Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia

Mark, yes, “art and artists” is a natural. Thanks for starting this list. We’d love to see the Encyclopedia encourage new books, articles, and public programs about Philadelphia. — The Editors
@Mark Sullivan

Dustin, thanks for nominating this important work. Your idea also points to a category for us to think about: works about Philadelphia (books, films, music, and more) that have had impact reaching far beyond the city. — The Editors
@Dustin Kidd

A longer essay about monuments and memory would be important, too — we could think about how monuments shape our ideas about Philadelphia’s history, and how they connect Philadelphia other times and places. If we could make information about the monuments available by cell phone, it would add a great deal to the experience of walking around our city. (Notice the signs for information by cell phone that already are in place at Independence and Valley Forge National Historical Parks.) Thanks, Victoria, for adding to our list and helping us plan the content of the Encyclopedia. – The Editors
@Victoria Zagarino

I nominate theological education and seminaries as topics for the Encyclopedia. The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, for example, started at 42 N. 9th Street in 1864. It later constructed a building adjacent to Franklin Square and then relocated to Mt. Airy in 1889 where it has been ever since.

First off, I’m not mentioning the obvious, like Independence Hall. I figure you’ve got those bases covered.

Maps! Historical maps that show graphically how things change over time. Be sure to include examples from “the neighborhoods”, not just downtown. Photographs can be offered in a similar way. Imagine a presentation for each of the traditional shopping streets, places that everyone knows and that there are generations of photos for. Side-by-side photo and map of, say, K & A, every decade for 150 years. Or 52nd Street. 69th Street. Passyunk Avenue. Germantown Avenue. Now there’s a topic for ya: Germantown Avenue, that ran from the Delaware River all the way to Montgomery County, could tell the story of Philadelphia all by itself with its long and important history, diverse neighborhoods, beloved trolley lines.

Old Movie and “Legitimate” Theaters and how they were woven into their communities.

Railroads and Philadelphia. That could be an encyclopedia on its own.

The Trolley Barons of Philadelphia. Which leads me to think of…

The Great Mansions, displaying the particular opulence of every period and the continuing movement of the “suburbs” as the city grew.

And of course, influential individuals: Franklin, Rittenhouse, Wistar/Wister, Bartram, Widener, Stotesbury, Wanamaker, Strawbridge(s)

Philadelphia, the manufacturing hub, which sprung from…

Mills in early Philadelphia.

Philadelphia before and after various bridges. It’s easy to forget that all the bridges crossing our rivers weren’t always there. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that ferries were an integral part of the transportation network (not to mention canals). And in many cases, when we built bridges, they were of record-setting size, at least for a while.

An encyclopedia wouldn’t be complete without a long article about the 1854 Consolidation.

World’s Fairs (the two we all know about) and the forgotten Expositions that we also hosted.

Libraries, Societies, Institutes, Colleges, and Universities. We have a whole lotta learnin’ goin’ on here, and have had for hundreds of years.

Street Names’ Histories. Incorporate the city’s existing list.

Lists of great achievers, like Nobel Prize laureates, etc.

Inventors and Industrialists (Besides Franklin). Atwater Kent, Eckert & Mauchley, Baldwin, Rittenhouse, Fulton, Farnsworth

You need to pick up where the Bulletin Almanac left off, providing an encyclopedic source for a lot of raw data. With voluminous hyperlinking wherever possible!

As much history as possible of who lived here before the Europeans came should be included.

Philadelphia as a publishing center.

Weather history, like the Bulletin Almanac had.

And that’s just off the top of my head!

Congratulations for getting the project started, and good luck!

Gay and Lesbian history. Check out [the books]
GayLesbian Philadelphia by Thom Nickels,
as well as Philadelphia Architecture by
Thom Nickels.

What an exciting project! I nominate sports as a topic. Baseball, boxing, rowing, track & field and others have a rich history in the City and are tied to important locations and famous people.

