The Logan Room Renovation

Panoramic View Available Here

The Logan room has been dramatically transformed into an exhibition gallery displaying works from our permanent collection of Art and Artifacts. Board President Beatrice Garvan and Trustee Carol Soltis selected the objects to be included, many of which were previously in storage. The room has been repainted and raised platforms now elevate historic furniture and artifacts, such as Benjamin Franklin’s electrostatic machine, above the floor. While we will continue to use the Logan Room as a gathering place for classes, meetings, and receptions, we have greatly expanded our exhibition space, and visitors have the opportunity to view even more of our extraordinary collection.

This summer, the Library Company says “Goodbye” to a talented group of interns and volunteers.

Madeline Carlson

Madeline Carlson:
Madeline Kreider Carlson, a history major from Haverford College, added to our database of published portraits of American women. Madeline also assisted in the Reading Room and designed an online exhibition featuring women who stepped outside the bounds of 19th-century propriety.

Breana Copeland:
Breana is a Photography and Digital Arts major at Moore College of Art. During her time as a Print and Photograph Department intern, Breana inventoried over 500 regional, national, and international maps in preparation for a future map cataloging project. Her database, including the names of cartographers, artists, publishers, titles, dates, and a brief description, will allow for better access to and preservation of the collection.

Samantha Kulp:
Samantha Kulp, niece of former LCP conservation technician Julie Snell, is a rising senior, majoring in Art History at Penn State University. Samantha provided research assistance for the Philadelphia on Stone project. She utilized Ancestry.com to compile demographic data about the 500 Philadelphia lithographers to be included in the biographical dictionary as well as surveyed the Sunday Dispatch for the obituaries of select lithographers. Her research will also inform the content of the book and exhibit.

Sonali Mishra:
Sonali Mishra spent 5 months volunteering in the Cataloging department. After cataloging some sheet music, she moved on to conducting an inventory of our music collections. We will rely on the data she collected in the future when making decisions about the management of the music collection and when considering future cataloging grants. She will start her Management Information Systems degree at the University of Michigan this fall.

The Library Company Celebrates its Newest Exhibition: Philadelphia Gothic

On October 29 our gallery, Reading Room, and Logan room were overflowing with guests who came to catch the first viewing of “Philadelphia Gothic: Murders, Mysteries, Monsters, and Mayhem Inspire American Fiction, 1798-1854,” and to hear a talk by Christopher Looby, English Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. More than 130 members and friends enjoyed cocktails, refreshments, and special coffin-shaped cookies, topped by gothic-inspired icing.

Though Halloween has come and gone it is not too late to get acquainted with the three Philadelphia novelists who greatly influenced Edgar Allan Poe – Charles Brockden Brown, Robert Montgomery Bird, and George Lippard. The exhibition is on view through April 14, 2009 and is open to the public free of charge. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am – 4:45pm.