Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionWatch the recording of Pennsbury Manor Site Manager Douglas Miller as he discusses the reconstructed home of Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn (born on October 14, 1644).
"PA History: Read It, See It" is a series of virtual programs presented by the State Library of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Each program features a fun and factual investigation into one of the Trails of History sites. These programs will provide suggestions for books and other resources related to each topic that you may find at your local public library, examples of site-specific rare and historic books from the vaults of the State Library's unique Rare Collections Library, and a special insider virtual tour of Pennsylvania's Historic Sites and Museums. Let this inspire you as you plan seasonal road trips across our state! Supplemental materials to the program.
A recording of this session can be accessed on YouTube.
Discover the Drake Well Museum and Park and learn about the place where the modern petroleum industry was born! State library staff joined Sarah Goodman, Museum Educator at the Drake Well Museum, for a talk about the history, mission and vision of the historic site, and shared how Pennsylvanians’ use of petroleum shaped our landscape and history.
Join State Library staff and Pennsylvania author Catherine Jordan in an interactive virtual discussion of creative writing. Catherine Jordan will discuss fiction, non-fiction, clarity in writing, and the art of writing. This one-hour program is designed for anyone aspiring to be a better writer.
Catherine Jordan has published two horror novels, an array of dark fiction in 10 anthology collections, and has been featured within various on-line publications. She writes beer, wine, and cocktail articles for The Burg Magazine, an online and print magazine with over forty thousand readers. Catherine is the Review Coordinator for horrortree.com, voted one of the top 100 websites for writers. She has been a judge for the Bram Stoker Award and the ITW Young Adult Award. Catherine also edits and facilitates writing courses and critique groups. Ms. Jordan lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and five children.
Learn about PA German Heritage and see what life was like in their early Pennsylvania village during this month's "PA History: Read It, See It" event where we'll discover the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, a part of the Rural Farms & Village History Trail.
"PA History: Read It, See It" is a series of virtual programs presented by the State Library of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Each program features a fun and factual investigation into one of the Trails of History sites. These programs will provide suggestions for books and other resources related to each topic that you may find at your local public library, examples of site-specific rare and historic books from the vaults of the State Library's unique Rare Collections Library, and a special insider virtual tour of Pennsylvania's Historic Sites and Museums. Let this inspire you as you plan seasonal road trips across our state! Supplemental materials to the program.
A recording of this session can be accessed on YouTube.
Historian Jeff Hawks from the Army Heritage Center Foundation reflects on the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War, the seventeen years of reform and rebuilding after Vietnam that made the stunning victory in the desert possible, and the untold story of how the 101st Airborne avoided a disaster that could have changed the course of the war.
A recording of this session can be accessed on YouTube.
John and Sukey Jamison share their story and discuss their 2020 IPPY Award Winning book, Coyotes in the Pasture and Wolves at the Door: Stories and Recipes from Our Farm to Your Table. In 1985, Sukey and John Jamison started a farm business with two mortgages, three kids, and no job. They started raising lambs on grass, developed a mail order business, got discovered by many of the chefs who were fueling the Food Revolution, bought a USDA meat plant, and somehow educated their three kids whom they hoped would support them in their golden years. Sukey and John related how they dodged the bullets of under-capitalization, learned how to farm sustainably, and made Jamison Farm Lamb a staple on the menus of the best restaurants in the country.
A recording of this session can be accessed on YouTube.
It's no secret - Pennsylvania loves beer; the state ranks first in the nation for the number of barrels produced, and the state's brewers, breweries, and beers all have interesting stories to tell.
Join author Alison Feeney as she discusses stories featured in her book "For the Love of Beer" and all things barley and hops.
"For the Love of Beer" examines Pennsylvania's brewing history, geography, and cultural richness while highlighting over 100 of the states thriving craft breweries. From long-lasting breweries that survived Prohibition, to the most recent openings with upscale food and cutting-edge technology, this book describes how craft breweries in Pennsylvania have something to offer everyone.
A recording of this session can be accessed on YouTube.
Interested in learning more about your immigrant ancestors? Join Pennsylvania State Library librarians Kathy Hale and Amy Woytovich for a virtual Lunch and Learn session that featured tips and strategies for uncovering information in genealogical records to help discover the story of your ancestors' arrival to the United States. Immigration information available on Ancestry.com, Family Search, the National Archives, and the Pennsylvania State Archives was discussed.
A recording of this session can be accessed on YouTube.
Access the slides shared during this webinar.
This is a recording of the virtual book discussion with Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, who discussed her book and answered questions from the virtual audience on April 7, 2021.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper was the "One Book, One Community" selection for York, Dauphin, Perry, and Cumberland Counties for Spring 2021. Phaedra Patrick is the international bestselling author of several books, including The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, which has been translated into over twenty languages worldwide. Film rights for The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper have been optioned in the United States by a major Hollywood production studio. A USA Today bestseller, the novel was awarded the Prix des Lectrices 2017 in France, and was a top ten Audible audiobook in the US. It also reached top three on the Apple iBooks chart.
Virtually explore the vaults of the State Library of Pennsylvania!
This is the first in a series of virtual programs about Rare Books. Watch Michael Lear, the State Library’s Rare Collections Librarian, as he delves into topics on book preservation and history. Each session will highlight an aspect of items protected within the vaults of the State Library of Pennsylvania.
Session One: “Publishers' Bindings”
This session features a discussion on the end of the hand-binding era and the emergence of publisher designed and produced edition bindings in the early-19th century. Mr. Lear will discuss the evolution of styles and methods used to produce 19th-century publishers' bindings between 1830-1930.
Curious about your ancestors? This recorded presentation features Amy and Kathy, expert librarians at the State Library of Pennsylvania who have over 15 years of genealogy experience. This presentation is for adults who would like to learn the basic steps of researching your family history and connecting with your ancestors. This presentation will help you discover tips and tricks to find your elusive family members, engage with the experts with your own genealogy questions, and learn how to organize your family history and conduct family interviews. By the end of the presentation, you will learn how to start a family tree and formulate your own research strategy using various digital resources.
A recording of the session can be accessed on YouTube.
Enjoy this presentation from Michael Lear, the State Library's Rare Collections Librarian, as he delves into topics on book preservation and history. This presentation gives an overview of the 18th-century book in America from British imports to American-printed works and the role of the printer, bookbinder, and bookseller. Technology and production methods are discussed including paper making, printing, and binding. Examples from the State Library's collection are shown.
This session featured William Burton and Barry Loveland speaking about and sharing passages from their book
Out in Central Pennsylvania: The History of an LGBTQ Community.
A recording of the session can be accessed
on YouTube.
This session featured guest presenter Curtis Vreeland, who spoke about the morale-boosting and peacemaking power of sweets in times of conflict.
A recording of the session can be accessed
on YouTube.
This session featured guest presenter Michael Neiburg, chair of War Studies at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA.
A recording of the session can be accessed
on YouTube.
This session features the authors and creators of the One Hundred Voices Monument describing their work to commemorate the Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments by establishing a new monument in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
A recording of the session can be accessed on YouTube.