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A vast collection related to public markets comes to the Penn Libraries
yellowed historic document with a grid of squares and a hand holding a photo

A map of the stalls at the historic Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. 

nocred

A vast collection related to public markets comes to the Penn Libraries

Tens of thousands of items related to public markets acquired by Penn alum David K. O’Neil create a collection unique in size and scope. Spanning four centuries from locations near and far, his collection now has a home at the Penn Libraries.

Louisa Shepard

A historian’s look at abolition and citizenship
Sarah Gronningsater and the cover of her book, “The Rising Generation.”

(Image: Courtesy CalTech/Omnia)

A historian’s look at abolition and citizenship

In the late 1700s, New York and four other northern states passed laws that freed children born to enslaved women. Sarah Gronningsater, an assistant professor of history in Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences, wanted to know more about how this extraordinary situation affected those children.

Susan Ahlborn

How food moves around cities
Penn students walking through Norris Square Neighborhood Project’s community garden.

(On homepage) Students walk through the Norris Square Neighborhood Project’s community garden.

(Image: Eric Sucar)

How food moves around cities

Domenic Vitiello, an urban and regional planning expert, teaches classes that invite students to locations in and around Philadelphia to better understand how its denizens dine.

5 min. read

Telling the story of a Hispanic war hero
President Reagan presenting Roy Benavidez with the Medal of Honor in 1981.

President Reagan presenting retired Army Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez with the Medal of Honor in 1981.

(Image: The U.S. National Archives)

Telling the story of a Hispanic war hero

In his new book “The Ballad of Roy Benavidez,” Penn historian William Sturkey explores the life of this Hispanic war hero, his fight to maintain veteran disability benefits, and the ways in which Hispanic Americans have long shaped U.S. history with scant acknowledgement.

From Omnia

What’s That? The Rittenhouse Orrery
John Pollack standing in front of Rittenhouse Orrery

Penn Libraries curator John Pollack with the Rittenhouse Orrery.

nocred

What’s That? The Rittenhouse Orrery

The Rittenhouse Orrery is a nearly intact 18th-century mechanical model of the solar system, demonstrating the motions of the planets and their satellites around the sun, built by astronomer David Rittenhouse.

Louisa Shepard

Internship offers pathway to careers in the museum field
Ethan Nemeth at a table talking with another person.

Rising third-year Ethan Nemeth (left) was an intern at the Penn Museum through the Summer Humanities Internship Program. He worked at several public events, including the Garden Jams concerts in July. 

(Image: by Emmanuel Beatty for the Penn Museum)

Internship offers pathway to careers in the museum field

Rising third-year Ethan Nemeth (left), one of 17 paid interns at the Penn Museum this summer, works on the team that manages public programs. The ancient history major says the experience has helped him understand career options in the museum field.

Louisa Shepard

Q&A with David Eisenhower on Biden’s decision to bow out
President Joe Biden walks down the Air Force One staircase at sunset.

President Joe Biden exits Air Force One at sunset, May 1, 2022, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on July 21, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.

(Image: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Q&A with David Eisenhower on Biden’s decision to bow out

Eisenhower, professor at the Annenberg School and grandson of the former president, offers his take on Biden’s announcement, Vice President Harris’ next step, and the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

Kristen de Groot