Category: history

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Historian Jeff Denman at the Historical Society of Frankford

The Historical Society of Frankford (HSF) will host historian Jeff Denman speaking at its September 8, 2026 monthly meeting and
lecture. Denman will discuss his new book Philadelphia Quakers and the American Revolution, Charlestown, SC: The History Press, 2026.

Fleeing political upheavals in England for settlement in the New World, Quakers rose to unprecedented economic and political power in the Pennsylvania colony. However, the failure of the Quaker-dominated government to provide for defense in the wars from the 1730s into the 1760s
was the beginning of their downfall. By the Revolution, their fortunes had waned, and they were brutally suppressed by their political foes. Seventeen Quakers and three others were exiled to Virginia without so much as a hearing, and Quaker farms and businesses were subject to
depredations. Labeled dissenters by Loyalist and Patriot alike, they stood their ground, alone and isolated. The book vividly describes the precipitous rise of the Philadelphia Quakers and their fall during the American Revolution. Copies will be available for purchase and signing.
Denman is a retired American history and geography teacher from the Brookline Public Schools in Brookline, Massachusetts. He has written widely on topics in American history. Denman holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine and a Master of Arts degree from the
University of Connecticut.

The meeting and lecture will be held at the HSF library/museum at 1507 Orthodox St, Philadelphia. It will also be livestreamed on the HSF Facebook page. The event is free and open to the public, and free off-street parking is available across Orthodox Street at the Frankford Friends School. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served before and after the lecture.

About the Historical Society of Frankford Founded in 1905, the Historical Society of Frankford preserves and interprets the history of
Frankford and vicinity through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.

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Frankford Stories by Fred Prescott

Rick Spector of Moviehouse Productions and Frederick C. (Fred) Prescott, will present Fred’s
Frankford Stories, a gritty installment in Moviehouse’s Philadelphia Neighborhood video series, at the
HSF monthly meeting lecture on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The “star” of the film is Fred, lifelong
Frankford resident and board member of the Historical Society of Frankford (HSF). He tells stories
of growing up and living in Frankford at another time, the early 1940’s through the 1960’s. The
speakers will take questions from the audience following the showing.
Rick Spector is a Philadelphia native and a proud son of NE Philly’s Oxford Circle. Always interested
in public speaking, nostalgia, Philadelphia history, music, television and film, Rick acted on his
passions by forming Moviehouse Productions in 1983. His company offers multi-media nostalgia
presentations to community groups and short subjects by video. Rick served seniors for 35 years
through community relations work at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Rick hosted PCA’s public
service radio show “Milestones” during its entire five-year run.
The meeting and lecture will occur at the HSF library/museum at 1507 Orthodox St, Philadelphia.
The event is free and open to the public, and free off-street parking is available across Orthodox
Street at the Frankford Friends School. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served
before and after the lecture.
The lecture will also be streamed live on the Society’s Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20historical%20society%20of%20frankford
About the Historical Society of Frankford
Founded in 1905, volunteers at the Historical Society of Frankford preserve and interpret the
history of Frankford and vicinity through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.
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Historical Society May Meeting

The Historical Society of Frankford is pleased to host “Pastor Paul” A. Andell, the longtime pastor of
St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Frankford, now celebrating its 100th anniversary, who will
address the HSF May meeting on May 12, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Pastor Paul will speak about the
congregation’s history, its revival under his renewed leadership since 2020, and their plans for
continued service to the community.

Pastor Paul is the authoritative voice for the church, having served as associate and head pastor for
44 of its 100 years. Under his leadership, St. James developed a preschool and many
faith-enhancing ministries including Stephen’s Ministry. St. James became a more inclusive
community church as well and was the largest Lutheran church in Philadelphia, with 5 weekly
services. Having retired from St. James once in 2011, he was called back in 2020 to address a
leadership crisis threatening the congregation’s continued existence. On March 22nd of this year he
led the church in a jubilant centennial service. Now he and his congregation are looking to the
future.

Pastor Paul will also reflect on the church’s early years and pastors serving many thousands of
people, both in Frankford and the northeast, offering hospitality to the community through its
excellent preschool, scouting and youth programs, seniors groups, music and theater, numerous AA
and NA support groups, civic and multi-cultural activities, and many weekly worship opportunities.
This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Free off street parking will be
available across Orthodox Street at the Frankford Friends School. Light refreshments will be served
before and after the lecture.

About the Historical Society of Frankford:
Founded in 1905, the volunteers of the Historical Society of Frankford preserve and interpret the
history of Northeast Philadelphia through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.

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Sam Katz – The Histories Collaborative of Philadelphia

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Roger Turner of the Science History Institute at the HSF

The Historical Society of Frankford (HSF) today invites the public to hear Roger Turner, curator of instruments and artifacts at the Science History Institute of Philadelphia, speak at its monthly meeting on April 14, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The doors open at
7:00 PM.

His topic will be “Weird, Wonderful, Playful and Profound: Treasures of the Science
History Institute”. The venue is the HSF library/museum, located at 1507 Orthodox St,
Philadelphia. The event is free and open to the public, and parking is available across Orthodox
Street at the Frankford Friends School. Light refreshments will be served.

The Science History Institute is a free museum in Old City Philadelphia with some fascinating stuff.
This talk explores surprising stories behind a few remarkable things from the collections. Why did
Beatrix Potter draw mice around a Bunsen burner dreaming of toasted cheese? What can we learn
about the history of plastic from a washed-up Lego dragon, an ESPN producer’s vuvuzela, and a
song by Shel Silverstein? Added together, these stories illustrate some of the ways that science and
technology have created the world we live in today.

Roger Turner is the curator of instruments and artifacts at the Science History Institute in
Philadelphia, USA. He studies the role of science in our daily lives, from chemistry labs to pollution
control to weather forecasting. Among his recent exhibits are “How to Read a Plastic Bag,” and
“Astroturf: Field of Contention.” His favorite scientific instrument is a spectrometer that has a label
warning users about its “emotional crisis detector”.