Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Join Jonathan Square to explore how Black visual culture and archives reveal Philadelphia’s antebellum Black communities.Join Jonathan Michael Square, Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at Parsons School of Design, for an illustrated talk exploring the lives of free and enslaved Black communities in antebellum America. Drawing from visual culture—portraits, fashion, ephemera—and archival documents, Square will share how these materials help us better understand, reconstruct, and imagine the complex realities of Black life in Philadelphia and beyond during the 18th and 19th centuries. Through this lens, participants will consider both the known histories and the silences that remain—and how art

Join the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP), in partnership with the Taller Puertorriqueño, as they host Juan González, the 200th Anniversary signature speaker for the theme America's Promise and Its Many Voices. In the talk, González explores the history of Puerto Rican migration from the island to Pennsylvania, delving into the economic, social, and political factors driving these migrations, highlighting personal stories and community impact, and examining Puerto Rico's complex role within the United States and its effects on migration. González is an award-winning journalist and investigative reporter who spent 29 years as a columnist for the New York Daily

Join Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Signe Wilkinson as she explores the role of satire in discussions of contemporary events.To mark its 200th Anniversary, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is delighted to host Pulitzer Prize - winning editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson. Ms. Wilkinson will deliver a talk entitled “Can She Say That? Signe Wilkinson Cartoons A Man’s World”, providing an overview of her own career and the history of political cartooning. This event serves as the celebratory reception to debut the exhibit Cartoons as Political Speech in Colonial and Contemporary America. Organized by Dr. David R. Brigham, HSP’s Librarian and

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) continues its 200th Anniversary programming with the next of five themed exhibits celebrating its diverse collection of documents and art reflecting our national history. In partnership with Independence Historical Trust (IHT), “All View It As An Object of High Importance”: Banking in the Early Republic is on display at HSP from April 16 through May 31. The exhibit highlights innovations and experiments in banking institutions in Revolutionary and early America and supports the second anniversary pillar of the year, ‘Americans and Innovation: Science, Technology, and Enterprise.’ A public reception unveiling the new exhibit takes

Join artist Xenobia Bailey as she exposes the deferred historical achievements of Philadelphia's Radical Black Elite from the early 1800s.The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Association for Public Art, is delighted to host artist Xenobia Bailey as its 200th Anniversary signature talk for the theme Soul of America: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts. Ms. Bailey, a fiber-artist, crocheter, designer, researcher, and cultural activist, describes her creative practice and talk as such:“I seek the continuum of the aesthetic of ‘Funk’ and material culture across African American communities – from contemporary homemakers, caregivers, and domestic workers to early Free

Connect with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's education team to discuss the return of on-site field trips for grades 4-12.On-site field trips for students in grades 4-12 are once again being offered at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania! This meet-up is the chance for previous and newly interested volunteers to connect with the HSP education team to discuss how we can continuously work to improve the experiences of students at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Our team of dedicated volunteers have been integral to field trips in the past, and we are excited to welcome back those individuals who have

Discover the possibilities of National History Day Philadelphia and how 2024 can be a turning point for your students.Join us for the National History Day Philadelphia 2024 Kickoff as we celebrate the new season and its theme, Turning Points in History! Whether you have participated in NHD Philly in the past or are interested in learning about how to introduce this award-winning program to your school and students, the Kickoff will allow you to immerse yourself in the incredible possibilities of National History Day. Featuring a hands-on workshop and representatives from cultural institutions, libraries, and archives from across Philadelphia, this

Join us for a film and community conversation about the origins of Juneteenth and other Black commemorations of emancipation.Co-hosted with the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of PennsylvaniaProduced by Annenberg Classroom, the film Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom’s Stories explores the history of Juneteenth and illustrates how and why freedom and citizenship were intertwined, as well as how the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution changed and expanded the definition of citizenship and the rights of all American citizens. Following a screening of the film, HSP will host a community conversation with Philadelphia-based

Explore the Center City Philadelphia streets that housed a thriving metropolis of free Black Philadelphians nearly 200 years ago.Based on the 1838 Census of the Free Black community in HSP’s collection, this walking tour will explore the Center City Philadelphia streets that housed a thriving metropolis of free Black Philadelphians nearly 200 years ago. It revealed almost 19,000 free Black people who created 16 churches, 23 public and private schools, 80 beneficial societies, 300 Black owned businesses and possessed over $40,000,000 in wealth. Join members of the Black Docent Collective to walk through the spaces where people lived, worshipped, attended