The art world recently lost a powerful voice with the passing of Mel Edwards, a sculptor whose work spoke volumes about history, identity, and resilience. His legacy continues to inspire artists and audiences alike. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania was privileged to host Edwards as an Artist-in-Residence in 2023. The Life and Art of Mel Edwards Mel Edwards was born in 1937 and became one of the most influential African American sculptors of his generation. His work ofte

By: Madison Jordan Welcome to Cooking Through HSP! To many, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is best known for its Revolutionary War-era documents and extensive genealogy collection. However, the HSP archives hold far more information in our collections. This four-part series will focus on American food through history as found in HSP’s collections. If you missed it, check out my post on tapioca pudding. I was interested in doing this project because I have a passion fo

Welcome to Cooking Through HSP! To many, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is best known for its Revolutionary War-era documents and extensive genealogy collection. However, the HSP archives holds many more historical gems. This four-part series will focus on American food through history as found in HSP’s collections.  My name is Madison Jordan, and I’m a junior at Simmons University majoring in Information Technology. I spent last summer interning at HSP in the Learnin

A Philadelphia high school student presents their project on "Hidden Figures: Revolutionary Black Women in STEM" to a team of judges at National History Day Philadelphia on March 13. Nearly 200 students from Philadelphia public, private, parochial, and charter schools presented their National History Day projects this past week. Researching a topic around the theme Revolution, Reaction, and Reform , students in grades 6-12 presented their work in a format of their choice - a

By Daphne DeLeon and Natalie Murphy  In the late twentieth century, a series of desegregation laws within the Philadelphia school district were passed and failed due to political and societal pressures. They were often met with resistance from parents and community members who opposed and feared racial integration, oftentimes rooted in ideology surrounding reverse racism. In response to the poor implementation of racial integration measures, Philadelphia student groups organi

As we close out 2025, we reflect on a year of powerful programs and exhibits that honored the beginnings of America’s 250th birthday and the intertwined stories of liberty, abolition, and service. From groundbreaking exhibits to inspiring student achievements, here’s what made this year unforgettable.    Commemorating 250 Years of Freedom’s Fight  On April 14, 1775 —just days before the first shots of the American Revolution—a group of Philadelphians gathered to help Dinah Ne

2025 was a record-breaking year for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. We added over 200 new books and nearly 100 archival collections—more than 1,200 linear feet of history . From the legacy of the University of the Arts to family papers, grassroots activism, and industrial records, these acquisitions show how art, labor, and civic life have shaped Pennsylvania and the nation. They underscore HSP’s role as a steward of stories that inspire research, creativity, and pub

Philadelphia, PA (December 18, 2025) — The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is proud to announce it has been awarded a Save America’s Treasures grant from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.  This prestigious grant will fund Preserving the Leon Gardner Collection of American Negro Historical Society Records (1715–1962) —a vital conservation project safeguarding one of the most significant archiva

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP ) is honored to announce the acquisition of the University of the Arts (UArts) institutional...

By Brianna Quade, Community Engagement Coordinator 2025 Summer Academy Cohort On August 15, HSP concluded our second-ever Public History...

By Raighnaid Meister Learning and Engagement intern, summer 2025  In 1683, William Penn wrote extensively about Philadelphia and the...

The roots of America’s public housing crisis are intertwined with the Great Migration (1916-1970s) and solidified through federal policy...

By Khania Caffie and Geralynn Razo Richardson Dilworth, the 91st Mayor of Philadelphia from 1955 to 1962, was instrumental in shaping the...

July 31 marks National Intern Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of interns across the country. This summer, the...

By Rhianna Searle, Haverford College '27 Programs and Communications Intern The disabled community is as diverse as it is vibrant....

Curlee Raven Holton, founder and master printmaker of Raven Fine Art Editions, is serving as HSP's 2025 Artist in Residence. His new...

V. Chapman Smith addresses the volunteer judges at NHD Philly in 2017.  The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is sad to report the...

Morgan Lloyd moderates a panel of visual and literary artists. In partnership with the 1838 Black Metropolis , the Historical Society of...

This past spring, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania welcomed interns across several departments, from Learning & Engagement to...

Among HSP’s nearly 22 million collections are items related to almost every U.S. president. Some are published history books, campaign pamphlets, newspapers, prints, and photographs. Others are written in the President’s hand – before, during, or after – his work as Chief Executive is done. Finally, the image of the President looms large in the fascination of many Americans, and his image and often reflection on his death finds its way into dozens of curiosities in HSP’s coll