Blog Author: curator, page 3

Many will recall the program series that launched The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia — the Greater Philadelphia Roundtable. This spring we are pleased to again invite you to a series of conversations about our region’s history and contemporary issues.

Sanctuaries: Past Into Present

Throughout American history, people have come to the Philadelphia region seeking opportunity, while others have been fleeing persecution, and still others have been forced here in chains. When have these migrants been granted the right to feel safe, and when have they been denied safety? How do we come to grips with our country’s contradictory history of celebrating the diversity these many migrations produced, while denying rights to many?

This spring, join friends and neighbors for a series of free public seminars across greater Philadelphia. Learn from local experts about Philadelphia’s immigration and migration history, hear from activists working in the region now, and grapple with how our complicated histories shape today’s social and political landscape.

In Search of the Underground Railroad: Connecting People, Places, and Things
April 2, 2019
Pop-Up Exhibits at 6 p.m., Lecture at 7 p.m.
Rutgers-Camden Campus Center
Featuring archaeologist Cheryl LaRoche and community partners.

Discover how historians and archaeologists connect people, places, and things to better understand the lives of enslaved people who sought sanctuary with the Underground Railroad. Link for further information and registration.

Sanctuary Now, Sanctuary When?
April 23, 2019, 6 p.m.
Arch Street Meeting House
320 Arch Street, Philadelphia
Featuring Domenic Vitiello (University of Pennsylvania) and Blanca Pacheco (New Sanctuary Movement)

Learn how the idea of “sanctuary” became part of immigration justice lexicon in the United States and what we can all learn from the experiences of refugees and activists, past and present. Link for further information and registration.

Sanctuary in Sickness, Sanctuary in Health
June 4, 2019, 6 p.m.
Philadelphia Lazaretto
Second Street and Wanamaker Avenue, Essington, Pa.
Featuring David Barnes (University of Pennsylvania)

Explore the Philadelphia Lazaretto, discover the critical role it played in Philadelphia’s immigration history, and contemplate the past, present, and future of health care for our most vulnerable. Link for further information and registration.

Sanctuaries: Past into Present is a Greater Philadelphia Roundtable program series of The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, produced at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities (MARCH) at Rutgers-Camden. “In Search of the Underground Railroad” is supported by the Office of the Chancellor at Rutgers-Camden and co-sponsored by the following departments and programs: History, Africana Studies, Liberal Studies, and Forensic Science.

The American Revolution in Delaware is the subject of a new book by Kim Rogers Burdick, who also is the author of the essay about the gunpowder industry in The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.  According to the History Press, the publisher of Revolutionary Delaware: Independence in the First State:

In 1776, Delaware declared independence from both England and Pennsylvania. Originally known as the Three Lower Counties of Pennsylvania, the First State was instrumental in the fight to form a new republic. The Marquis de Lafayette, Nathanael Greene and George Washington all made trips to the state. Caesar Rodney’s ride and the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge are legendary, but the state has many unsung heroes. Citizens from every village, town, crossroads and marsh risked their lives to support their beliefs. Author Kim Burdick offers the carefully documented story of ordinary people coping with extraordinary circumstances.

Kim Burdick will speak and sign copies of her book on Saturday, December 17, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kirkwood Library, 6000 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Delaware.

On March 21 during Rutgers Giving Day, scholars, students, community members, and staff came together to support The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, produced by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities (MARCH) at Rutgers-Camden.

The dedication of all who donated and promoted our cause through social media is truly inspiring. Your generous contributions will be used to employ the students who help to make digital publication of The Encyclopedia possible. Keep an eye on our website or like us on Facebook to watch our essay collection grow!

We are so grateful for the opportunity to continue producing original scholarship and making it accessible to readers like you. Thank you!

P.S. Missed your chance to donate on Giving Day? Make a gift to support The Encyclopedia today!

The first event of the spring semester for Penn Urban Studies will feature a talk by Timothy P.R. Weaver, the author of the essay about Enterprise Zones and Empowerment Zones in The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Weaver, who is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, will speak about his book, Blazing the Neoliberal Trail:  Urban Political Development in the United States and the United Kingdom (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015). His talk, titled “The Rise of the Market City: Unfettered Capitalism and Urban Transformation in the U.S. and the U.K.,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, at the Penn Bookstore, Thirty-Sixth and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia.

The most-visited topics for 2016 reflect the issues of the presidential year, topics of interest for students and teachers, and some perennial Philadelphia favorites.

The most-read topic of the year is:
Political Parties (Origins, 1790s)

2. City of Brotherly Love

3. Immigration and Migration (Colonial Era)

4. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations (1754-89)

5. Immigration (1870-1930)

6. Nativist Riots of 1844

7. Row Houses

8. Immigration (1790-1860)

9. Department Stores

10. Southwest Philadelphia

Watch for more new topics in the new year as we continue to expand The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Thank you for your support!

As we begin a new year, we invite you to revisit the most-read topics of 2017.  Did your favorite make the list?

10. Medicine (Colonial Era), by Martha K. Robinson

9. March of the Mill Children, by Gail Friedman

8. Department Stores, by David Sullivan

7. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper

6. Immigration (1870-1930), by Barbara Klaczynska

5. Nativist Riots of 1844, by Zachary M. Schrag

4. Political Parties (Origins, 1790s), by Brian Hendricks

3. Immigration and Migration (Colonial Era), by Marie Basile McDaniel

2. City of Brotherly Love, by Chris Satullo

And the most-read topic for 2017 is:

1. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations (1754-89), by Timothy J. Shannon

Happy new year from The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia team!  Visit our website or follow us on social media for more new topics in 2018.

