Philadelphia Summers and the U.S. Constitution

The summer of 1787 in Philadelphia was one to be remembered. In fact, it was in May that year that over 50 delegates from across the freshly independent United States descended on the city — ready to forge a path forward for the new nation. By the time summer was over, the U.S. Constitution was born.

A Conversation with Michael Idriss on the 1793 Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic

Today, we bring you a conversation between Historic America’s Sonali Prillman and Micheal Idriss, who is currently the African American Interpretive Fellow at Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution. Micheal, with his wealth of knowledge on Philadelphia history, takes us back to the mass outbreak of a disease long before the days of COVID19: the Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.

Philadelphia and the Birth of the Nation’s First Abolitionist Society

On this day in 1775, a group of Philadelphia Quakers met at a tavern in the city and founded the first abolitionist society in the United States. This organization, which eventually became known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, marked the start of the American abolitionist movement in addition to paving the way for Philadelphia to become a powerhouse of abolitionist activity.