Color Our Collections: WPA Costume Plates

Join staff from the Children’s Literature Research Collection, the Rare Book Department, and the Theatre Collection for October’s First Wednesdays event! This month, we will be looking at costume plates from the Children’s Literature Research Collection’s WPA Collection. These costume plates were created by the Pennsylvania Museum Extension Project between 1935-1943 as educational tools for classrooms. While the original plates were hand watercolored by Pennsylvania artists, you have the opportunity to color your own copies of selected plates.

Join us to learn more about the Pennsylvania Museum Extension Project and to show off your artistic skills!

Please note: This event will take place on the Rare Book Department Balcony, located on the third floor of Parkway Central Library. Third Floor galleries are open from 5-7PM; The program will run from 5:30-6:30PM.

The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Children’s Literature Research Collection (CLRC) is one of the premier centers for the study of children’s literature in the United States. The Collection houses over 100,000 works of children’s literature and an archive of original artwork, manuscripts, and ephemera. The Children’s Literature Research Collection promotes the history, study, and development of children’s literature. CLRC engages the public about the importance of children’s literature in history and culture; expands the knowledge base of library patrons through research support; and fosters new ideas through displays and exhibitions.