Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic

Exhibition Info
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Fisher Brooks Gallery
Frances M. Maguire Gallery
Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building
Curated by
Page Talbott, PhD, Stacey Swigart, and Melissa Clemmer, Drexel University Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships
An Exhibition of the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University

Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic is a large, interactive display of over 600 authentic objects, telling the story of Philadelphia’s city history collection. Inspiring pride in our great city, this major exhibition reflects 350 years of Philly history.

The exhibition highlights the strengths of the Atwater Kent Collection (former Philadelphia History Museum), including material representing the Atwater Kent Museum’s earliest acquisitions, eclectic collections it absorbed, national celebrations, development of the city and civic history, Philly sports, salvaged material and relics, manufacturing and retail, and art and music.  

The Collection grew over 80 years to encompass an array of Philadelphia stories: objects reflect the city’s diverse residents and their contributions over three centuries. Along with 600+ artifacts, the exhibition includes hundreds more historical images as well as multimedia and hands-on elements.  

Related Programming

Philadelphia Revealed is an exhibition, a podcast, and a platform for anyone to add their story to Philadelphia history. Through an interactive game, facilitated by First Person Arts, visitors can find and add their own stories to the archives. They can hear other Philadelphians’ stories through The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast, produced by WHYY. Hosted by Jamie J. Brunson of First Person Arts, each episode features a new storyteller highlighting an object from the exhibition and sharing their own story inspired by it. Public programs will enable further interaction. Philadelphia history is still being told; Philadelphia Revealed aims to find out what these objects mean to all of us. 

 

Plan Your Visit

 

Featured Image: Industrial Philadelphia – The Workshop of the World, oil on canvas by Morris Berd (1914–2007), 1952 (Gift of Stern’s Department Stores; acquired Gimbels, 90.81.1). 

Watercolor depiction of the Lazaretto Quarantine in Tinicum Township, Delco.
The Lazaretto Quarantine [Tinicum Township, Delaware County], watercolor, c. 1860 (Museum Purchase, 43.7.10).
Oil on canvas painting featuring buildings in industrial Philadelphia.
Industrial Philadelphia – The Workshop of the World, oil on canvas by Morris Berd (1914–2007), 1952 (Gift of Stern’s Department Stores; acquired Gimbels, 90.81.1).
Handmade soft cloth doll in a mauve dress suit.
Handmade Soft Cloth Doll, fabric, made by Dorothy Wendell Heizer (1881–1973) (PAFA alum), c. 1930 (Gift of Wurts House Foundation, 90.36.162).
Oil on canvas painting of Stephen Smith.
Portrait of Stephen Smith, oil on canvas by James Stidum/Stedom, c. 1840 (From Historical Society of Pennsylvania Collection [Gift of Henrietta Clemens Mousserone], HSP.1931.4).
Up close view of the keys of a pianoforte.
Pianoforte (earliest dated piano made in America), ebony, ivory, wire, mahogany, made by Charles Albrecht (1759/60–1848), Philadelphia, 1789 (From Historical Society of Pennsylvania Collection [Source Unknown], HSP.X-37).
Entry form for PAFA 64th Annual Exhibition.
Entry Form for PAFA 64th Annual Exhibition (from Alexander Stirling Calder), paper, 1894-95 (Museum Purchase, 40.14.58.5).
Woven rug sample made of wool and wood.
Woven (Navajo) Rug Sample, wool (likely from Germantown) and wood, c. 1890 (Gift of Daniel Blain Jr., 91.68.3.62.1).
Cathedral-Style Tabletop Wood-Cased Radio
Cathedral-Style Tabletop Wood-Cased Radio (Model 84), wood, electronics, etc., made by Atwater Kent Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia, 1932 (Gift of Elaine Shapiro and the Estate of Roy Shapiro, 14.1.18).
Silver trophy bowl of United Bowmen with founders/members' names, including Franklin and Titan R. Peale, and Thomas Sully.
Trophy Bowl of United Bowmen (with founders/members’ names, including Franklin and Titian R. Peale, and Thomas Sully), silver, made by Thomas Fletcher, Philadelphia, c. 1830 (From Historical Society of Pennsylvania Collection [Gift of United Bowmen of Philadelphia], HSP.X-181).
Straw horse hat.
Horse Hat: PA SPCA, straw, c. 1950 (Gift of Pennsylvania SPCA, 87.9.353).