GREAT project. The Merchants Fund was founded in 1854 by the usual suspects: Kinght, Cummins, Wood, Benson, Ludwig, etc. Men of commerce joined together to found an early progenitor of the Chamber of Commerce, a mutual benefit fund and hardship fund. We gave all our record to PHP last year. You can’t write about the evolution of commerce in Philadelphia without the men and women of The Merchants Fund.

Philadelphia deserves its own encyclopedia, and I sincerely hope that Philadelphia’s very rich jazz history will be included. If the editors need any help in this regard, my doctoral dissertation was on the Philadelphia jazz community, and I was one of the many writers who participated in Henry Louis Gates’ African-American Biography Encyclopedia. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I read about the idea of a Philadelphia Almanac in the papers and would like to recommend “THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT,” both the early volunteer era and the paid department. My husband Dan and I are long time volunteers at Fireman’s Hall Museum, and there is so much information that can be used, including the book “Hike Out” which is a history of the department. So much was involved with the different volunteer companies, including the founders of Philadelphia, its immigrants and many, many leaders of the city and eventually the country, and many social issues such as the riots of the 1800′s, the integration of the department of both African Americans and women, Benjamin Franklin and much more. If you have not already contacted him, you can talk to the curator of Fireman’s Hall, FF Harry Magee, and he can provide you with all the information, dates, etc you need. I hope you will take advantage of the wealth of information that is available in our archives because it encompasses not only the famous but the working class and ordinary citizens who made up and continue to influence Philadelphia today.

Philadelphia’s own film pioneer, Siegmund Lubin. He was one of the earliest film pioneers, and made Philadelphia’s first movies in his backyard at 1608 N. Fifteenth Street where there is now a State Historical Marker noting his contributions. He ran his early film business out of his optical shop on S. Eighth Street where there is another Historical marker noting his work. He started the first chain of movie theaters and eventually had a huge studio at the corner of 20th St and Indiana Avenues. It was mostly destroyed by an arsonist in 1995, though part of the complex stil stands there. A documentary based on his life and work is planned: kingofthemovies.com

Medicine and healthcare. Philadelphia has played a huge role in the development of medical education and medical practice, with two notable examples: Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation’s first hospital and Woman’s Medical College, the first degree-granting medical school for women.
[comment originally received April 21; re-posted by the editors May 1]

Judy Giesberg :Churches — a must have category, don’t you think?

Absolutely. Penn’s ‘holy’ experiment allowed for religious diversity in Philadelphia which made it unique among colonial cities. That variety in the churchscape had a significant impact on the urban experience as well as the city’s skyline. As was noted in the one of the presentations on Friday, one of the reasons that Philadelphia was chosen as the site for the Continental Congress was because all the members who attended would have found a house of worship within the city.
[comment originally posted April 21; re-posted by the editors May 1]

Oldest still-existing carbonated flavored “soda” (I think) — Hires Root Beer First advertising agency Foundation of Knights of Labor (all in 1860s)–The “Philadelphians” (Kelpius of Wissahickon / Society of the Woman in the Wilderness) — Sarah Josepha Hale and Godey’s Ladies Book – Poe and his friend T S Arthur (both coming from Baltimore) — Temperance in Philadelphia from 1840 — Saturday Evening Post — Alcoholics Anonymous in Philadelphia from 1940 — Baseball in Phila — of course Franklin (editorial parallel with S J Hale) — those are some I’d like to work on — and Science Fiction in Philadelphia
[comment originally posted April 25; re-posted by the editors May 1]

17th and 18th century German immigration and settlement and associated satellite topics, such as the establishment of Germantown,Pastorius, the German Society, Pennsylvania Germans, the Woman of the Wilderness, Johannes Kelpius etc. etc.
[comment originally posted April 24; re-posted by the editors May 1]

A correspondent in Germantown emails, “Be sure to include all the movie theaters throughout the city…about 20 were featured in the Germantown Historical Society magazine last year. GHS…great starting point for this area. Be sure to include the opera contests that produced stars … Mario Lanza, Anna Moffo.” The writer also calls our attention to the Hal Taylor Marionettes (1950-1999); the Philadelphia Marionette Theater & Museum (1978-today); the Catherine Brownholtz Philadelphia Mini Circus and Museum (1950-today); local boys clubs and dances; and the Bob Houston Yearsley Drum and Bugle Corps. Many drum and bugle corps started after WWI, she writes. “There were drum and bugle corps throughout the city…some still operate today.” — Posted by the Editors.

