Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia History Museum (also known as the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent) was founded in 1938 as Philadelphia's city history museum.
, and A. Atwater Kent
, radio pioneer and inventor. In 1938 Wilson and Wistar approached Kent to purchase the recently vacated Franklin Institute
building and create a history museum for the City of Philadelphia. They were joined in their efforts by the president of the University of Pennsylvania
, the director of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
, and the president of the Franklin Institute. Kent agreed and purchased the building as a gift for the city with three conditions: It was to be dedicated to the history of Philadelphia; named for Kent; and be open to the public free of charge (in 1994, a City Ordinance allowed the museum to charge an admission fee.)
After three years of renovations carried out by the Works Progress Administration
, the Atwater Kent Museum was formally dedicated on April 19, 1941.
art and artifact collection, 1700 Quaker-related items from Friends Historical Association Collection, and collections reflecting Philadelphia manufacturing, the 1876 Centennial Exposition, toys and miniatures, and radio broadcasting. The Museum operates as a city agency as part of Philadelphia's Department of Recreation.
As of August 2011, the museum galleries are closed to the public for ongoing renovations. Originally scheduled to be completed in March, 2011, the museum's reopening is scheduled for Spring 2012. At present, the museum is known as the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent.
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on August 1, 1979.
Founding
The museum was established through the efforts of Philadelphia Mayor S. Davis Wilson, Frances Wistar, president of the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of LandmarksPhiladelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks
The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks founded in 1931, maintains and preserves four historic house museums in the region around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA...
, and A. Atwater Kent
A. Atwater Kent
Arthur Atwater Kent, Sr. was an inventor and prominent radio manufacturer based in Philadelphia, usa. In 1921, he patented the modern form of the automobile ignition coil.-Biography:...
, radio pioneer and inventor. In 1938 Wilson and Wistar approached Kent to purchase the recently vacated Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
building and create a history museum for the City of Philadelphia. They were joined in their efforts by the president of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, the director of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
, and the president of the Franklin Institute. Kent agreed and purchased the building as a gift for the city with three conditions: It was to be dedicated to the history of Philadelphia; named for Kent; and be open to the public free of charge (in 1994, a City Ordinance allowed the museum to charge an admission fee.)
After three years of renovations carried out by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, the Atwater Kent Museum was formally dedicated on April 19, 1941.
Collection
Today, the Museum houses more than 80,000 objects related to Philadelphia and regional history, including an estimated 10,000 17th- to 20th-Century artifacts from the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of Pennsylvania
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
art and artifact collection, 1700 Quaker-related items from Friends Historical Association Collection, and collections reflecting Philadelphia manufacturing, the 1876 Centennial Exposition, toys and miniatures, and radio broadcasting. The Museum operates as a city agency as part of Philadelphia's Department of Recreation.
As of August 2011, the museum galleries are closed to the public for ongoing renovations. Originally scheduled to be completed in March, 2011, the museum's reopening is scheduled for Spring 2012. At present, the museum is known as the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent.
Historic building
The museum occupies architect John Haviland's landmark Greek Revival structure at 15 South 7th St., built in 1824-26 for the Franklin InstituteFranklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 1, 1979.
Notable facts
- The museum houses a collection of 321 The Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
covers illustrated by Norman RockwellNorman RockwellNorman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
and published in Philadelphia by the Curtis Publishing company. - The museum's main gallery features the world's largest map of Philadelphia.
External links
- Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia official website
- Virtual Tour of Philadelphia's stop at the Atwater Kent
- Philadelphia department of recreation
- Building listing, photograph, and drawings at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Building listing, history, and images at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings