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The 1838 Black Metropolis is rich with discoveries...buildings that reveal themselves as historic sites, people who have done incredible things, and places where it all happened.
As we learn it, we post it.
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Where the Past Still Breathes; Spring Break Book Recommendations for Young People
We're spotlighting books about young people in 1800s Philadelphia that open a window into daily Black life.
1838 Black Metropolis
Apr 133 min read
24 views
The 1770 Love Story of Rose and Pollidore
Note: All manuscript pictures below are courtesy Pennsylvania Abolition Society Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania Some stories...
Michiko Quinones
Mar 246 min read
32 views
From Pemberton Street to the Academy of Music: How Franklin Guinn Turned a Childhood of Song into an Historic Concert
Note: Except where noted, this history sources from The Rise and Progress of Shiloh Baptist Church, written by Franklin A. Guinn in...
Michiko Quinones
Mar 238 min read
56 views
How Mary Ann Shadd Cary Took Philadelphia by Storm in 1855
1838 Black Metropolis is happy to welcome guest writer Michael Clemmons, Secretary of the Black Docents Collective and member of Mother...
Michael Clemmons
Feb 287 min read
56 views
The Hidden Blackprint: Julian Abele's Roots in Emancipation and Community Building
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Designed by Julian Abele. Image Courtesy Conde Nast Traveler Julian Abele (1881–1950) stands as one of the...
1838 Black Metropolis
Jan 17 min read
211 views
In 1840 Philly, Westward Keeling Used Classified Newspaper Ads to Protest Racism
The Rise and Progress of Shiloh Baptist church is the gift that keeps on giving. This is a church history that is told as an...
Michiko Quinones
Oct 8, 20246 min read
88 views
The Two Rebeccas: Building a Black, Feminist, Shaker, and Queer Sisterhood in Philly in 1858
Imagine that it's 1871 and you've just come from class at the Institute for Colored Youth. As you walk east you see Francis Ellen...
1838 Black Metropolis
Jun 3, 20245 min read
248 views
Rix and Bix, the Toy Makers and the Spy
Bix, Rix, Toy Makers, and the Spy!?! Hey Peeps! 👋🏾 We're just hopping on your feed to say in our 1838 census finding aid we just found...
1838 Black Metropolis
Mar 5, 20241 min read
44 views
The Gibbs Brothers Run the World
We are so excited to be a new member of the National Park Service's Reconstruction Network. We know that the spatial stability of the...
1838 Black Metropolis
Feb 17, 20247 min read
224 views
Euphemia's Victory Tour: An Explosion of Joy in The Black Metropolis
We often come across stories that move us deeply in this research. But this one was a surprise. I was looking for the 'Philadelphia...
Michiko Quinones
Jan 30, 20246 min read
142 views
Finding Phebe Lewis and The White Scorpions in The Daughters of Africa
While exploring the Daughters of Africa dues book, I found the a title of a Beneficial Society that we cannot find records of: The...
Jordan Gibson
Nov 28, 20234 min read
151 views
James J.G Bias and Eliza Bias: Medical Care and Social Support for Freedom Seekers in 1838
A brief history on unsung heroes James and Eliza Bias.
Michiko Quinones
Nov 4, 202312 min read
165 views
A School Principal AND An Underground Railroad Agent; Finding the identity of C.L.R
170 years ago today, Freedom Seeker John Walker arrived in Philadelphia. All arrivals had teams of people to help them and in this case...
1838 Black Metropolis
Sep 14, 20232 min read
53 views
Henry ‘Box’ Brown Wasn't the Only One: Two Women Escaped in Shipping Crates Too!
This is a breaking news blog post. This morning, Morgan posted the story of Lear Green on Instagram. There is also one more unamed...
1838 Black Metropolis
Aug 31, 20231 min read
245 views
Finding Victims of the 1834 and 1842 Mob Attacks in the Archives
The most miraculous thing that has happened to me this year was when my co-Founder Morgan Lloyd started lifting people out of the records...
Michiko
Aug 28, 20236 min read
395 views
In 1842 Hetty Reckless built a shelter in Philly for Black Women
Besides having the most powerful 19th century name I've ever heard, Hetty Reckless was a hero. Yesterday, we stood at 7th and Lombard and...
Michiko
Jul 16, 20233 min read
162 views
We Owe it All to Charles L. Blockson
I am very, very sad to hear of the passing of Charles L. Blockson. I had hoped to meet him someday. I do believe that nothing that is on...
1838 Black Metropolis
Jun 22, 20234 min read
347 views
Thousands Helping Thousands
We often say that we think there were thousands of free Black people helping thousands of freedom seekers to self-emancipate. Why do we...
Michiko
Jun 2, 20233 min read
48 views
Henrietta Duterte and dealing with Grief; a Memorial Day reflection
A friend of mine forwarded the story of Henrietta Duterte. Ever since our last tour I've been thinking alot about grief and loss. Since...
Michiko
May 29, 20232 min read
60 views
Mysterious People in the 1838 Census
There are some people in the 1838 census who are quite mysterious. Sidebar - This post needs a soundtrack. I highly suggest you turn on...
Michiko
May 21, 20234 min read
149 views
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