Thursday, April 23 6pm-8pm hosted by Historic Germantown (taking place at Stenton Manor – 1300 E. Tulpehocken St.)
Friday, May 1 5:30pm-7:30pm hosted by the Paul Robeson House & Museum (4951 Walnut Street)
Friday, May 22 7pm-9pm hosted by Historic Germantown (taking place at Johnson House – 6306 Germantown Avenue)
Saturday, May 30 11am- 1pm AND 3pm-5pm hosted by the Marian Anderson Museum (762 Martin Street)
Voices of History: Stories from Black Pennsylvanians is a statewide effort by PA Humanities to collect, preserve, and share the stories of Black residents.
The project highlights personal memories, family histories, challenges, accomplishments, and community life in the 20th and 21st centuries—preserving voices that are often left out of traditional historical records. In 2026, as part of the 250th anniversary of America, Philadelphia joins Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Erie as the latest host city for Voices of History.
Each of the four community partners will host two community story circles inviting people to share a story about a particular place,
person, object, or personal memory that defines their family. Selected participants will return at a later date to have their stories professionally recorded. Stories will be added to a growing digital archive accessible to the public.
Look for more information about how you can participate in Voices of History Philadelphia, coming soon at pahumanities.org/voices.
This program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