Philadelphia was home to the only urban Shaker community. It was primarily populated by Black women who worked as domestic servants. The community functioned under the auspices of the Watervliet Shaker community in Albany, NY. The Watervliet Shakers sheltered fugitive slaves and had a close relationship with the Philadelphia Shakers (Rebecca Jackson, the leader of the Philadelphia Shakers was involved in assisting run away slaves). This history has been largely overlooked but should be included in your encyclopedia. The Philidelphia Shakers were mentioned in Du Bois’ work but I think they were active longer than he states.
[comment received April 23; re-posted by the editors May 1]

@Starlyn D’Angelo
Dear Starlyn,

So nice to see your comment! I didn’t know that the Watervliet community had such a close relationship with the Philadelphia Shakers. Thanks for adding that to the mix.

Very best,
Shan

By mail we have received the suggestion: “Hoping that you won’t overlook the great warship “Philadelphia,” which was built here (1798) at the internationally famous shipyard of Philadelphia’s own Samuel Humphrey et. al.” — The Editors

Jay Worrall mentioned the Quakers. The encyclopedia needs, in some fashion, to address the tension between Quaker pacifism and the violence that marked much of Philadelphia’s history. Consider: Ben Franklin’s difficulties in founding “The Associators”, tension within the Friends during the Revolution (“Fighting Quakers”), the role of Quakers during Philadelphia’s occupation in 1777-78 and the role of individuals and the meetings in the abolitionist movement and ensuing Civil War.

Philadelphia in the Civil War is a major cross-disciplinary project in and of itself. The city was simultaneously a center for both anti slavery and pro-southern sentiment, the north’s major manufacturing center, a central node in the rail transportation system, a center for the training of the U.S. Colored Troops – and their officers, a major hospital center, etc., etc.

Moving ahead a half-century, the Great Influenza is a subject that Philadelphian have, generally, opted not to talk about. The “Spanish Influenza” had a major impact upon the life of the city – and the city’s medical institutions played a great role in understanding it.

In answer to Jared’s question about biographies:

Currently, we’re thinking that people will be named within topical entries, but they would not have separately titled biographies. There would just be so many to do — how would we choose? However, we’re thinking of then following the example of the Encyclopedia of Chicago by creating a “biographical index” that would cover everyone named in the Encyclopedia and provide some additional information about each. Perhaps a version of it online would then allow for more expanded biographies to be created.

How does this sound?

The Editors

@Jared Lobdell

Exploring Philadelphia in the Age of Emancipation

Philadelphia in the early 19th Century was a ‘border city’ with close connections to both North and South. Although Philadelphia contained the largest Free Black population in the North and many immigrants from different ethnic groups, nevertheless, the city was plagued by racial and ethnic hatred, violence and seething discontent. The city did contain a small, but active group of Abolitionists, who worked tirelessly for improvements in civil society. The city boomed with vibrant commerce and industry. Many were attracted to the promise of economic betterment. The 1860 election of Lincoln, who carried Philadelphia and the state, polarized the city into rival camps. Only the outbreak of civil war brought a sense of unity, as thousands answered the call of military service to suppress rebellion. Philadelphia’s industries were vital to the war effort. Units and commanders from the city became famous in the fighting, and the greatest battle of the war was fought at Gettysburg, not far from Philadelphia.

Peace, Union, and the extension of civil rights were benefits of a tragic era, but the struggle for equality continued into the Post-War period. This was also a time to create the story of the war and struggle for rights, to mourn the fallen and to erect monuments to the veterans. The 1876 Centennial celebration in Philadelphia became a centerpiece of post war Philadelphia life.

