David R. Contosta, Ph.D., is Professor of History at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He is the author or editor of some twenty books, along with numerous articles and reviews. These include biographies of Henry Adams, Charles Darwin, and Abraham Lincoln, as well writings about religious institutions, higher education, urban and suburban history, and metropolitan parks. Several titles have focused on Philadelphia and Philadelphians. More recently Contosta has written, coproduced, and appeared in several documentary films.
The Protestant Episcopal Church, established in 1789, was the heir of the Church of England in the newly formed United States. The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, which encompassed the church in the Philadelphia region, became known as the “mother diocese” of the denomination because of its founding role. The name of the denomination—the Protestant Episcopal ...
With the exception of Greater Boston, the Philadelphia region has more independent colleges and universities than any other metro area of the United States. These numbers stem from the religious variety of the region, whose various religions wanted to enjoy the prestige of having an institution of higher learning. Catholic-affiliated schools continue to embrace their religious banner, less so ...
The private or independent schools in the Greater Philadelphia area came about mainly to satisfy a need felt by wealthy, white families to educate their children in a cultural and intellectual environment that would prepare them for the responsibilities befitting their gender, race, and class status. Most have existed for at least a ...
Connecting the Past with the Present, Building Community, Creating a Legacy