Another Beyond the Page Chapter in the Books

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Kaitlyn Semborski

For over a decade, the Libraries have offered free programming to the public. Each season brings back favorites including Beyond the Notes, book clubs, and Chat in the Stacks, in addition to welcoming new speakers and topics. Read on for a roundup of this spring’s chapter, which included more than two dozen programs and reached nearly 600 attendees in person and online.

This semester’s highlights

JoAnne Epps and Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

One of the staples of the Beyond the Page programming series is our Chat in the Stacks partnership with the Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of Faculty of Color. Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, longtime partner and leader of the series, brings the best of the best speakers. This spring, Dr. Williams-Witherspoon invited James Ijames, MFA ‘06, a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, director, and educator, to speak about his education and career. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we released the interview in recording form. View the program on our website. In addition to Ijames, the series welcomed Acting President JoAnne Epps. Epps spoke one-on-one with Dr. Williams-Witherspoon about her journey and her hopes for Temple moving forward. Read highlights from the interview in Temple Now and view the full recording of the conversation on our website.

A new partnership debuted this spring between the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and our Special Collections Research Center. A Look at a Book explores the wonderful collection of rare books, manuscripts, zines, and artists books from our archives. Each week, via Zoom, members of Tyler’s Art History department opened a different artifact from the collection, flipped through its pages, and shared the knowledge within. The recordings are now available on our website.

Kathleen Salisbury gives campus plant tour, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

On the first day of spring, we teamed up with the Office of Sustainability and the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University for a plant talk and walk on Main Campus. We learned about the history of the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women (now the Ambler Campus), viewed materials from our Special Collections Research Center, and then went outside to identify plants and hear about sustainability features here on campus. Another post on our library programs blog contains the full recap.

Leth Oun and Joe Samuel Starnes speak at Charles Library, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Also this spring, we hosted an author talk with Leth Oun and Joe Samuel Starnes about their new Temple University Press publication A Refugee’s American Dream: From the Killing Fields of Cambodia to the U.S. Secret Service. Oun and Starnes shared the making of the book and some anecdotes from the book itself. Unfortunately, this recording is not available on our website, so we encourage you to read the book!

At the Blockson Collection

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection boasts wonderful program offerings each season. This spring included a conversation about Philadelphia Jazz: Images of America with authors Suzanne Cloud, director of the Philadelphia Jazz Legacy Project, and Diane Turner, curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. Cloud and Turner collaborated to create this book that will help support the establishment of a permanent jazz archive at the Blockson Collection.

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the Blockson Collection presented the Third Annual Bootsie Barnes Jazz Series in memory of local legend Bootsie Barnes. This year’s event featured Gerald Veasley bassist, bandleader, composer, producer, educator, and curator.

View these and more Blockson Collection program recordings on our website.

Exhibits

Opening celebration of *Game On!* exhibit, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

At Charles Library, we opened Game On! Design and Play for a Sustainable Future. The exhibit explores the power of games to teach and engage players in significant ways and was curated by Gabriel Kaprielian, assistant professor of architecture at Tyler School of Art and Architecture; Dr. Renee Jackson, assistant professor of art education at Tyler; and Matt Shoemaker, head of the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio. Game On! presents processes of design, play testing, and fabrication of games between Temple students, faculty, staff, and the broader Philadelphia community to collectively envision a sustainable future for all. The exhibit will run into the fall.

The Blockson Collection hosted African Americans of the Twentieth Century in the Philadelphia Region: Known and Unknown which will be up until the end of June.

And the Ginsburg Library at the Health Sciences Center displayed The History of Temple’s Health Sciences Schools.

Stay in touch

A sincere thank you to our program partners, staff, and attendees for another great season of programs. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And keep an eye on our library events page for announcements about the fall!

Your Guide to Crunch Time Help and Activities

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Kaitlyn Semborski

Summer is right around the corner, which means finals season is here! Whether you are working on a project, researching for a paper, or giving a presentation or performance, we have resources to support you during finals.

Get started

Not sure where to start? Check out our website, which includes our updated hours here.

