Libraries | Penn Today

Librarian examines several playbills spread out on wood conference table in a historic library room lined with bookshelves filled with books.

Historic Philly playbills get modern-day crowdsourcing

An innovative online crowdsourcing project led by Laura Aydelotte of the Penn Libraries allows the public to transcribe digitized 19th-century Philadelphia theater playbills. An upcoming conference will explore digital approaches to researching theater history.

Blue pigment in 1,000-year-old teeth links women to the production of medieval manuscripts

The Libraries’ Nicholas Herman offered commentary on a study that used bio-archaeology to identify ultramarine in the dental tartar of an 11th-century woman in rural Germany. “Only by looking very closely at new kinds of evidence can we begin to discover the true importance of female artisans,” said Herman.

Trove of copyrighted items set to enter public domain

John Mark Ockerbloom and Brigitte Burris of the Libraries discussed works new to the public domain, ranging from the underappreciated works of Philadelphia composer Frances McCollin to a Prohibition-era book by Victor G. Vecki, which advocated for an end to the ban on alcohol.

closeup of student with paint brush painting red paint on small image on paper at a table

Pigment and parchment

Undergraduate and graduate students were paired with visiting scholars during a Penn Libraries workshop to paint illustrations like those in centuries-old illuminated manuscripts.

Penn-Libraries-April-James-shows-Philadelphia-elementary-school-students-sheet-music-for-Marian-Anderson-song.

Marian Anderson’s legacy lives on

Philadelphia elementary school students visit the Penn Libraries to learn about the world-renowned singer (and the cat she dedicated an entire album to) through her collection.

Penn-Libraries-Regan-Klastrup-with-Annie-Oakley-trunk-and-gloves-in-exhibition-on-women-in-the-American-wilderness

She did it herself

The Penn Libraries exhibition “OK, I’ll Do It Myself” with selections from the collection of alumna Caroline Schimmel features 145 books, photographs, manuscripts, artwork, and memorabilia on women in the American wilderness, even Annie Oakley’s trunk.

Annenberg brings premiere performances to Philadelphia in new season

The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2018-19 season with contemporary new work and artists, focusing on themes of the human experience, migration and history.

Penn brings Philadelphia’s rare manuscripts to the world

Leveraging the University’s expertise with technology and rare centuries-old manuscripts, Penn Libraries is digitizing and cataloging medieval and early modern texts from 15 Philadelphia-area institutions. The three-year project is known as BiblioPhilly.

Stains Alive

For Libraries fellow Erin Connelly, stains are some of the most exciting discoveries in her study of medieval manuscripts. She is part of a national team analyzing stains in medieval texts using modern multispectral imaging. An exhibition at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library displays the researchers’ discoveries.

Public libraries can influence public health

The Healthy Library Initiative, a partnership between Penn and the Free Library of Philadelphia, works to expand the role of public librarian to serve the public health needs of patrons and the community.

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