A librarian’s paradise

Philadelphia plays second fiddle to no other city in the relatively brief but tumultuous sweep of U.S. History. While every American school child has heard about the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Ben Franklin (generally in that order), few Americans appreciate the city’s impact on the economic and cultural life of the nation after 1800. For many years during the colonial era, Philadelphia held the distinction of being the second largest city in the British Empire (second to London, naturally).2 Not until 1830 did the metropolitan population of New York (223,124) finally surpass that of Philadelphia (188,797).3

With the completion in 1825 of the Erie Canal, which connected the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, New York finally gained a firm economic advantage. Philadelphia, of course, did not go away. The city instead turned to manufacturing and industry of all kinds, focusing especially on textiles and shipbuilding.

From Louisa May Alcott to Marian Anderson, Samuel Barber to Jim Croce, long indeed is the list of prominent Americans born in or near Philadelphia, or who moved to the city and were significantly shaped by it. Today this rich, pre- and post-Revolutionary War history is well reflected in the abundance and diversity of cultural institutions located throughout the city. By way of example, area libraries and archives together constitute one of the richest repositories of primary-source documents in the United States. Philadelphia is truly a librarian’s paradise. ACRL 2011 participants will no doubt enjoy taking the time to visit at least one or two of these special library collections. Many of the most interesting venues are within easy walking distance of the conference hotels, while others are only a short bus or subway ride away. Here are a few of my favorite librarian haunts.

Architectural Sculpture on the Façade of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo credit: Paul D. Toth.

• Free Library of Philadelphia (www.freelibrary.org/). One of the country’s great public library systems with 7 million unique items, the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia is located at the corner of Vine and 20th Streets. Those of us affiliated with university research collections sometimes forget that public libraries, large and small, house treasures beyond compare. I recommend visiting the Free Library as much for its unique collections, which include Early American Children’s Books, a historical Map Collection 130,000 items strong, and a collection of more than 500 Incunabula, as for the 1927 Central Library’s impressive architecture (particularly the interior spaces).

• Philadelphia Museum of Art—Museum Library (www.philamuseum.org/library/). Located within the confines of one of the world’s great art museums (follow the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to its terminus), the Museum Library is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The facility brags of a collection of more than 200,000 items, many of which are rare, and the librarians there are happy to help patrons research their personal art objects. Currently on offer is “Revisiting the Centennial: Resources from the Library and Archives,” an exhibition of objects from the 1876 Philadelphia world’s fair, the first ever held in the United States.
• Historical Society of Pennsylvania (www.hsp.org/). Rightly or wrongly, the collections of some local historical societies are viewed as ancillary to the study of national U.S. history. Not so for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, located at 1300 Locust Street. Renowned for its 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century manuscript collections, i.e., primary-source ephemera, this institution owns more than 600,000 books and serials. Those interested in genealogy, ethnic, or immigrant studies will wish to have a look. Hours are limited, so call ahead: (215) 732-6200. Daily admission costs $8 for visitors.
• The Library Company of Philadelphia (www.librarycompany.org/). Founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin as a subscription library for shareholders, The Library Company focuses on American history and culture from the 17th through 19th centuries. Highlights of the collection include rare books and manuscripts, broadsides, prints, photographs, works of art, and all manner of ephemera. The Library Company houses the second-largest collection of books and other items printed in the British Colonies. If you are familiar with and impressed by Readex’s Early American Imprints, you will savor a visit to the Library Company. The building is located across the street from the Historical Society on Locust Street about halfway between 13th and Broad. Open and free to the public, hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

University archives

Conference attendees interested in special libraries and archives might wish to visit the special collections of two local ARL Libraries: Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. Temple is home to the nationally prominent Urban Archives and Blockson collections. The Urban Archives (library. temple.edu/collections/urbana) houses the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin clippings collection and other archival materials relating to the history of the Delaware Valley from the late 19th to the late 20th centuries. The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (library.temple.edu/collections/Blockson) serves both a local and national audience of researchers interested in the study of the history of people of African descent. Both collections are located on Temple’s Main Campus in North Philadelphia. Due to renovations, the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of the University of Pennsylvania is temporarily located on the 5th rather than the 6th floor of the Van Pelt–Dietrich Library Center in West Philadelphia (www.library.upenn.edu/rbm/).

Book Stacks, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia. Photo credit: Paul D. Toth.

Other possibilities

• The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Founded in 1814, the collection of the Athenaeum focuses on American architecture and interior design history for the period 1800 to 1945. Admittance is by appointment only, so call ahead: (215) 925-2688.
• The National Archives. The archival facility for the National Archives and Records Administration’s Mid-Atlantic Region is located at 900 Market Street in Center City (www.archives.gov/midatlantic/). The building serves as the depository for federal documents generated in the Mid-Atlantic region, and includes more than 65,000 cubic feet of archival materials dating from 1789. Call ahead if planning a visit: (215) 606-0100.

ACRL 2011 and Philadelphia

For repeat and new visitors alike, the ACRL 2011 conference in Philadelphia should prove both stimulating and enjoyable. Please do take just a little bit of time beyond the confines of the Pennsylvania Convention Center to enjoy all that our amazing city has to offer.