We have specialized undergraduate and graduate guides for relevant research resources.

There are many ways to connect with a subject specialist! Make an appointment with your subject area specialist to discuss your assignments in a one-on-one environment. We also have a 24/7 chat option where your questions can be answered quickly and efficiently.

Study space

Now’s the time to reserve a breakout room. They fill us quickly because they are a quiet, spacious space to study alone or with friends. Both Charles Library and Ginsburg Library have rooms that you can check out.

Studying can be exhausting—to say the least! We are hosting several fun crunch time activities to help you unwind.

Spring concert

Our Health Sciences Library is hosting the third annual spring concert with TachyChordia, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s student a cappella singing group, on Wednesday, April 26 at 12:15 pm. This event will be offered in person in the Ginsburg Library, Room 160, and streamed online via Zoom. Tune in on your lunch to unwind with music!

Snack cart

On Tuesday, May 2, be on the lookout for the snack cart at Charles Library. We’ll be giving out free goodies to help you stay fueled and focused. We will also be available to answer questions and point you in the right direction regarding library resources.

Craft day

Back by popular demand, take a breather this week by destressing with some crafts in the Charles Library event space on Wednesday, May 3. We will have play dough, Crayola clay, Legos, coloring books, canvass to paint, and puzzles!

Stay for an hour or two between 11 am and 2 pm to craft and grab snacks on us!

Board game social

Bring your friends to the Scholars Studio on Tuesday, May 9 between noon and 2 pm for a board game social! We will have a variety of newer and classic board games for you to play with friends. The VR space will be open to anyone interested in digital gaming.

VR in the Makerspace, photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg, Temple University

Wellness Resource Center

Our friends at the Wellness Resource Center have several offerings to help you through this time of the semester. On Monday, May 1 from 8:30 to 10 am head to Mazur Hall Terrace for a sun salutation and mindful movement. On Tuesday, May 2 at 3:30 pm, join the owl about stress session with HEART Peer Educators. Then on Thursday, May 4 at 11 am, there will be a recovery movement finals break on the Mazur Hall Terrace. And be sure to check out Active Minds TU and their “Don’t Fret, Pet” event with therapy dogs on April 24 at 4 pm at the Student Center.

Dogs in Charles Library, photo by Betsy Manning, Temple University

Home stretch

Sunny days are ahead! We are so proud of how far you’ve come this semester by studying and keeping up with your classes, no matter how your finals go. The Libraries will remain open and offer resources and support all summer long. For returning students, remember to utilize library resources next semester for a smoother time studying.

And if you’re graduating, congratulations! The library and our resources are still open to alumni.

Unsung Women of Horticulture: Plant Talk and Walk Recap

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Kaitlyn Semborski

Students in the garden, c. 1930s, image from the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women records, Special Collections Research Center

In honor of the first day of spring, we teamed up with the Office of Sustainability and the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University for a plant talk and walk on Main Campus.

Kathleen Salisbury speaks at Charles Library, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

We started the afternoon with a talk by Kathleen (Kathy) Salisbury, director of Ambler Arboretum, about the history of women of the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, which became Ambler Campus. Kathy covered some of the most prominent women involved in the creation of the school all the way back to the founder, Jane Bowne Haines II, who started the school in 1910. She went on to share stories of Louise Carter Bush-Brown, Ernesta Drinker-Ballard, Letitia Glenn Biddle, and others involved in the school and related organizations, their accomplishments, and their efforts to further women’s rights.

Following Kathy’s talk, Margery Sly, director of the Special Collections Research Center, and Kimberly Tully, curator of rare books, shared information about the archives of the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture in our special collections. Items were on display in the back of the room for attendees to view following the remarks.

Materials in our special collections, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Liz Riedman, PhD Candidate in Geography and winner of the Office of Sustainability’s Graduate Research Award for Sustainability (GRASP), utilized the SCRC’s archival materials at Ambler for her research which seeks to challenge historical accounts of urban greening that overlook over the contributions of women in the past and present. This work gave important context for the historic untold stories of the women featured in Kathy’s talk, and further underscores the need to add diverse accounts to the archive.