Happy new year! Join our most frequent users by visiting the top ten most-read topics in The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia during 2019:

10. Broad Street Bullies, by Karen Guenther

9. Immigration 1870-1930, by Barbara Klaczynska

8. Yellow Fever, by Simon Finger

7. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations, 1681-1753, by Michael Goode

6. March of the Mill Children, by Gail Friedman

5. Boxing and Boxers, by Matthew Ward

4. Immigration and Migration (Colonial Era), by Marie Basile McDaniel

3. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper

2. Medicine (Colonial Era), by Martha K. Robinson

And the most-read topic for 2019 is …

1. Native America-Pennsylvania Relations, 1754-89, by Timothy J. Shannon

Thank you for reading, and watch for more new topics in 2020!

Happy new year!  Our most-read topics for 2020 reflect a year of pandemic, unrest, stay-at-home learning, and searches for family connections:

10. Orphanages and Orphans, by Holly Caldwell.

9. Nativist Riots of 1844, by Zachary M. Schrag.

8. Yellow Fever, by Simon Finger.

7. Columbia Avenue Riot, by Alex Elkins.

6. Immigration and Migration (Colonial Era), by Marie Basile McDaniel.

5. Murder of Octavius Catto, by Aaron X. Smith.

4. I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia, by Charlene Mires.

3. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper.

2. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations, 1754-89, by Timothy J. Shannon.

And the most-read topic for 2020 is, no surprise here:

Influenza (“Spanish Flu” Pandemic, 1918-19), by Thomas Wirth.

Have a happy and healthy new year, and thank you for your interest and support of The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

Our most-read topics for 2021 include some perennial favorites but also a surprise winner for the year.

10. March of the Mill Children, by Gail Friedman

9. Yellow Fever, by Simon Finger

8. Nativist Riots of 1844, by Zachary M. Schrag

7. Murder of Octavius Catto, by Aaron X. Smith

6. Broad Street Bullies, by Karen Guenther

5. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper

4. City of Brotherly Love, by Chris Satullo

3. I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia, by Charlene Mires

2. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations, 1754-89, by Timothy J. Shannon

And the most-read topic of 2021 is ….

1. Scrapple, by Mary Rizzo!

Scrapple received a big boost on May 31, 2021, from a link in the New York Times from Maureen Dowd’s interview with Kate Winslett about her role in Mare of Easttown. Thanks to all of our readers who visited throughout the year.

Where did encyclopedia users turn the most in 2022?  Here is our annual top ten list – enjoy!

10. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), by Isaac Barnes May

9. Jawn, by Damiano Consilvio and Caitlin Walker

8. King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, by Carolyn T. Adams

7. Colonial Era landing page, essay by Jean Soderlund

6. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations, 1754-89, by Timothy J. Shannon

5. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper

4. Native American-Pennsylvania Relations, 1681-1753, by Michael Goode

3. Broad Street Bullies, by Karen Guenther

2. I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia, by Charlene Mires

And the most-visited topic for 2022 is a longtime favorite, one of the essays that launched The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia project when co-published with the Philadelphia Inquirer and WHYY:

1. City of Brotherly Love, by Chris Satullo

Happy new year!

As we begin a new year at The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, we invite you to revisit the most-read topics of 2024. Did your favorites make the list?

10. Immigration and Migration (Colonial Era), by Marie Basile McDaniel.

9. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper.

8. Colonial Era, by Jean R. Soderlund.

7. Liberty Bell, by Gary Nash.

6. Pennhurst State School and Hospital, by Dennis Downey.

5. Lower Delaware Colonies, by Lu Ann De Cunzo.

4. Broad Street Bullies, by Karen Guenther.

3. I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia, by Charlene Mires.

2. Pennsylvania (Founding), by Stephanie Grauman Wolf.

And the most-visited topic, again this year, is …

1. City of Brotherly Love, by Chris Satullo.

To all of our readers, authors, editors, and staff, thank you for your continuing interest and support! Make sure to visit the home page for links to our most recently published topics.

As we begin a new year at The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, we invite you to revisit the most-read topics of 2023.

10 (tie). Immigration and Migration (Colonial Era), by Marie Basile McDaniel.

10 (tie). Native American-Pennsylvania Relations, 1754-89, by Timothy J. Shannon.

9. Philadelphia and Its People in Maps: The 1790s, by Paul Sivitz and Billy G. Smith.

8. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), by Isaac Barnes May.

7. Colonial Era, by Jean R. Soderlund.

6. Row Houses, by Amanda Casper.

5. Jawn, by Damiano Consilvio and Caitlin Walker.

4. Pennsylvania (Founding), by Stephanie Grauman Wolf.

3. I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia, by Charlene Mires.

2. Broad Street Bullies, by Karen Guenther.

And the most-visited topic for the year 2023 was a perennial favorite:

1. City of Brotherly Love, by Chris Satullo.

To all of our readers, authors, editors, and staff, thank you for your continuing interest and support!

Frequent users of The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia may notice that some features of our website are unavailable or not working properly.  The website is undergoing review and maintenance to improve functions and security, so thank you for your patience.  You will still be able to read the text for all topics.

If you wish to reach other features, such as texts in image galleries, you may be able to access them through the copy of the website in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20200926124637/https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/

The editors, authors, and staff of The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia are honored to welcome scholars from Vietnam on November 29. Under the auspices of the Social Science Research Council, the delegation has come to the United States to learn about encyclopedia projects in preparation for producing an Encyclopedia of Vietnam. Read more about the visit on the website of Rutgers-Camden, where The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia is produced.