PA Humanities

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Confluence Creative Arts Center on such a wonderful Rain Poetry celebration on Saturday! It was a beautiful day filled with creativity, expression, joy, poetry, community and fun and we were thrilled to be a part of it!

08/25/2026

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people… I’m grateful for how patient, kind, and supportive every single person on the team was…”

Amelia Spielman, our summer intern from Haverford College, reflects on her experience and how stories, creativity, and community connections are shaping humanities work across Pennsylvania.

Haverford's John B. Hurford '60 Center for the Arts and Humanities

by Amelia Spielman (summer 2026 Haverford College intern) https://youtu.be/JOfO81kb2vc My summer at PA Humanities has come to a close, and the 10 weeks I spent here feel like they passed by impossibly fast. Just over two months ago, I felt uncertain, and everything felt unfamiliar, surrounded by new...

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

We’re proud to see PA Humanities and Voices of History Philadelphia featured in a new Folklife Magazine article about By the People: Conversations Beyond 250.

Developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, By the People brings together community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the country.

Through Voices of History Philadelphia, PA Humanities and our local partners are preserving and sharing the stories of Black Pennsylvanians. Last week we kicked off the initiative with an event featuring Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar.

For the first time, humanities councils have partnered with the Smithsonian on a single initiative engaging communities across the country.

08/14/2026

Meet PA Humanities Window Keeper Alexandria Kaelin (Northern Cambria, Cambria County).

Alexandria has served as the curator of the Cambria County Historical Society for nearly a decade, working to ensure that the stories, artifacts, and experiences that shaped Cambria County are preserved and shared in ways that remain meaningful and relevant to the public. Kaelin understands that history is more than dates and documents, and helps the community explore its collective memory as well as personal history by sharing her expertise on genealogy and local history.

Her nominator said: “What makes her especially deserving of this recognition is her ability to make history feel relevant, welcoming, and alive. She creates opportunities for curiosity, reflection, and connection while helping preserve the cultural memory of Cambria County for future generations."

She said: “It is nice to know that I get to do what I love and that the effort is recognized by a community I love. Preserving history in our small corner of the world is so incredibly important. History isn’t just kings, Egyptian Pyramids, and the Aztecs we learn about in grade school. It’s also coal miners, community churches, and the ground under our feet. Younger generations feel a disconnect from history because they think it is in some far away land and has nothing to do with them – but it isn’t. If we continue to make history fun, accessible, and relatable for future generations I see a future filled with passionate historians.”

Who's YOUR community's Window Keeper? Nominations close SUNDAY!!!

Visit https://pahumanities.org/thewindowkeeper/

08/14/2026

The final weekend to nominate a Window Keeper is here!

Who is a courageous person in your community who brings people together, keeps local stories and traditions alive, creates opportunities to learn and share, or helps others feel welcome and involved?

They could be a neighbor, volunteer, educator, organizer, librarian, faith leader, local historian or community member whose everyday actions make a lasting difference. We're especially looking for nominations from rural counties!

Everyone knows someone. Help us recognize the Pennsylvanians who strengthen our communities and sustain civic life.

Nominations close Sunday, August 16: https://pahumanities.org/thewindowkeeper/

The Window Keeper: Civic Honors initiative is supported in part by Pennsylvania state legislators, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual donor Randall Miller. “The Window Keeper” by Yolanda Wisher was commissioned by PA Humanities and ArtPhilly for America250PA’s National Convening of State Partners Closing Dinner on September 21, 2024.

08/13/2026

What a special evening in Philadelphia! ❤️

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Mother Bethel AME Church for Everybody Has a Story: A Conversation with Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar.

We’re grateful to Dr. Dunbar for sharing her scholarship and stories, to Jeannine A. Cook of Harriett's Bookshop for a thoughtful and engaging conversation, and to Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness, the Mother Bethel community and volunteers, our partners, supporters, and the PA Humanities staff for making the evening possible.

This was only the beginning for Voices of History Philadelphia. We're excited to share more as the project develops - stay tuned!

Presented by PA Humanities in partnership with America250PA, Everybody Has a Story: A Conversation with Erica Armstrong Dunbar was made possible by the generous support of many individuals, along with funding from the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Mellon Foundation; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; and Randall M. Miller; with special thanks to Pennsylvania State Senators and additional marketing support from the Ona Judge Coalition.

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

📢 Tomorrow in Philadelphia!

Join PA Humanities and America250PA for Everybody Has a Story: A Conversation with Erica Armstrong Dunbar, author of Never Caught, moderated by Jeannine A. Cook, owner of Harriett's Bookshop.

Dunbar will explore slavery and freedom in Philadelphia’s early history, the importance of recovering stories left out of the historical record, and connections to Voices of History, PA Humanities’ initiative sharing and preserving the stories of Black Pennsylvanians. She will also discuss her work as a co-executive producer and historical consultant for HBO’s The Gilded Age, including her research on Black life and society in the Northeast.

The program will also include an audience Q&A and book signing.

📅 Wednesday, August 12
🕡 Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
📍 Mother Bethel AME Church, 419 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow for an evening of history, storytelling, and community. ❤️

There’s still time to join us! Reserve your spot now:

https://voicesofphiladelphia.funraise.org/

This event is made possible by the generous support of many individuals, along with funding from the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Mellon Foundation; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; and Randall M. Miller; with special thanks to Pennsylvania State Senators and additional marketing support from the Ona Judge Coalition.