All aspects of this era should be examined in creative and experiential ways. Citizens can visit sacred sites of memory in the city; view archives and museums to understand better the events through realia, artifacts and documents; and explore Victorian era cemeteries to find firsthand the rituals of remembrance. Especially with the advent of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War and its momentous consequences, can we derive a thorough panorama of Philadelphia in the Age of Emancipation.

I assume you’ll want to write a considerable amount on housing, the use of land that makes up most of the city and the region (by the way, how are you defining Greater Philadelphia?). In particular, Philadelphia is the flagship city of the rowhouse, no other major city (except maybe nearby Baltimore) developed it to the degree that Philadelphia did. There have also been efforts to develop what we would now call affordable housing that stretch back at least to the late 19th Century. Multi-family housing hasn’t played as strong a role in Philadelphia as elsewhere, but there’s Center City, great complexes like Alden Park, and the “garden apartment”, which become an American prototype. You could end up by considering to what extent New Urbanism is applicable and successful in the Philadelphia region.

I think the gang violence and constant rioting of the 19th century should not be neglected and how much the need for law and order led to to the city-county consolidation of 1854. Among crimes and criminals (up to the present time) we should include: bank robbery at Carpenters Hall. Charly Ross kidnapping, the Arsenic Ring of the 1930s, Deering family murders, H.H. Holmes; Black Mafia, Italian Mafia, MOVE, Einhorn, Smith-Bradford, Noe infant murders, Abscam, Street gangs of the 1950s-60s, Fumo. The list can go-on-and-on.
Two heroes that should not be over-looked are Al Schmidt and Smedley Butler.

I would like to see a topic about the FIRE ESCAPES. Looking at then and now photos, outside fire escapes seem to have disappeared from sight. I think this will be an interesting topic to see how the building codes and regulations have changed over time.

The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 brought millions to the Philadelphia area, changing forever the world’s perception of the United States from an agrarian backwater to an industrialized powerhouse. Although 256 buildings were built on the Fairmount Park site of the exhibition, only two major structures remain—Ohio House on States Road and Memorial Hall on what is now North Concourse Avenue.

Memorial Hall served as the art museum for the Centennial Exhibition, the only building built for the event as a permanent structure. The dedication was made by President Ulysses S. Grant at the Centennial’s opening, and Memorial Hall served as the city’s art museum until the Philadelphia Museum of Art opened in 1928.

The planning and construction of the Ben Franklin Parkway. Also, the history of the major roads that connect Philly to the rest of the region: How have their routes changed over time and why? Do other regions have so many pikes, or is this peculiar to us? What’s with the signs for the different Delaware River bridges scattered all over the area, particularly the Ben Franklin Bridge’s goose-logo signs?

And more about the Lenape (past and present), Peter Rambo, Governor Printz, and anyone else here before William Penn.

To the committee:

I would like to see included in the encyclopedia the history of chocolate, William Penn’s favorite beverage. There were chocolate mills in Philadelphia in the 18th century( ie. Globe Mill) and Stephen Whitman started the Whitman chocolate company in 1842 in Philadelphia. There is a rich chocolate story in Philadelphia starting with William Penn and continuing to this century. I would like to nominate this topic and request that I be considered for writing the entry.

Thank you

Susan McLellan Plaisted
Proprietress
Heart to Hearth Cookery
http://www.hearttohearthcookery.com
http://www.hearttohearthcookery.wordpress.com

Gold and Silversmiths and the history of the manufactures of precious metals. The Philadelphia Mint and the development of the currency. The Banks and the Banking System. All three of these topics are not only essential to the Encyclopedia, but are closely interrelated and need to be addressed in a manner which stress their important relationship to the history of the City of Philadelphia.

