 years and features scores of author talks to help you commemorate, celebrate, and reflect on Black History Month. But even in just this past year, we’ve hosted an incredible variety of…
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The Quilts of Gee's Bend
History is found in the pages of a textbook—or so I thought! This February, celebrate Black History Month by learning more about the history of Black quilt makers! Do you know about the (Quilt) Pieces of Black History series…
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Picture Book Highlights | Black History Month
This February as we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recommend some pictures books published in 2021 that were written and/or illustrated by Black creators. In the following list, you’ll find books about history, love of…
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Early Black Comic Book Writers, Illustrators, and Newspaper Cartoonists
Are you a fan of comic book characters such as Marvel Comics' Black Panther or DC Comics' Black Lighting ? These Black superhero comics gained renewed popularity in recent years as a result of blockbuster movies and TV series.…