Dear Friends,
The dog days of August are upon us. Philadelphia had one of its hottest Julys on record. While we hope that Hurricane Isaias spares all in its path from suffering and destruction, may its rains bring us slightly cooler weather.
This past week of vacation brought me a few days with new horizons. A trip to the PA Grand Canyons provided breathtaking views from Pine Creek Gorge (40 mile bike ride) up towards the peaks of the Canyon and then skyward from the West Rim Trail (10 mile hike the next day). Rainbows sparkling in the spray from the many waterfalls along the Ricketts Glen trail and many sightings of flitting goldfinches, bluebirds, hawks, butterflies, and other creatures lightened my spirits. I am filled with memories and happy to be back at my desk with a view of Washington Square.
To heighten your spirits, we offer you some fantastic Athenaeum podcasts about Philadelphia. Our librarian shares the new material on Athenaeum bookshelves, and we consider the usefulness of the face mask to bring smiles as we protect one another’s health.
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Athenaeum Events
While we finalize our speaker list for the fall (keep an eye on your mailboxes!) let us take a dive into Philadelphia history by listening to some of our podcasts from events you may have missed over the years. The full list of podcasts can be found
here
.
April 29, 2017
After William Penn’s grid plan, no other influence has had greater impact on the physical layout of Center City than the railroad. While the new technology’s first fifty years saw enthusiastic support from local industrialists and government leaders, downtown residents and businesses were much more ambivalent, and kept railroads at arms length. The years 1880-1920 saw the full embrace of the railroad with the penetration of locomotives to the city’s core and the construction of three landmark train stations. In the post-1920 period, both city beautiful and urban renewal movements were promoted by railroad executives.
February 7, 2018
Philadelphia: Finding The Hidden City is a journey to the essence of one of America’s greatest and yet least understood cities, Philadelphia, to reveal the physical and cultural intricacies of place, from the intimate to the monumental.
September 12, 2019
When Laurel Hill, Philadelphia’s first rural cemetery, was founded in 1836, it represented a gold mine for local architects. Laurel Hill’s managers held a design competition for its gatehouse and grounds, drawing entries from William Strickland, Thomas Ustick Walter, and the dark horse winner, a young Scotman named John Notman. Soon other architects were competing fiercely for the opportunity to design for the dead.
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Library Services
While we look forward to the day we can serve you in our beautiful Reading Room, we hope you have been able to take advantage of our current services.
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-2:30pm
we are open for pick-up and drop-off of circulating books in the front vestibule. For Shareholders, University of Pennsylvania services have started to resume on a
limited
schedule. If there is a book from UPenn you are interested in, contact
Jill Lee
so she can request it for you.
There will be delays, please be patient.
Shareholders may also request pick-up at Van Pelt Library.
We can also mail you books if you’re unable to get to the Athenaeum. Contact Jill with your requests and address.
All recent book purchases can be seen
here
. As always, you can browse our entire catalog on the
Franklin
website. We are always updating our
eBook
site with new purchases.
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Athenaeum Face Masks
With face masks almost universal (thankfully) in the greater Philadelphia region, you might, like me, have trouble recognizing the people you pass on the street or in the office anymore. It is a relief when someone at least has something fun on their face. Why not brighten the day for others, as well as yourself, with some new Athenaeum face masks featuring art, photography, and book illustrations from our collection. An image of a fog-shrouded Independence Hall or a cute puppy befuddled by a hedgehog will put a spring in your step when you step out!
Click here
to see the collection and order a few. A percentage of the sales price helps the Athenaeum’s budget.
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Wishing you joy, health, and hope,
Beth Hessel
Executive Director
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