I nominate a case study of Elizabeth Drinker in early Philadelphia. I have done some work on her, whose diary provides a fascinating insight into the world of early American gender issues, women’s work, domesticity, child-birth, family relations, diffusion of knowledge, and masculinity. A topic about her certainly could be applied microhistorically, i.e. her life reveals broader patterns in the life of women in early America but, especially, the Mid-Atlantic colonies.

I have been doing extensive research on the people who lived in the Powelton Village neighborhood in University City. There are numerous individuals who should be included in any encyclopedia of Philadelphia. As a start, I nominate Hanah Schoff.

I know there is a special interest in 20th century women. A good person to start with is Hannah Schoff. First, she almost single handedly pushed through Philadelphia’s juvinile justice system in 1901 – only the 2nd after Jane Adams’s success in Chicago. Second, from 1902-1920, she was president of the National Congress of Women which was founded in 1897. Although it is not remembered under that name, Schoff developed it into a truely national organization that became the PTA (Parent Teachers Association).

I’ve written a brief bio of her which is available at:
http://poweltonvillage.org/interactivemap/Biographies/Post-SchoffJune09.pdf

As a financial planner for over 15 yrs, I believe one of the most dubious topics that we very little education on is economical development. We need to bring in Black Entrepreneurs to help educate our communities about the importance of teaching, educating, and help build businesses. We have been in the U.S. since the 1600′s and we are still in the worst economical level of most culturals but spend close to $950 billion as consumers. Please, bring me in along with other business owners to tackle and possibly put a dent in increasing our buying power in our own communities. Thx

We need to learn more about the Eastern Europeans–Poles, Czechs, Russians, and other Slavs–who have contributed to U.S. History and Philadelphia History. In response to J. R. Veal, the Poles were among the first entrepreneurs in the United States, having set up a glass factory in Jamestown in the early 1600s. There are nearly 30 millions Americans of Polish descent, not to mention those from other Eastern European economies. Yes, we need to discuss Black Americans in the Encyclopedia of
Greater Philadelphia, but we also need to give due credence to the other ethnic groups. Let’s not forget Bridesburg!

Philadelphia Philanthropy
“The word ‘Philanthropy’ has its roots in the Greek language meaning “love for mankind..” It was never meant to apply only to donors of thousands or millions of dollars” (Arthur C. Frantzreb) The name of our city shares that name and that meaning. I would love to see more of the youthful and diverse groups of Philadelphia contribute to our long history of giving back by getting involved in voluntarism and organized philanthropy.

I would love to read about and especally see old photos of the roxborough manayunk section of philadelphia. This section of philadelphia holds a lot of history. thanks

Philadelphia was an important center for silverware manufacturing and the precious metals trades. The trades were also interrelated with the Philadelphia Mint. It is a subject area not to be neglected.

We need a comprehensive history of development of the Delaware waterfront,
from the founding and then step by step the changes–creation of Delaware Avenue (with bequest of Girard), connection to islands and their destruction, all land fills and RRs, steamship terminal at foot of Washington Avenue.
Deepening of channel and 20th C. landfills and piers, leading to 18 acres(?) of Penn’s Landing. Decision to build I-95.
What is next?

I’d love to learn more about British-born Thomas Wignell, comic-actor, theater troupe manager, and co-proprietor of the Chestnut Street Theater (6th and Chestnut) which he and musician Alexander Reinagle (who gave music lessons to Martha Washington’s grandchildren while she and George were residing as “First Couple” in Philadelphia, the U.S. Capital at the time) opened in 1793 and seated 2000 people.

I’ve seen Wignell referred to as America’s first stand-up comedian because he’d often welcome patrons before a show with what might be called a “monolog.” It was said that Wignell was George Washington’s favorite performer, and that Mr. President would often be heard roaring with laughter (I can’t envision Washington roaring with laughter, but who knows) at one of Wignell’s stage bits. The Washingtons were avid theater-goers.

When not attending performances at the Chestnut St. Theater, President Washington used to hang out with Bill Ricketts, a renowned equestrian, at Rickett’s Circus across the street on the southwest corner of 6th and Chestnut.

