Venture into our collection with Two Hundred Years: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1824-2024 (Ed. David R. Brigham), the first book to survey the more than twenty-one million documents, newspapers, graphics, and rare books in HSP's archive.
Celebrating Two Hundred Years
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1824-2024
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania! Since HSP’s founding in 1824, we have collected and preserved an astonishing array of documents that bring the people of the past into conversation with us today. We enter our third century eager to invite you to find yourself in history. To connect with the past and make meaningful discoveries about who you are and who we are together. Join us in this endeavor to explore our shared American history.
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As part of our anniversary celebration, HSP is teaming up with partners to develop collaborative programming and joint exhibits based on the strategic themes of our collection.
The exhibits can be viewed free of charge anytime during library open hours. In addition to its schedule of special programming, HSP’s library is open for research Tuesday through Friday. Make an appointment to explore the countless stories that are told by its collections.
Support for HSP’s 200th anniversary programming is generously provided by:
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The Richard C. von Hess Foundation
​Margaret Chew Barringer
J. Lawrence Grim, Jr.
Exhibits and Signature Lectures
Upcoming Exhibit
Voices, Visions, & Ventures: Recent Acquisitions
December 10 - January 31, 2025​​
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Join us for an exhibit highlighting some of the newest resources acquired by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP). From 18th century watercolors to 1970s yearbooks, this selection showcases the dynamic directions in which HSP's ever-expanding collection is evolving. Books, manuscripts, photographs, posters, art, and ephemera speak to the diverse ways the stories of the American experience can be preserved. As we continue to build our collection, our goal is to inspire storytelling, expand knowledge, and enrich our community.
Past Exhibits
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Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection: Tracing Families in Social Services Records
Strategic Theme: What's Your Story? Chronicling Families and Communities
October 17 - November 27, 2024
Curated by professional genealogists Katy Bodenhorn Barnes and Valerie-Anne Lutz, this exhibit tells the stories of the everyday people who received assistance from local charities and social services in the 1800s. From foster care to the housing of elderly widows, nineteenth-century Pennsylvania was home to dozens of organizations focused on issues of poverty, crime, and moral uplift. The records they left, found in the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, can answer important social questions and fill in blanks in descendants’ family trees.
Lost and Found:
How DNA Helps Rebuild Ancestral Histories
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This conversational lecture by genealogist Blaine Bettinger highlights how genetic tools fill the gaps left by missing paper trails, using relatable success stories to show how DNA brings hidden histories to life. Attendees will gain insight into how DNA connects fragmented families and illuminates ancestral roots, offering a fresh perspective on the possibilities of genetic genealogy without diving into technical processes.
Founded in 1892, the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP) is one of the earliest genealogical societies in the United States, among the first to recognize the value of collecting and preserving the vital and personal records of people whose lives comprise much of our American history. GSP provides leadership and support in promoting genealogy through education, preservation, and access to Pennsylvania-related genealogical information.
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HSP 200 + Taller 50: Uncovering and Preserving Puerto Rican Stories
Strategic Theme — America’s Promise and Its Many Voices
August 29 - October 11, 2024
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Pulling from the archives of both the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and Taller Puertorriqueño, this exhibit investigates themes of migration and community, culture and identity, and preservation of memory. This exhibit revisits Batiendo La Olla, an oral history project produced by Taller Puertorriqueño in the 1970s. The project produced interviews that document Puerto Rican migration to Philadelphia, compare generational value and life experiences, and provide an opportunity for reflection and intergenerational dialogue.
Taller Puertorriqueño, a community based cultural organization whose primary purpose is to preserve, develop, and promote Puerto Rican arts and culture, grounded in the conviction that embracing one’s cultural heritage is empowering. Taller is also committed to the representation and support of other Latino cultural expressions and our common roots.
From Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania:
History, Challenges, and Amor Boricua
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Join journalist Juan González as he explores the history of Puerto Rican migration from the island to Pennsylvania. This talk delves into the economic, social, and political factors driving these migrations, highlighting personal stories and community impact, and examining Puerto Rico's complex role within the United States and its effects on migration.
Exhibit — Public Art in Philadelphia: A Legacy Shaped by Women
Strategic Theme — The Soul of America: Visual, Performing, and Literary Arts
January 30 - March 15, 2024
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This display highlighted the historic accomplishments and recent contributions of women who have worked in the public art field as artists, benefactors, and leaders. Exploring the Association for Public Art’s archival collection at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, as well as contemporary materials housed at aPA, the exhibit provided insight into the long-lasting impact of women’s contributions to the ongoing public art landscape both, locally and nationally.
The Association for Public Art (aPA) plays a vital role in commissioning and preserving public art in Philadelphia, while promoting the part that art plays in the creation and enhancement of public spaces. Founded in 1872, 50 years younger than the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, aPA has helped to significantly shape Philadelphia’s urban environment through design and planning efforts. The organization continues to care for and maintain a large portion of the city’s historic sculptures, while producing new ambitious and engaging public art projects for everyone.
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In partnership with the Association for Public Art, HSP hosted artist Xenobia Bailey as its 200th Anniversary signature talk for the theme Soul of America: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts. Ms. Bailey is a fiber-artist, crocheter, designer, researcher, and cultural activist.
Exhibit — “All View It As an Object of High Importance”: Banking in the Early Republic
Strategic Theme — Americans and Innovation: Science, Technology, and Enterprise
April 16 - May 31, 2024
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“All View It As an Object of High Importance”: Banking in the Early Republic highlighted the development of the banking industry in America, from the American Revolution to the 1840s. The battles over how to fund the War for Independence and early government initiative played out through the chartering of national banks . This exhibit featured documents from the collections from the Bank of North America, and the papers of leaders involved in the First and Second Banks of the United States.
Established in 1972, the Independence Historical Trust (formerly known as the Friends of Independence National Historical Park) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to help Independence National Historical Park (INHP) prepare for the bicentennial celebration of the United States in 1976. In its 51-year history, the Trust has helped fund major capital improvement projects, as well as the acquisition and conservation of important documents and artifacts.
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In partnership with the Independence Historical Trust, HSP hosted author Richard Vague as its 200th Anniversary signature talk for the theme Americans and Innovation: Science, Technology, and Enterprise. Mr. Vague, a businessperson, venture capitalist, and author, shared his research into the financial industry of early America.
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Cartoons as Political Speech in Colonial and Contemporary America
Strategic Theme — Pennsylvania: Crucible of a Nation
June 11 - August 2, 2024
Organized by Dr. David R. Brigham, HSP’s Librarian and CEO, this exhibit highlights HSP’s strategic collecting theme, Pennsylvania: Crucible of the Nation, which traces the important role that the Commonwealth has played throughout American history in shaping our nation’s development.
This exhibit touches on Philadelphia’s role in late colonial and Revolutionary politics, burgeoning publishing and print culture, and transatlantic commerce and communication.
Brigham says, “HSP’s collection of political cartoons is a visually rich and interesting record of the struggle to form the new nation, the emergence of partisan politics, and the dynamic role of Philadelphia at the end of the 18th century. We are delighted that Signe Wilkinson has lent her original artwork to add a contemporary lens on the tradition of cartooning.”
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HSP hosted Pulitzer Prize - winning editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson, who delivered a talk entitled “Can She Say That? Signe Wilkinson Cartoons A Man’s World”. Ms. Wilkinson's career spans over 40 years. Her cartoons have appeared in the San Jose Mercury News, Philadelphia Daily News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, most recently as a recurring feature in the Opinion section. She is the illustrator for Jonathan Zimmerman's Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn (2021).