Lecture | A Black Bibliophile Tradition in Philadelphia

Jordan Ross, a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania, will explore the collecting habits of African American bibliophiles in Philadelphia during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Bibliophiles and organizations examined will include William Still, Robert Purvis, Robert Adger, William Bolivar, and the American Negro Historical Society of Philadelphia.

Jordan D. Ross is a joint Ph.D. student in education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the history of African American bibliophiles, collectors, and antiquarians during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is a grand prizewinner of the 2024 David Ruggles Prize and a 2024 junior fellow with the Library of Congress.

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