What would you like to know about Philadelphia and its history? Nominate a topic and tell us why you’d like to see it in The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. To submit your ideas to the editors, simply scroll to the bottom of this page.
What would you like to know about Philadelphia and its history? Nominate a topic and tell us why you’d like to see it in The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. To submit your ideas to the editors, simply scroll to the bottom of this page.
Connecting the Past with the Present, Building Community, Creating a Legacy
What is distinctive about Philadelphia:
To a decreasing degree, we remain a city of neighborhoods.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
Our universities, museums, sports teams, law firms, and businesses serve as connections to the world beyond the city.
Other topics:
Criteria for comparing and understanding Philadelphia neighborhoods; notable women contributors to the city; distinct childhood experiences in this city.
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What is unique or distinctive about Philadelphia:
Ethnic neighborhoods still exist; rich history; diversity in certain areas of the city; neighborhoods are key identity for Philadelphians.
Other topics:
Women’s history and contributions to the Philadelphia area.
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What is unique or distinctive about Philadelphia:
Ethnic nature of different areas.
Different areas have different dialects.
Center City is historic yet a metropolis.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
We are considered the cradle of liberty.
Immigrants from many countries connect us to the world.
Other topics:
Some of the great boxers that started their careers in North Philly.
Detroit had Motown, but we have our own talents from that era.
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What is unique or distinctive about Philadelphia:
Language, attitude
How is Philadelphia connected to other places?
Big cities are linked
Big birthplace of USA
Other topics: Phillies!
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What is unique or distinctive about Philadelphia:
Our history and uniqueness, stadiums, sports
The Declaration of Independence connects our nation.
Other topics: Phillies.
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What is unique or distinctive about Philadelphia is that it is mixed with and combined races like a melting pot, and has many wondrous places to explore.
It is connected to other places by many people working, historical history, timeline, ancient artifacts and so much more.
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
1. The historical background
2. The various ethnic groups and the congeniality of the people
How is Philadelphia connected to other places:
The internet, the media
Other topics:
Recognition of women’s achievements through the years.
Recognition of outstanding medical schools and physicians.
– From the suggestion box at the Holmesburg branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
Two rivers both fishable
Bridges
Cherry trees, rock and tree garden parks
One hour from ocean, mountains, New York, and beautiful farm land
Historical sites of greatest moments in modern history
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
Center of all major transportation
Other topics:
Just a brief biography, story style, of every great person, if only on a brief stay here, if it touches on the city.
– From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive: The Art Museum and cheesesteaks.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places: By tectonic plates.
Other topics: More about China.
– From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
What makes Philadelophia unique or distinctive: How many “firsts” happen here in Philly.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places: We are a leader in politics, art, and science.
Other topics:
History of pirate and community radio in Philadelphia.
– From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
Libraries — for learning, new books, and computers.
– From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
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
The following suggestions were submitted on comment cards during the Greater Philadelphia Roundtable program at the William Way Community Center on March 18, 2010:
– GLBT history
– Dance history
– Social life
– Barbara Gittings
– Philadelphia’s LGBT community centers – The Attic and William Way Center
– Naming of the Walt Whitman Bridge
– ACT UP
– SPARK
– PA Hate Crimes Bill
– People with disabilities
– History going back 100 years of LGBT activism, including: 1959 – 1st pa Supreme Court case on gay rights and the right to convene; 1964 – Dewey’s Lunch Counter protest, first ever involving transgender rights; 1965-69 Independence Reminders.
– Transgender inclusiveness
– History of TG Activism – early protests and community formation in the 1990s and on.
– Nizah Morris case
– Evolution of TG groups from community-based organizations to professional programs, i.e., trans-health information project and trans-health conference; Mazzoni Center.
– Fair Practices Act – Gender Identity Amendment
– History of Black gay life (segregation of gay clubs and bars – Black gays stayed north of Market Street and south of Lombard St., and in African American neighborhoods because of racism and classism).
– Gay bars, drag balls, gay events (film festival, U of P speaker series [1970s], LGBT churches, dances by gay organizations [1970s]}.
– History of LGBTQ film festival; history of LGBTQ education — courses, out teachers, etc.
Thank you for this suggestion! Another great project for posting neighborhood history is PhilaPlace — check it out at http://www.philaplace.org .
@ Joyce Smith:
East Parkside section of West Philadelphia is the birthplace of the bicentennial. Its also rich in architectural history. The area has been neglected for years, but recent modest revitalization projects has awakened a sleeping beauty. The mansions on 4200 block of parkside and its sister street (42nd Viola) are now on the local historic registry.
I vote for this area.
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.
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
1. Good places to go.
2. Prices look out for economy.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
1. The products Philadelphia produces go around the world for sales.
Other topics:
More hints on beginners learning to write a passing essay for college.
— From the suggestion box at the Walnut Street West branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
Neighborhoods.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
Revolutionary war – democracy. Manufacturing.
Other topics:
Political corruption
Sports teams
Famous people – Ben Franklin
Spectrum – concerts
— From the suggestion box at the Walnut Street West branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
The genesis of a nation.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
To Paris through architecture.
Other topics:
Social ills of the 70’s and 80’s such as police brutality & crack epidemic.
— From the suggestion box at the Walnut Street West branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
Camp Happy, a children’s camp in Torresdale to promote good health, 1920s-1950s (described in “Remembering Northeast Philadelphia,” by Harry Silcox).
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
The experience of the Great Depression.
— From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
Friendship and help.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
History and military.
Other topics:
Medicine
— From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
The parks.
How is Philadelphia connected to other places:
It’s a city.
Other topics:
Athletes
— From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
Philadelphia is like a small town, a community. Everyone gets along and everything is much closer.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
Philadelphia is sort of like a rural area. That’s how close everything and everyone is.
Other topics:
Athletes
— From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library
What makes Philadelphia unique or distinctive:
As Philadelphians we usually refer to our area as Philly.
How Philadelphia is connected to other places:
Philadelphia has a stronger connection to Washington D.C. because it used to be capital of the U.S.
Other topics:
How Philly has changed into a fast-paced city that still remembers others who are less fortunate.
— From the suggestion box at the Tacony branch library