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History

Who was the man with the uneven gait? Mystery medical photos come to life with discovery of long-lost Penn archives

Who was the man with the uneven gait? Mystery medical photos come to life with discovery of long-lost Penn archives

Penn Archivists J.J. Ahern and J.M. Duffin collaborated with Geoffrey Aguirre of the Perelman School of Medicine and Geoffrey Noble, a former PSOM resident, to learn more about a group of neurological patients photographed in the Victorian era.

Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity
An image of a Black woman with a flower crown. Text reads "no pride without Black trans lives"

The work of BIPOC activists is integral to the history of women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights, says Melissa Sanchez

Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity

In the first in a series of diversity lectures offered through the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity Programs, Melissa E. Sanchez of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke on “Addressing a More Complex and Encompassing Understanding of Identity.”

Kristina Linnea García

Before Salem, Pennsylvania’s first and only witch trial was in Delco

Before Salem, Pennsylvania’s first and only witch trial was in Delco

Kristine Rabberman of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about the history of witchcraft trials in Pennsylvania. Studying these events “gives us a way of both understanding the range of human responses and also maybe give some ideas about how we can handle those instances of division and fear within our own societies,” she said.

Past confronts present at ‘History Speaking’ lecture series
Books about U.S. history are stacked on top of one another

In this age of social change and global challenge, history can offer fresh perspectives and important distinctions on current events.

Past confronts present at ‘History Speaking’ lecture series

Penn historians will present a series of lively discussions of historical issues that seek to better orient attendees in the current moment.

Kristen de Groot

Colin Powell’s legacy
Colin Powell, wearing full military garb and standing at a brown wooden podium with a microphone, gestures to his right, sweeping his arm that direction

Colin Powell, seen here making a speech during his time as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died this week at the age of 84. (Image: Robert D. Ward)

Colin Powell’s legacy

Historian Mary Frances Berry and Perry World House Visiting Fellow Alice Hunt Friend share thoughts on Powell’s impact on and off the battlefield.

Kristen de Groot

A generation shaped by a pandemic
notecards from generation pandemic

Homepage image: Strickberger and Jinich asked each person they interviewed to write in their notebook the answer to the question: “After the pandemic I want to…”

A generation shaped by a pandemic

Two Penn seniors travel the country to interview young adults about their experiences during the past year to create an oral history archive with stories, images, and video.

Louisa Shepard , Louisa Shepard

A watershed created to power New York City
The village of Gilboa in 1919.

The village of Gilboa in 1919. (Image: NYC Municipal Archives Digital Collections)

A watershed created to power New York City

Anna Lehr Mueser, a doctoral candidate in history and sociology of science, studies memory, loss, and technology in the New York City Watershed and the villages that were destroyed to construct it.

From Omnia

Honoring William Still on his 200th birthday
Portrait of William Still.

Honoring William Still on his 200th birthday

A conference, a website, and more are planned on campus and around the city to celebrate the abolitionist who helped nearly 1,000 enslaved people to freedom.

Kristen de Groot