As a side note, when George Washington died, naturally, many public tributes were given. Among them was a monody produced by Wignell at the Chestnut St. Theater. One of the cast members was 13-year old Eliza Arnold, future mother of Edgar Allan Poe. Eliza a charming child actor played the Chestnut St. Theater many times.

I believe the Chestnut St. Theater burned to the ground in the 1820′s.

Track patterns of land use – from how it was used as described by the first generation(s) of Europeans, to progress of conversion from ‘wild land’ to ‘developed land’ (e.g. mixed Eastern hardwoods and scrub brush & grass — to food production (vegetables, animals, fruit orchard, etc.) to buildings.

And show with mapping GIS etc. what happened to the original natural water courses — including use for ‘shipping’ of agricultural produce to marketplaces, to harbor, et al – - if in fact any streams and brooks were used in such a fashion.

Show again with mapping and with cross-section topographic info how the stormwaters flowed, how drinking water was extracted from streams, or from wells dug in town… use of cross-sections is mostly only used to show in later settlement when the rivers were no longer clean so the Fairmount reservoir(s) and the Water Works was used to pump water up to them (creating a ‘pressure head’ to distribute potable water by gravity to properties and buildings in the older city.

Show by time how long it took the water resources to go from natural pure condition, to inadequate quantities due to density of humans, to prevalence of illnesses, to construction of the WW and to the subsequent distribution of clean water and subsequent decline in disease (presumably), and to rate of presumably increased development and height of buildings once the WW + distribution piping were in place.

Show the progression of land- and of water-sewage: similar to above…

This would not be an entry to FEATURE the remarkable engineering done by European settlers as they became Americans. I feel like that is well documented, well known, and established. It would be to examine the rich natural resource which we now think of only as faucets & drains, as rain puddles and sewer backups, etc.

David Goodis, a giant among noir fiction writers, would be a great addition.

an article on the gay rights demonstrations held annually in the early 1960s in front of Independence Hall. These demonstrations preceded the better known Stonewall Riots in New York in 1969. It’s time for Philadelphia to reclaim its past as the first site of modern-day demonstrations, NOT NY.

It will be wonderful when in the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia the story of Father Divine can be told. In the 1930s and 1940s when segregation was rampant in the area it was He who brought it to an end and it was He who fed, clothed and housed the people during the great depression of that time. For information on these events and more, I recommend that all shouild visit the on-line site;
- http://www.fdipmm.libertynet.org
Sincerely, Philip Life

How about something on ethnic diversity and conflict in the city’s history? A few names to add to Mr. Hopkin’s list of influential individuals: James Forten, Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, Benjamin Tucker Tanner and his son – Henry Ossawa Tanner, Frances E. W. Harper, and so many others of African descent. I was fascinated to read about Sulzberger. My parents and cousins attended the school named after him. It was fascinating to read about who he was and what he accomplished in one of the above entries.

Perhaps a little research into the Lefax Society might be in order. Founded in the 1920s, this company produced pocket sized 6-ring organizers. The name came from loose LEaf-FActs. The binder concept was invented by Philadelphia engineer J.C. Parker in 1910. From the beginning, it was a canny blend of practical information storage.

First, these organizers were meant to bring together multiple collections of information:
calendar, addresses and phone numbers, shopping lists, diaries and more.

The second part of the system took advantage of the ease of inserting and removing pages to allow Lefax users to place special sets of data–information sheets with chemical formulas, radio technology, lists of companies and so on. A galaxy of special forms were available: leases, graph paper, mineral rights charts, legal forms, even a detachable air mail envelope–all could clip into the binder, reflecting the exact needs of the user.

This customization meant each person only needed bring the information for a particular job or meeting. The other sheets could be filed in special home cabinets provided by Lefax. The company encouraged users to create their own custom reference systems, but also put Lefax codes at the top corner of each page.

The parallels between this system and today’s smart phones, which sync with a hard drive, are striking. Small magazines were even printed in the six-rung format, just to fit Filofaxes.

