It wasn’t just men that were shaping scientific practices in the 19th century; women had a big impact, too! Discover how these savvy ladies’ handmade herbaria and school books influenced scientific thinking over a hundred years ago. Learn new ways to replicate their experiments and see some unique items from the Historical Society’s collections. Documents will include ready-made lesson plans, primary source materials, and texts, some created by women, with the opportunity to learn how they were used and why they are still important today.

Journalist Peter Binzen and his son, Jonathan, will discuss their new book, Richardson Dilworth: The Last of the Bare Knuckled Aristocrats.  Binzen knew Dilworth well, covering him for many years as a reporter. A politician and liberal reformer, Richardson Dilworth served as mayor of Philadelphia from 1956-1962.  Among his many achievements, his vision for the city shaped much of what we recognize about Philadelphia today: Independence Mall, Society Hill, SEPTA, and the public park system. Also joining the discussion will be Deborah Dilworth Bishop, Richardson Dilworth's daughter.

When we look back, we cannot know ALL that happened. The historical record is rarely, if ever, complete. When we present history, we fill in the gaps, create the voices that spoke, the characters that lived. Are we creating fiction?  Have we made history un-true?  Or have we created a more layered truth greater than mere fact?