Exhibition Support

Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic is made possible thanks to the following generous supporters.

Lead support provided by The Richard C. von Hess Foundation. Major support is provided by Anonymous, Wyncote Foundation, Connelly Foundation, and Syde Hurdus Foundation. Additional support is provided by donors to Drexel University Collections and Exhibitions.  

The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast and additional programming—Reshaping Historical Narratives through the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, in collaboration with WHYY and First Person Arts—has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

Listen Now

The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast

Press

Press Release

Press Kit

MEDIA / PRESS: Please email info@philadelphiahistory.org for access to a folder of graphics and related information.

News and Press

PhillyVoice | A 650-piece exhibit on Philly history features items from a sunken British ship and a World Series ring

"At an exhibit opening Thursday, visitors can get a snapshot of Philadelphia history from its 17th century beginnings to its more recent baseball victories.

" Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic" will tell the story of the city through 650 items. Some, like the teapot fragments recovered from a British ship in the Delaware River, nod to Philadelphia's colonial origins. Others highlight its bygone department stores, such as two enormous murals that hung in the flagship Gimbels on 9th and Market streets. Still more reflect Philly's sports mania. An old turnstile from Veterans Stadium and a

WHYY | ‘Philadelphia Revealed’ exhibit uncovers the city’s history in things that survived

"A stadium turnstile and crushed copper kettles.

Quaker-made lacework and murals from Gimbel’s.

A Miss Flora McFlimsey with hair done in rings …

These are a few of Philly’s favorite things — at least that’s what Drexel University hopes.

About 650 objects selected from the Philadelphia historical archive are now on display at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic is the first major showcase of the city’s archive of objects since the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia closed and Drexel University assumed stewardship of the approximately 35,000-piece

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Lincoln’s hat and Franklin’s music stand on display in a new show highlighting Philadelphia history

"For as much history as Philadelphia represents, the city no longer has a physical location for its history museum. After the Philadelphia History Museum shuttered in 2018, its collection was transferred to Drexel University. Renamed the Atwater Kent Collection, it contains more than 130,000 objects — and now part of that history will be showcased at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in “Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic,” running through Dec. 1.

The new exhibit will spotlight more than 650 artifacts and artworks that represent some 350 years of Philadelphia history, from the

The Philadelphia Citizen | The Citizen Recommends: Philadelphia Revealed

"Representing 350 years of Philadelphia history, Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic is an interactive exhibition of over 600 artifacts from the Atwater Kent Collection (AKC) at Drexel University on display at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Hundreds of historical images, multimedia features, and hands-on elements highlight the AKC’s earliest acquisitions and absorbed collections, national celebrations, the city’s urban development and civic history, sports, salvaged material and relics, manufacturing and retail milestones, and art and music of Philadelphia. 

It has

Broad Street Review | Discover Philly’s new, old, and untold stories with these fascinating objects—PAFA presents Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic

Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic evokes memories with every step—if not your own, then ones you’ve heard from older friends and relatives.

"The show, a nod to the old museum’s informal title, Philadelphia’s Attic, features 600 objects from the Atwater Kent Collection (AKC), which was founded in 1939 by inventor and radio pioneer A. Atwater Kent to preserve Philadelphia history. And the new exhibition just one part of the experience: Philadelphia Revealed is also a WHYY-produced podcast and a First Person Arts platform for sharing your Philadelphia stories.

Paintings, photos, postcards