Attendees view SCRC items on display, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Missed the talk or just want to share it with a friend? View the recording on our website.

Kathleen Salisbury talks about the trees outside of Sullivan Hall, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Next, we headed outside for a tour of trees on Main Campus. Caroline Burkholder, senior sustainability manager, joined us to share information about campus sustainability features and designs along the way. Kathy talked through the history of ginkgo trees. These large, sturdy trees have been around since the dinosaurs and have unique umbrella-shaped leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. We also smelled the large oval leaves of the magnolia trees that are located right outside Charles Library!

Kathleen Salisbury talks about the trees just outside of Charles Library, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

We hope you will join us the next time we invite Kathy back to Main Campus for a tour!

Series Spotlight

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Kaitlyn Semborski

The McLean Contributionship Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Endowed Lecture Series at Temple University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center

Now in its third year, The McLean Contributionship Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Endowed Lecture Series at Temple University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center was established to honor the McLean Contributionship’s long-standing commitment to the field of journalism and supporting access to our Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection. The series aims to reflect on the past, present, and future of American journalism, history, and culture. Take a look back with us on the journey of this series so far and get a preview of what’s coming up in our next installment of the series on March 30 (originally planned for February 28) with a panel on immigration and journalism!

About the collection

But first, let’s dive into what the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection is! The Collection is a key holding in our Special Collections Research Center’s Urban Archives, which documents the social, economic, political, and physical development of the greater Philadelphia region throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin was the city’s daily evening newspaper from 1847 to 1982 and was owned by the McLean family from 1895 to 1982. It had the highest circulation of Philadelphia newspapers for 76 years and was once the largest evening newspaper in the United States. The Bulletin Collection was donated to us in 1982 and is used frequently by students, faculty, and visiting scholars and researchers. We are honored to preserve and provide access to this valuable archive documenting Philadelphia history, which includes the George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Photographs.

Past series topics

Christoper Malo speaking at our spring 2021 panel on Zoom

The series launched with a panel discussion in March 2021 focusing on Philadelphia Neighborhoods. Philadelphia Neighborhoods, part of the Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab at Klein College of Media and Communication, is a publication that produces and shares stories about the neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Speakers included Taylor Allen, PlanPhilly’s housing and community development reporter; Brian Creech, associate professor of journalism at Temple University’s Lew Klein College of Media and Communication; Christopher Malo, editor and program manager for PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com; and Jack O’Hara, director of Business Development and Marketing at MarketCounsel. View the program recording on our website.

David Boardman poses question to panelists during the spring 2022 discussion

In March 2022, we continued the series with a panel about the future of local and national journalism. David Boardman, dean of the Klein College of Media and Communication, moderated the discussion on current trends in journalism. We were very excited to host a distinguished panel featuring Tracy Davidson, anchor/reporter for NBC10; Gabriel Escobar, editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer; Cherri Gregg, anchor/reporter for WHYY; and Aron Pilhofer, James B. Steele Chair of Journalism Innovation at Klein College of Media and Communication. View the lively discussion on our website.

Later this semester: journalism and immigration panel

Clockwise from top left: Erika Guadalupe Núñez; Laura Benshoff photo by Jacob Rivkin; Heather Levi; Jeff Gammage photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer; and Blanca Pacheco photo courtesy New Sanctuary Movement

On March 30 at 4:00 pm over Zoom, the series continues with a panel on immigration coverage in journalism. In this installment, Dr. Heather Levi, professor in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University, will moderate. Joining us this year are Laura Benshoff, public radio reporter and producer; Jeff Gammage, reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer; Erika Guadalupe Núñez, executive director of Juntos; and Blanca Pacheco, co-director of New Sanctuary Movement.

The McLean Contributionship Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Endowed Lecture Series is generously supported by The McLean Contributionship. We are grateful to The McLean Contributionship for making this possible.

Thanks for reading! We hope to see you on March 30 for the next installment of this series.

