The University of Pennsylvania Press is set to release three volumes highlighting Philadelphia’s cultural and political history in creating the nation.
Credit: Chenyao Liu
The University of Pennsylvania Press is set to release a book project highlighting Philadelphia’s cultural and political history on Oct. 21.
The publishing project features three volumes, each highlighting Philadelphia’s relationship to its greater region, the United States, and the world through historical photographs, maps, and images. The collection is being released in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026 with a focus on Philadelphia’s role in establishing the nation.
In a press release, Penn Press wrote that the three volumes were a “true Philadelphia achievement” possible by “a deeply collaborative effort — conceived, written, edited, published, and supported by the city’s own scholars, institutions, cultural organizations, and funders.”
“It reflects not only the richness of the region’s history, but the shared pride and investment of the people who live and work here,” they continued.
The three volumes are titled “The Greater Philadelphia Region,” “Greater Philadelphia and the Nation,” and “Greater Philadelphia and the World.” The former will delve into the unique boundaries and political networks that constitute the city, the second will investigate Philadelphia’s role in American democracy and citizenship, and the last will shed light on Philadelphia’s impact on immigration and conflict on the global stage.
In the release, Penn Press director Mary Francis wrote that the book project supports the institution’s mission of informing its readers of Philadelphia’s history.
“Bringing together so much fascinating new work from local historians and community partners in these beautiful volumes has been a landmark project,” said Francis. “Penn Press is proud to publish these books that reflect the pride, complexity, and connectedness of the place we call home.”
The books were published in association with the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, a civic project that works to raise awareness of the city’s history and impact.
“We set out to create something both timely and timeless — a resource that people can turn to now as we prepare for the 250th, and one that will endure for generations to come,” Charlene Mires, former Editor-in-Chief of the paper and co-editor of Greater Philadelphia and the Nation, wrote in the release. “This is more than a history of a city; it’s a story of how Greater Philadelphia helped shape the world.”
The book project release will be followed by Penn Press events throughout the fall that celebrate Philadelphia’s history.
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