We wish we could levitate like Lu Lu, especially when we are trying to reach a book on the top shelf. For now, the traditional step stool will have to do. 

Behold! It is the amazing, space saving Murphy bed of old!  

This detail of a 19th century trade card advertising Philadelphia Furniture, shows how the piece transforms from what looks like a wardrobe to a bed.

It is the final week to see Stylish Books: Designing Philadelphia Furniture, but don’t fret, you can explore the exhibition online at https://librarycompany.org/stylish/

It’s #NationalUnicornDay and we are here to celebrate the majestic and mystical beast of lore, and in this case, identified in Edward Topsell’s, The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpants... (1658).  

Reading and Writing Stand (Philadelphia, ca. 1770s). Gift of Albanus C. Logan, 1870. Owned by John Dickinson.

This delightful four-sided, mahogany reading and writing desk, provides multiple surfaces for books and papers. To function as a standing desk, it can be raised or lowered by turning along the pole. A locked compartment allows for storing correspondence or other valuables. Slots on each side pull out that can hold an inkwell. Founding father, John Dickinson (1732-1808), known as the “Penman of the Revolution” for his numerous publications supporting the American cause, owned this desk, and his great-grandson gave it to the Library Company. Notice the Chippendale-style carved cabriole legs that end in ball-and-claw feet and the carved finial at the top.

We are excited to be leading an #ArchivesPHL social media challenge! Bring your collections to life by publishing GIFs every Wednesday of October using the hashtag #animatedarchive.

This circa 1880 trade card features some playful bubbles that needed a little help to find their bounce.

This week we highlight the joy of finding the unexpected and the joy of naming our collections in the most literal way. 

Ephemera reveals something about regular people in their historical context, what they wanted to remember, and how they interacted with the visual culture of their daily lives. When we process material and find a photograph or note tucked in between pages of a book, that item could be secret token in a hiding place, or it could be as utilitarian as a bookmark. Either way these are clues of history that many can relate to now. Have you ever hidden something in a book?

We are continuing our Animated Archive challenge for Archives Month. This week we have a balancing act. It’s goat to know how strong Brook’s thread can be.