A look back on the fall programming season, plus a spring preview

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Kaitlyn Semborski

Did you know that the Libraries host a free public programming series that is open to everyone each semester? Offerings include readings, concerts, workshops, our beloved Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection series, and more. Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, researcher, local Philadelphian, faculty or staff member, you’re invited to join us!

Viewing the Special Collections Research Center Exhibit, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Last fall, our Beyond the Page programming series offered several programs that complemented our celebration of the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Collection, including a kickoff program with Murray Dubin and an exhibit in the Charles Library first floor exhibit space. The exhibit, “Our Greater Philadelphia Mishpachah: 50 Years of Documenting the Jewish Community,” remains on view until March 6. Stop in to view it before it’s gone! We also held a Midday Arts event with poet and writer Elaine Goldstein Terranova, CLA ‘61, which was paired with a pop-up exhibit in October in the Albert M. Greenfield Special Collections Research Center Reading Room featuring papers Terranova donated to the SCRC.

Beyond the Notes performance at Charles Library, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Our Beyond the Notes concerts returned in person last semester. The November concert remembered the 84th anniversary of the Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”) pogroms with stories of Austrian Jewish composers and librettists, performed by Boyer College of Music faculty member Daniel Neer and friends. It was such a pleasure to hear beautiful music in the Charles Library event space once again!

Carmen Maria Machado signs books after reading, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

The Libraries and Press also collaborated with the Intellectual Heritage Program, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program on an event as part of Temple’s universitywide Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Our event brought Philadelphia-based author Carmen Maria Machado to Charles Library for a conversation with Temple Professor Liz Moore. Both the event space and an overflow room filled up with audience members, and we also livestreamed the event.

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection continued to offer an exceptional semester of programming that included a Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan centennial celebration and a conversation with Molefi K. Asante and Haki R. Madhubuti about Third World Press Foundation, the largest independent black-owned press in the United States that just celebrated 55 years.

Interested in viewing a program recording from the fall? You can! Our website features program recordings going back many years.

What’s coming up this spring

We invite you to join us this spring in person and online as our series continues. At Charles Library, our programs will explore the experience of making a home in a new place. We’ll look at the stories of immigrants, refugees, and others who have left one home for another, and consider what it means to belong—and to be welcomed into new spaces.

There is going to be a full lineup of Beyond the Notes concerts. Check the Performing Arts News blog for performance announcements.

The Blockson Collection will present another installment of the Ione D. Vargus with special guest State Senator Vincent Hughes. They will also host a variety of author talks with Anneliese Bruner, Casarae Abdul-Ghani, Judy Juanita, Diane Turner, Suzanne Cloud and others. And of course, in April, the Bootsie Barnes Jazz Series is back and this year the guest is Gerald Veasley. The African Americans of the Twentieth Century in the Philadelphia Region: Known and Unknown exhibit will be available for viewing through June. The exhibit highlights known and unknown African American Philadelphians in the twentieth century, with an emphasis on the fourteen individuals profiled in BLAM! Black Lives Always Mattered!

Looking for a book club this spring? We have those too! Join us for lunchtime book discussions of Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast, Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid, and this year’s One Book, One Philadelphia selection.

Stay in touch

There’s so much more! Be sure to bookmark our events page to see our full spring lineup and sign up for our mailing list.

Resources to Help You Conquer Crunch Time

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Kaitlyn Semborski

It seems as if the semester just began and now, we’re nearing the end—when research papers are due, exams are taken, and you need to hunker down and finish up your work. We are here to remind you that the Libraries have the resources you need to help you finish the semester strong.

A good place to start is our website, where you can use Library Search for all your questions. You can also see our hours (including extended hour offerings) for all library locations. Or you can go directly to our undergraduate and graduate user guides containing details of library resources tailored for you!

Chat with us 24/7

Studying late into the night? We’re here 24/7 via chat to answer your questions.

Find study space

Both Charles Library and Ginsburg Library have rooms that you can book to work alone or in a group. At Charles Library, you choose what kind of studying environment you like best–—whether that’s a quiet place to study, a view of our green roof on the fourth floor, or you prefer to plop down in a comfy bean bag chair, we have you covered.

