Collections

Automobile Reference Collection If you have a passion for cars, check out this collection for images of passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and carriages, selected from one of the largest gatherings of automotive literature in the world. If you have a passion for cars, check out this collection for images of passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and carriages, selected from one of the largest gatherings of automotive literature in the world.

Carson Collection on Common Law View images from books, pamphlets, and illustrations related to the trials of King Charles I, William Penn, Daniel O'Connell, and Queen Caroline, from the Hampton L. Carson Collection Illustrative of the Growth of Common Law. View images from books, pamphlets, and illustrations related to the trials of King Charles I, William Penn, Daniel O'Connell, and Queen Caroline, from the Hampton L. Carson Collection Illustrative of the Growth of Common Law.

Central Library's 75th Anniversary Collection The Central Library, on Philadelphia's beautiful Benjamin Franklin Parkway, was dedicated on June 2, 1927. Seventy-five years later, it is a dynamic, evolving destination where the world is at your fingertips and you can travel anywhere in time or place through books and multiple electronic media. The Central Library, on Philadelphia's beautiful Benjamin Franklin Parkway, was dedicated on June 2, 1927. Seventy-five years later, it is a dynamic, evolving destination where the world is at your fingertips and you can travel anywhere in time or place through books and multiple electronic media.

Charles Dickens View our unique collection of Dickens manuscripts, original illustrations, autograph letters, and other mementos, which were given to the Free Library by collectors William Elkins and D. Jacques Benoliel. View our unique collection of Dickens manuscripts, original illustrations, autograph letters, and other mementos, which were given to the Free Library by collectors William Elkins and D. Jacques Benoliel.

Children's Literature Take a look behind the scenes at the process of creating a children's book—from manuscripts, sketches and preliminary art to book dummies, color separations, and final artwork—in this collection of images from our archives. Take a look behind the scenes at the process of creating a children's book—from manuscripts, sketches and preliminary art to book dummies, color separations, and final artwork—in this collection of images from our archives.

Fine Arts Collection Among the Free Library's art collection are prints by Rembrandt van Rijn, Abrecht Dürer, Michel Wohlgemut and other Old Masters, as well as fourteen original paintings by N.C. Wyeth. Among the Free Library's art collection are prints by Rembrandt van Rijn, Abrecht Dürer, Michel Wohlgemut and other Old Masters, as well as fourteen original paintings by N.C. Wyeth.

Fleisher Collection Browse through portraits, certificates, and memorabilia from the Symphony Club founded by Edwin A. Fleisher. Browse through portraits, certificates, and memorabilia from the Symphony Club founded by Edwin A. Fleisher.

From Our Collections View images from a variety of subjects housed at the Free Library of Philadelphia. View images from a variety of subjects housed at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Historical Images of Philadelphia The images contained in this digital collection are from the Print and Picture Collection's Philadelphiana Collection, which includes photographs, prints, watercolors, and scrapbooks documenting Philadelphia. Of particular interest are images of Old Philadelphia in Early Photographs, the Samuel Castner Scrapbooks, and the watercolors of Augustus Kollner. The images contained in this digital collection are from the Print and Picture Collection's Philadelphiana Collection, which includes photographs, prints, watercolors, and scrapbooks documenting Philadelphia. Of particular interest are images of Old Philadelphia in Early Photographs, the Samuel Castner Scrapbooks, and the watercolors of Augustus Kollner.

Map Collection Our map collection enables you to see how Philadelphia's neighborhoods and streets have grown and changed. Use our Our map collection enables you to see how Philadelphia's neighborhoods and streets have grown and changed. Use our interactive mapping tool to overlay atlases dating back as far as 1843 over today's street layout.

Medieval Manuscripts Our manuscript collection includes most of the kinds of books used between 1000 and 1500 A.D.: prayer books and poetry, Bibles and political propaganda, philosophical works, and fantastic histories. Our manuscript collection includes most of the kinds of books used between 1000 and 1500 A.D.: prayer books and poetry, Bibles and political propaganda, philosophical works, and fantastic histories.

Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Manuscripts Fraktur are colorful documents made by Pennsylvania Germans who lived in rural parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and the surrounding region during the 1700s and 1800s. Most fraktur are personal records, such as birth and baptismal certificates. Fraktur are colorful documents made by Pennsylvania Germans who lived in rural parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and the surrounding region during the 1700s and 1800s. Most fraktur are personal records, such as birth and baptismal certificates.

Theatre Collection We’re giving the spotlight to the stars of the silver screen as we feature lobby cards, posters, and promotional materials from our Theatre Collection. We’re giving the spotlight to the stars of the silver screen as we feature lobby cards, posters, and promotional materials from our Theatre Collection.