E-newsletter | December 2017
In this issue: a major grant for alchemy project; the elements of fiction; and more!
NEH Grand Will Bring the History of Alchemy to New Audiences

CHF has been selected as one of only eight organizations nationwide that will receive a Digital Projects for the Public grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

The $100,000 grant funds the development of a game prototype—produced in collaboration with Drexel University’s Entrepreneurial Game Studio and Gossamer Games—exploring the history of alchemy through the lens of a young woman who embarks on her own alchemical quest in the mid-17th century.

The prototype will draw from our extensive collection of alchemically themed paintings and rare books, as well as other artifacts in the collection. “We are thrilled by this opportunity to use our painting and manuscript collections to bring this dynamic and exciting history of alchemical practice to a wider audience,” said Erin McLeary, museum director at CHF. 

The award has earned media attention from Technical.ly Philly and Generocity.
From the Blog
Fit as a Fiddle: The Remarkable Lives of Cremonese Violins

About half of the 1,100 instruments hand-crafted by the famous Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari were lost or destroyed over the last 300 years. Should the instruments that remain be played or preserved?
The Elements of Fiction

You can learn a lot about science from reading nonfiction at the intersections of science and society. But works of fiction can be a powerful tool to describe the impact of scientific phenomena on people and their communities.
In Brief
WikiSalons: A New Twist on a Knowledge-Sharing Tradition

Half a century ago, educated and artistic men and women began gathering for what became known as salons. Attendees would discuss literature and philosophy, share their views and opinions, and soon salons became distribution centers for revolutionary ideas and sentiments.

CHF is proud to carry on that tradition with our series of WikiSalons, casual gatherings of Wikipedia enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about the ubiquitous online encyclopedia. Participants can edit articles of their own choice and suggest articles needing improvement to the group. “We are happy to answer questions and help those who want to know more about Wikipedia,” says CHF's Wikipedian-in-residence Mary Mark Ockerbloom, “but we’d also like to reach out to chemists who don’t want to know how to edit, but who can give us the benefit of their knowledge and advice about improving content. Come and tell us what needs improvement!”

Our monthly WikiSalons resume on Saturday, January 13, 2018, so plan on joining us in the new year!
Featured Events
Right now we're hard at work planning a full calendar of events for the winter and spring. See some highlights below, and visit our website in the new year for updates.

“The Archaeology of Philadelphia’s Early Citizens: What We Hope to Learn from the Accidental Discovery of 450 Historic Remains and their Grave Goods” 
Monday, January 8, 2018 | 6:00 p.m.

“New Energy Storage Technologies for Enabling Renewables”
Thursday, January 11, 2018 | 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Take a deeper dive into our permanent collection and changing exhibitions with a guided tour!
Saturday, January 27, 2018 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Why I Give: %22CHF has a unique mission and fulfills it well.%22 -Wayne Tamarelli, supporter since 1999.
CHF's e-newsletter is published every other month. Comments, questions, or suggestions? Contact enews@chemheritage.org. 
 
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