Take a break

We are hosting a few opportunities for you to take a break from the busyness of this time of year that we hope you’ll take advantage of!

On Friday, December 2 at 2pm, stop by the Makerspace for our Holiday Décor Workshop. Make gifts and décor for the holidays with help from staff on the laser cutter and 3D printers. Some possible ideas include: 3D printed trinkets, custom greeting cards, 3D printed cookie cutters, laser cut ornaments, and more.

On Tuesday, December 6 between 11am and 2pm, join us to Get Crafty in the Charles Library event space! We’ll have a variety of activities to keep your hands busy and your mind quiet. There will also be snacks.

On Wednesday, December 7 at 12:15pm, check out the Annual TachyChordia Winter Concert in person at Ginsburg Library room 160 or tune in on Zoom. TachyChordia is the Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s student a cappella singing group. They will perform holiday favorites and popular songs during this hybrid event.

And on Friday, December 9 at 11am, it’s time to stretch and child’s pose your way to the end of finals. Join us for this free hour-long yoga class in the Charles Library event space.

The end is near

We know this time of year can be difficult. We hope this roundup of library assistance gives you some relief. And if not, just know that soon you’ll be heading into your well-deserved winter break. Even then, the Libraries will be here for you during break and when we return for the spring. You got this!

Elaine Goldstein Terranova and Patrick Lawler participate in virtual Midday Arts Series

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Kaitlyn Semborski

Our Midday Arts Series debuted in fall 2016 as a collaboration with the Intellectual Heritage department in order to celebrate the Temple creative writing community and connect directly with coursework in the College of Liberal Arts. Over the years, the series has welcomed Temple faculty, alumni, and friends, including Liz Moore, Andrea Clearfield, Tom McAllister, Ryan Eckes, Meg Lemieur, David Jackson Ambrose, Pattie McCarthy, Darla Himeles, Kai Davis, Herman Beavers, and more!

Andrea Clearfield, spring 2018, photo by Brae Howard

This fall, we welcomed two guests as part of the series.

In September, Elaine Goldstein Terranova, CLA ‘61, read from her memoir The Diamond Cutter’s Daughter. Following the reading, Terranova was interviewed by Rebecca Alpert, professor emerita of religion at Temple University. The two discussed what it was like growing up in a Jewish family in Philadelphia. The reading and discussion was recorded and can be viewed on library.temple.edu/watchpastprograms.

Terranova donated her papers to the Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center. They document her career as a poet, writer, editor, and teacher. To accompany the reading, we featured Terranova’s papers in a special pop-up exhibit during the month of October in the Albert M. Greenfield Special Collections Research Center Reading Room and held a book club discussion of the memoir.

In October, Patrick Lawler presented Poemformances (poetry as performance) focused on a number of urgent issues: the environment, homelessness, gender issues, violence, race, and identity.

After his reading, Caroline Burkholder, sustainability manager, interviewed Patrick on his writing process, using humor to present series issues, and his inspiration. Catch the readings and conversation, now available on library.temple.edu/watchpastprograms.

Jeff Lee, spring 2019, photo by Brae Howard

This series would not be possible without the support of the Intellectual Heritage department, and the collaboration of Professor Jeffrey Lee. We’re excited to see who will participate in the series over the coming semesters. Stay tuned!

Fall 2022 Events and Exhibits

Posted on August 16, 2022 by Kaitlyn Semborski

We are ready to welcome you back to the Libraries this fall for a full lineup of Beyond the Page programs. Read on for a preview of what you’ll see during our season. And as always, our programs are free and open to everyone.

At Charles Library

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center (PJAC), which donated its collections to the Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center in 2009. Stay tuned for programming this fall that celebrates this special anniversary along with our Philadelphia Jewish Archives Collections.

