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 every US President. Some are published history books, campaign pamphlets,...

Thank you for joining us in our bicentennial year! We celebrated this milestone with events and projects designed to bring the people of...

HSP’s collection offers countless opportunities to bring the past into conversation with the present. As we all just experienced a...

By Nicholas Ditro, Francesca Lombardo, Alex Thomas  On January 14, 1987, the Balch Institute hosted an exhibit showcasing the...

This past Saturday, October 5, many of our friends joined us at 13th and Locust for History on the Street , a block party to commemorate...

By Jing Xi Li and Mollie Naessens Nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, City Hall is a testament to the city's rich heritage and...