History

Skip to content

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Today's Paper|Newsletters

Keep reading by creating a free account or signing in.

Subscribe|Support Local News

Keep reading by creating a free account or signing in.

News Sports Business Opinion Politics Entertainment Life Food Health Real Estate Philly First Obituaries Jobs

History

The Thomas Jefferson Windsor chair is shown at the American Philosophical Society. The chair is going to be one of the items for a Declaration’s Journey exhibit that will also feature the metal prison bench on which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. drafted his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

The Museum of the American Revolution will display Thomas Jefferson’s chair and Martin Luther King’s prison bench

The exhibit, starting later this year, represents the first time the two iconic objects have been displayed side-by-side.

One student was killed, five others went to the hospital, and 20 others suffered minor injures during the 1916 “bowl fight," which pitted freshmen against sophomores on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

This week in Philly history, Penn student dies during strange ‘bowl fight’ tradition, which is immediately discontinued

Kiea Wilcox prepares supply carriers at Girard College for the 19th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in this file photo from 2018.

Things To Do for the Holidays

Volunteer, learn, and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Philadelphia

Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, director of public safety in Philadelphia, confers with police officers and officials in 1924.

This week in Philly history: A Marine is brought in to clean up corruption during Prohibition

National Parks employee Michael Coleman sweeps next to Liberty Bell at the original Liberty Bell pavilion.

This week in Philly history: Bicentennial kicks off with the Liberty Bell moving to a new home across from Independence Hall

© 2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC
Terms of Use/ Privacy Policy/ Cancellation Policy/ California Notice/ California residents do not sell my data request
California residents do not sell my data request