The Lefax system was exported to England and renamed Filofax (FileOfFacts). These little books became a staple of the striving class clear into WWII. Ministers, soldiers, politicians, heads of wealthy households all used special pages which helped them keep track of everything from shopping to lists of men to be awarded promotions. When a German bomb destroyed the headquarters of Filofax and all its records, company secretary Grace Scurr, helped rebuild the business–she’d kept all the important information in her own Filofax, which she took home with her each day. She later rose to lead the company, and resigned as chairman in 1974.

The organizers became a status symbol through the 1980s, and though the wave of electronic organizers took a toll, Filofax sales are again rising in the US, UK and around the world.

There have been many imitators over the years–Franklin Planners, DayRunners, etc.; but the Filofax carries the original DNA of its Philadelphia inventor. Pages from the 1950s and even the 1920s can be snapped into a modern Filofax. The Lefax is a Philadelphia First that still exists today.

–Michael McGettigan /Trophy Bikes

Lenape tribe and William Penn. This topic is relegated to a few lines when describing Philadelphia’s founding. I think the topic should be broaden to not only reveal Penn’s relationship with the Native Americans (his respect and fair treatment compared to other colonies), but also describe Native American life in the Philadelphia area before Penn’s arrival.

Outdoor Sculpture in Philadelphia is a substantial presence. Very few places have as much and as interesting as our collection. The Calder family is one topic; Frank Bender, forensic portraiture is another;
Zellin’s sculptural ironwork is valid subject.
Arts and crafts people might be interested in the Furniture industry here. Or, the woodcarvers who did the carousels,and amusement park art (Germantown, Phila Tobaggan Co etc).
And the Germantown Wool from Main St.

How about Philadelphia’s historical role as a waystation or permanent destination for immigrants and (for those already on this side of the Atlantic) migrants? That’s a pretty broad topic, and it might even make for more than one essay, but it would certainly help to update and upgrade Philadelphia’s reputation as a persistently insular city.

More generally, Philadelphia’s natural history, environmental history, and naturalists. Descriptions and collections of the Delaware Valley’s flora, fauna, and landscapes go back at least to the 17th century and continue to the present. Besides Alexander Wilson, here are some Philadelphians and important visitors who deserve mention: John Bartram, William Bartram, Humphrey Marshall, Peter (Pehr) Kalm,

Karen Reeds

Jeff Holt wrote:

Alexander Wilson, commonly referred to as the Father of American Ornithology wrote & published his signature work “American Ornithology” in Philadelphia. In the early 1800′s, Philadelphia was the center piece for ornithological discovery. Supporters of Wilson, who didn’t want to see his legacy tarnished, re-buffed John James Audubon’s attempt to have his monumental work, “Birds of America” published in the U.S., forcing him to seek a publisher in England.

=====

Philadelphia History Museum at Atwater Kent

This encyclopedia would benefit immensely with entries on “Restaurants,” both collectively and individually. Collectively, restaurants have helped revive portions of Philadelphia and have allowed residents and visitors to reimagine the city. Individually, restaurants (past and present) such as Bookbinders, Horn and Hardhart, The Vesper Club, Arthur’s, Le Bec Fin, White Dog Cafe, The Continental, Vetri, and many others each inspire stories about the character of Philadelphia.

William Penn laid out his city in a grid pattern to allow for fresh air and prevent fire. What is the story behind his suveyors plans for the suburban counties that are found today. Numersous streets laid out by Thomas Holmes remain such as Street, Almshouse , Bristol and County Line roads in Bucks COunty.

Though recounting the history of a fellowship whose members are anonymous presents certain problems, I suggest an article on Alcoholics Anonymous in Philadelphia (Philadelphia being a very early — February 1940 — location for A.A., and the Philadelphia A.A. members having been responsible for the first true nationwide publicity for A.A., the Jack Alexander article in the SatEvePost in 1941. I would be happy to write the piece. {I serve as editor of CULTURE ALCOHOL & SOCIETY [Newsletter of the Kirk/CAAS Collections at Brown], which published my AHA piece on “Problems in the History and Historiography of Alcoholics Anonymous.”)