From the Special Collections Research Center: Kosher Wines, 4th and Monroe, South Philadelphia, circa 1934, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Records, Philadelphia Jewish Archives Collection

Speakers joining us as part of this series include Murray Dubin and Elaine Terranova. We’ll also be reading Terranova’s memoir, The Diamond Cutter’s Daughter, as part of the Libraries’ book club this season.

Programs will accompany the exhibit, Our Greater Philadelphia Mishpachah: 50 Years of Documenting the Jewish Community, which highlights stories from the collections, including the records of cultural, educational, religious, social service, and fraternal organizations and the personal papers of community leaders.

At the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

In October, we are partnering with the Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust and the City of Philadelphia to recognize and celebrate Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan’s 100th birthday with events and activities. In honor of Veterans Day, we’ll hear reflections on military life during the 1940s by Montford Point Marines and Tuskegee Airmen. There will also be a variety of other programs, including author talks and musical performances, as well as our fall exhibit African Americans of the Twentieth Century in the Philadelphia Region: Known and Unknown.

At the Health Sciences Libraries

This fall, the Health Sciences Libraries will continue to host timely events and workshops, including a series aimed at helping faculty and researchers navigate the new changes to NIH’s recommendations for data management and sharing in grant applications.

Beyond the Notes returns!

Our award-winning Beyond the Notes concerts are back! Take a lunchtime break to enjoy the musical stylings of Boyer faculty, students, and alumni. This semester, we’ll have an opera performance from ENAensemble, hear protest music written for piano performed by Charles Abramovic and his students, and remember Kristallnacht with stories of Austrian Jewish composers and librettists, performed by Daniel Neer and friends.

And more…

Other events to watch out for include a campus plant walk and tour led by Kathleen Salisbury of Ambler Arboretum, a virtual visit from writer Patrick Lawler, and two Chat in the Stacks led by the Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of Faculty of Color.

Specialized workshops

We are offering a full lineup of workshops on everything from CV writing to graphic design for visual abstracts to 3D printing. Visit library.temple.edu/workshops to learn more. Most workshop sessions will be offered via Zoom.

Catch up with program recordings

Most of our programs are recorded and posted on the library website for viewing: library.temple.edu/watchpastprograms.

We hope to see you in person or online for one of our events or workshops this fall! For the full listing, visit our events page at library.temple.edu/events. More offerings are being added daily.

On view now—Chicken Bone Beach: The Photography of John W. Mosley and the African-American Experience in Atlantic City

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Rebecca Dashiell

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University Libraries is proud to present a new exhibition, Chicken Bone Beach: The Photography of John W. Mosley and the African-American Experience in Atlantic City. Now through August 30, 2022, the exhibit is on view in the Charles Library first floor exhibit space on Temple University’s Main Campus.

Four women at Chicken Bone Beach, c. 1960s; John W. Mosley Photograph Collection, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

One of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection’s prominent regional collections is the John W. Mosley Photograph Collection, which documents mid-20th century African American life in and around Philadelphia. John W. Mosley’s photography embraces both photojournalism and storytelling. Through history and imagination, Mosley allows the viewer to envision a scene playing out and a glimpse into the lives of Black people outside of work and with their families, as seen in his Chicken Bone Beach photographs.

From the early 1900s through the 1960s, African Americans vacationing in Atlantic City, New Jersey were relegated to the beach at Missouri Avenue. The popular fare for the summer was fried chicken, which earned the section the nickname of “Chicken Bone Beach.” Ironically, before 1900, Blacks and Whites in Atlantic City lived side-by-side and African Americans used the beaches without restriction. Chicken Bone Beach became the destination for Civil Rights activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., athletes such as Joe Louis, entertainers such as Sammy Davis, Jr., and other celebrities along with casual vacationers to unwind during the summers of the Civil Rights era.

The artistry of Mosley’s work at play on Chicken Bone Beach was not only about Black joy and deconstructing stereotypes, but also about segregation. He captured a moment in history when people of African descent were kept out of what would be under normal circumstances open spaces. In Atlantic City, Blacks had to find their own recreational space at the foot of Missouri Avenue, and despite this, they turned it into something beautiful. It was about creating a space in a society where they were systematically excluded from having a voice.

