Blog

2017 Rosenbach staff invited talks and appearances

Not only do our talented and knowledgeable staff members seek to inspire inquiry, learning and creative thought in Rosenbach visitors, they also give talks and participate in conversations with other organizations and institutions. If you’d like to contact a Rosenbach staff member for an invited talk or interview, submit a general inquiry online or email a specific staff …

Bringing the science of Frankenstein & Dracula to life

In 1803, London was shocked by a public experiment conducted by an Italian scientist named Giovanni Aldini—nephew of Luigi Galvani, whose experiments with electrical currents gave the term galvanism its name. Aldini acquired the body of a recently executed criminal (a perfectly legal transaction, thanks to England’s Murder Act of 1752) and applied electric stimulus to the …

The Science of Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Since Frankenstein & Dracula: Gothic Monsters, Modern Science opened on Friday the 13th of October, I’ve fielded a few questions from surprised visitors: Dracula, really? It’s not difficult to see the connection between Frankenstein and the scientific theme of our new exhibition, but many readers are surprised to see us categorize Dracula as another gothic …

Sink your teeth into DRACULA this November

Dracula takes over the Rosenbach in November, which is not only appropriate because of our exhibition, Frankenstein & Dracula: Gothic Monsters, Modern Science, but also because November 8 is Bram Stoker’s birthday. Here’s what we have on tap: November 9, join us as we celebrate the new issue of the Journal of Dracula Studies.  Editors …

The Rosenbach Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein with Frankenstein & Dracula Exhibiton

The Rosenbach 2008-2010 Delancey Place Philadelphia, PA 19103 Contact: Sara Davis Phone: 215-732-1600 x 132 Email: [email protected] The Rosenbach Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein with Frankenstein & Dracula Exhibiton Pages of Mary Shelley’s handwritten draft of Frankenstein to be displayed alongside Bram Stoker’s notes for Dracula for the first time PHILADELPHIA, September 20, 2017—The Rosenbach …

The Rosenbach welcomes distinguished visitors to the rare book library

The Rosenbach has been a hub of activity lately: installation is well underway for our upcoming exhibition Frankenstein & Dracula: Gothic Monsters, Modern Science; we hosted the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden last week; on Monday, we welcomed the Association of International Bibliophiles; and Tuesday we kicked off the fall programming season with an In Conversation with the Rosenbach event …

Yolanda Wisher’s Rent Parties celebrate creative communities

This Thursday, we’ll celebrate the first of Yolanda Wisher’s Rent Parties, a quarterly event that celebrates the literary past with readings by contemporary poets and music performance by Yolanda Wisher and her house band, The Afroeaters. The tradition of the rent party dates back to the Harlem Renaissance, when communal gatherings of artists and musicians fed the outpouring …

At table with the Rosenbach brothers

This blog post was written by Andrew White  Dealers and collectors in rare and lovely things, the founding brothers of the Rosenbach had a profound connection to their Jewish heritage—reflected particularly in the collecting and scholarly pursuits of the younger brother, Dr. Abraham Rosenbach. Dr. Rosenbach was president of the New York Jewish Historical Society …