Richard Waln provides a human bridge linking the merchant world of Philadelphia that was involved in importing and exporting goods from the Caribbean, North Carolina, London, and/or greater Philadelphia to the human struggles of abolition and freedom. This entrepreneur moved his operations to New Jersey and after the Revolution became heavily involved in New Jersey Supreme Court manumission disputes involving African American men, women, and children in West and East Jersey, who were held in bondage while they were free blacks. Waln will be a key contact for the Pennsylvania Abolition Society on questions of New Jersey writs of habeas corpus disputes. The “famous” Quakers are well known for their humanitarian efforts, such as Benezet and Woolman, and even Allinson. Waln’s story is an emerging one, and illustrates the impact Philadelphians have when they leave the City of Brotherly Love. Let me know if you would like a brief essay on Waln, drawing from the HSP and Haverford Quaker Special Collections, to illustrate one man’s transition from selling slave-made products and selling a slave owned by his wife to a man who became of voice advocating “a natural right to liberty”. Sue Kozel

How about the zoo? Captain Bob Bartlett captured polar bears for the Philadelphia Zoo. Many Pennsylvania citizens voyaged with him as Bartlett Boys

What about disasters? By my (very rough) count, Philadelphia has had, since about 1835, more than 65 major fires, 27 fatal explosions, about a half dozen ship disasters, two each floods and significant hurricanes as well as eight other deadly weather events, six building collapses and more than 20 train wrecks. Also Philadelphia building codes, which of course reflect responses to these.

How about an essay on Latin American and Latin@ migration to Philly? I mean it’s thanks largely to Latin American and Latn@ migration that Philly grew in population for the first time in decades, according to the 2010 Census. I might be interested in writing one. Although I’m in Massachusetts and have been since 1995, I still feel more at home in Filadelfia (especially now that it’s Latinizing) than in New England.

I also agree 100% with Dallett. A section of biographies on real lives of real Philadelphians (famous and less famous) would be great.

Why not add something about the union reform that occurred in Philly during the early 60s with The Voice and the Teamsters?

To the Committee:

I am the Great Granddaughter of Douglas Marks, a well known West Philadelphia Green Grocer of the late 19th. Century, and his wife Annie. I am looking for family history, but also generally for information about Philadelphia Green Grocers. Family word of mouth is that Douglas operated a group of horse drawn wagons which sold fruit and vegetables up and down the allies of West Philadelphia door to door. I don’t know much more about the business, however. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

History name and location of all orphanages in philadelphia and subarbs for last 150 years

As our firm works to gain more attendees for the marvelous annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Fairmount Park, I researched the city archives and found great photos (I tweeted our album to you) of the significant presence of the Japanese cultural and commerce missions in the city at that time for their wonderful exhibits in South Philly at the Sesquicentennial. But there are no photos of the important other thing that was accomplished across town… the planting of 1600 ornamental cherry trees at Horticultural Hall, near where the nation of Japan had their first exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. If you have anything specifically about that planting, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia would be very pleased to know more. Here’s a link to those 1926 photos in South Philly. What is gorgeous to us now in full color is equally gorgeous in faded sepia images. http://goo.gl/yUu6X. Thank you!

Suggestions:
Barbary Wars: Including Decatur, Somers, Bainbridge, ship Philadelphia etc
Philadelphia Daily News: very colorful history
Street Games: Half ball, buck-buck etc
“Klondike” scandal Holmesburg Prison
Arsenic Ring of 1930s
Abscam: many Philly officials jailed
Connection of Lewis & Clark Expedition to Phila. (much material still here)

The Merchants Fund is almost 160 years old and was founded by the men of commerce of Philadelphia. We have had two missions: pensioning indigent merchants and now we make small grants to small business in Philadelphia. We have a portfolio of over 200 companies we have supported.