When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, beaches including Atlantic City could no longer be segregated. To protect this endangered African American heritage site, the Atlantic City Council passed an ordinance in 1997, declaring Chicken Bone Beach (also known as the Missouri Avenue Beach) an historical landmark.

Photo by Jospeh V. Labolito, Temple University

The exhibition was curated by Leslie Willis-Lowry, archivist of the Blockson Collection, the Heston Collection at the Atlantic City Free Public Library, and the private collection of Atlantic City historian Vicki Gold Levi.

Besides the distinguished Mosley photographs of Chicken Bone Beach, the exhibition includes a rare collection of original portraits from photography studios that dotted the Boardwalk and the avenue, the 1964 National Democratic Convention, Club Harlem, Paradise Club, Shriners, Madame Sara Spencer Washington and Apex products, parades, and civic events.

Charles Library is free and open to all. Check the website for hours: library.temple.edu.

What Comes Next: A recap

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Kaitlyn Semborski

As summer draws near, another season of Temple Libraries’ programming has come to an end. Take a look back with us on some of what we offered and watch any of our programs online.

The highlights

The season began with a charge: help stop the cycle of menstrual inequity. In partnership with the Office of Sustainability, we hosted a distinguished panel of speakers who shared their thoughts about the issue. Amani Reid and Nayanka Paul, Temple alumni and representatives from Bloody Btches; Caroline Burkholder from Temple University’s Office of Sustainability; Brittany Robinson from Temple’s Wellness Resource Center; and Dr. Jeni Stolow from the College of Public Health discussed the stigma associated with persons who are menstruating and how to create more welcoming environments. Want to learn more? Dr. Stolow was interviewed in Temple Now about the harm of not talking openly about your period.

In our Chat in the Stacks series, Philly DA Larry Krasner spoke candidly in an interview with Tara N. Tripp, assistant professor in Temple’s Department of Criminal Justice, about the road to reform. Rather read a recap than watch the recording? Check out this coverage by The Temple News. This program series is in collaboration with the Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of Faculty of Color.

From there, we moved to a conversation about the future of local and national journalism, moderated by Klein College Dean David Boardman, who spoke with Tracy Davidson of NBC10, Gabriel Escobar of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Cherri Gregg of WHYY, and Aron Pilhofer of Klein College of Media and Communication. This program was part of our McLean Contributionship Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Endowed Lecture Series at Temple University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center.

Clockwise from top left: David Boardman, photo courtesy Temple University; Tracy Davidson, photo courtesy NBC10 News; Gabriel Escobar, photo by Jessica Griffin, *The Philadelphia Inquirer*; Cherri Gregg, photo courtesy WHYY; Aron Pilhofer, photo by Alessio Jacona, “The Whole Picture”

Also on Zoom, the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection hosted a variety of programs, including a two-day celebration of Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday anniversary. Both day 1 and day 2 are available to view. This year, the beloved Bootsie Barnes Jazz Series featured the Alfie Pollitt Quartet and included a special tribute to former WRTI host Harrison Ridley, Jr.

The Afrofuturism symposium brought scholars, artists, and other practitioners together in person to share their work as it relates to the Afrofuturist aesthetic and Black digital humanities practices and to speculate about the future of cultural heritage preservation. Parts 1 through 7 are available to view.

Afrofuturism symposium photos by Heidi Roland Photography

Exhibits and more

One of our featured exhibits took place in the Charles Library exhibit space. SCRC Staff Picks: What’s Great, New, and Next? highlighted purchases and donations from individuals and organizations that represent collecting strengths, caught staff’s fancy, have already been used for research and instruction—or could provide the ‘next’ research project for a fortunate user. Find out some of what staff had to say in this Temple Now article.

There were also myriad book club meetings, author talks, and other performances and conversations that took place over this busy semester!

Photos by Joseph V. Labolito for Temple University

This past spring, our programs reached an audience of more than 660 attendees. If you were one of those attendees, or a speaker, or a supporter in any way, THANK YOU! We couldn’t do what we do without you.