Libraries and Art in Philly

Sylvia Rortvedt (ESS Associate Director) and Matt Todd (Collection Development Librarian) accompanied AL Fine Art faculty member Rebecca Kamen to view her exhibit Manuscript as Muse at the American Philosphical Society. Kamen's show was inspired by manuscript holdings of the APS, including Ben Franklin's Magic Circle of Circles, river diagrams by Luna Leopold as well as other examples of historical natural history.


[above, l-r: Rebecca Kamen, Sylvia Rortvedt, Matt Todd, Ron Brashear (Director of the Chemical Heritage Foundation), Madeline Copp (Librarian at the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College]

The librarians were also interested to visit the APS vault and view some of the treasures of the collection, including Merriweather Lewis & William Clark's journals of their expedition to the Pacific, Benjamin Franklin's manuscript letters, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence in Jefferson's handwriting. The newly renovated and remodelled reading room was also a highlight.

The group also visited the nearby Chemical Heritage Foundation to view their new exhibit space and visit their very fine library [above].