Philadelphia Reflections

gfisher@philadelphia-reflections.com (George Ross Fisher III, M.D.) — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:44:46 EDT

William Penn's Quaker Colonies plus medicine, economics and politics

Albert Gallatin

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:32:35 EDT

A magnificent but largely forgotten man.

Whither, Federal Reserve?

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:31:51 EDT

The Federal Reserve seems to be a big black box, containing magic. In fact, it's high-wire acrobatics that must not be allowed to fail.

Credit Crunch 2007

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:31:32 EDT

After 1982, house prices soared out of balance with rentals, because mortgages were cheap. The bubble burst in August 2007 in unexpected ways, with outcomes predicted to be bad for both house prices and mortgage lenders.

Theatre in Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:05:24 EDT

Theater has declined, everywhere in the western world. But in Philadelphia, even today if you attended every new play you would keep pretty busy.

Subcultures

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:04:56 EDT

A few reflections about the subcultures in and around Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Economics

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:04:10 EDT

economics

Shakspere Society of Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:03:10 EDT

Maybe not the first, but the oldest Shakespeare club in America or possibly even the world, has kept minutes for over a hundred fifty years.

Right Angle Club 2007

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:02:43 EDT

A report, to the year 2007 shareholders of the Right Angle Club of Philadelphia, by their outgoing president.

Investing, Philadelphia Style

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:01:31 EDT

Land ownership once was the only practical form of savings, until banking matured in the mid-19th century. Philadelphia took an early lead in what is now called investment and still defines a certain style of it.

Musical Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:00:51 EDT

Quakers never cared much for music, but the city has nonetheless musically flourished into international fame. At the same time, quarrels and internal battles have also been world class.

Literary Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:00:04 EDT

Literary

Conventions and Convention Centers

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:59:11 EDT

When you have a big convention center, some circus is always coming to town. Philadelphia has always been a convention town, has had and still has lots of convention sites, and hopes to have more of the kind of famous convention we have had in the past.

Art in Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:58:44 EDT

The history of art, particularly painting and sculpture, has been a long and distinguished one. If you add in the art schools, the Philadelphia national influence on artists has been a dominant one.

The Franklin Inn

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:53:18 EDT

Hidden in a back alley near the theaters, this little club is the center of the City's literary circle. It enjoys outstanding food in surroundings which suggest Samuel Johnson's club in London.

Legal Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:39:16 EDT

The American legal profession grew up in this town, creating institutions and traditions that set the style for everyone else. Boston, New York and Washington have lots of influential lawyers, but Philadelphia shapes the legal profession.

Volunteerism

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:36:47 EDT

The characteristic American behavior called volunteerism got its start with Benjamin Franklin's Junto, and has been a source of comment by foreign visitors ever since. It's still a very active force.

Quakers: The Society of Friends

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:34:25 EDT

According to an old Quaker joke, the Holy Trinity consists of the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, and the neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Medical Economics

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:33:32 EDT

Some Philadelphia physicians are contributors to current national debates on the financing of medical care.

Indigents

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:32:51 EDT

With a long history of welcoming and assisting the poor, Philadelphia has always risked swamping the lifeboat by attracting more of them than it can handle.

Government Organization

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:32:13 EDT

Government Organization

Academia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:31:25 EDT

Higher education is a source of pride, progress, and aggravation.

The Clinton Health Plan of 1993 - Part Two

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:29:58 EDT

After the Clinton Plan was dropped, and then after fifteen years of aftermath, public dissatisfaction with the health financing system is no better, probably worse. Here are some fresh ideas.

The Clinton Health Plan of 1993 - Part One

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:29:37 EDT

Mistaking Senate re-election of Harris Wofford to mean the country demanded reform of the medical system, newly-elected President Clinton announced he would create one. When stakeholders surmised he was making it up as he went along, they deserted him.

Health Insurance

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:25:51 EDT

Clinton Health Plan and its replacements.

Financial Planning for a Long Retirement

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:25:24 EDT

How should an individual investor ensure they have enough money for retirement?

Such a person is often a professional or entrepreneur who has worked to accumulate wealth. Legions of "advisors" are lined up to take this money and manage it or else to sell "products" that promise to solve some problem or other.

A person who has created their career and their wealth from scratch by intelligence and hard work can also manage their investments themselves, or at least supervise the process from a position of strength created by knowing what needs to be done.

This collection of articles explains to the individual investor how to take control of their wealth. They may eventually decide to look for help from an advisor but they will retain control of their assets and they will know what to do.

Financial Planning videos on YouTube

Philadelphia Medicine

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:24:28 EDT

The first hospital, the first medical school, the first medical society, and abundant Civil War casualties, all combined to establish the most important medical center in the country. It's still the second largest industry in the city.

Website Development

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:23:36 EDT

The website technology supporting Philadelphia Reflections is PHP, MySQL and DHTML. The web hosting service is Internet Planners.

Sights to See: The Outer Ring

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:21:43 EDT

There are many interesting places to visit in the exurban ring beyond Philadelphia, linked to the city by history rather than commerce.

Sixth and Walnut <br />over to Broad and Sansom

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:21:21 EDT

In 1751, the Pennsylvania Hospital at 8th and Spruce was 'way out in the country. Now it is in the center of a city, but the area still remains dominated by medical institutions.

The Park and Beyond

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:20:48 EDT

Fairmount Park is large enough to split the City from its suburbs, and is partly a playground, partly a museum. East Falls, Germantown and Chestnut Hill are almost a separate world on the far side of the park.

To Germantown, a Short Appreciation

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:20:26 EDT

Seven miles from the heart of Philadelphia, Germantown was once a separate town, the cultural center of Germans in America. Revolutionary battles were fought here, it was briefly the capital of the United States, and it still has an outstanding collection of schools and colleges.

Tourist Walk in Olde Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:19:45 EDT

Colonial Philadelphia can be seen in a hard day's walk, if you stick to the center of town.

Up Market Street <br />to Sixth and Walnut

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:19:21 EDT

Millions of eye patients have been asked to read the passage from Franklin's autobiography, "I walked up Market Street, etc." which is universally printed on eye-test cards. Here's your chance to do it.

Up the King's High Way

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:18:53 EDT

New Jersey has a narrow waistline, with New York harbor at one end, and Delaware Bay on the other. Traffic and history travelled the Kings Highway along this path between New York and Philadelphia.

West of Broad

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:18:27 EDT

A collection of articles about the area west of Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia's West Country

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:18:05 EDT

Like all cities, Philadelphia is filling in and choking up with subdivisions and development, in all directions from the center. The last place to fill up is the Welsh Barony, a tip of which can be said to extend all the way in town to the Art Museum.

Philadelphia's Middle Urban Ring

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:17:34 EDT

Philadelphia grew rapidly for seventy years after the Civil War, then gradually lost population. Skyscrapers drain population upwards, suburbs beckon outwards. The result: a ring around center city, mixed prosperous and dilapidated. Future in doubt.

North of Market

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:16:43 EDT

The term once referred to the Quaker district along Arch Street, and then to a larger district that had its heyday after the Civil War, industrialized, declined, and is now our worst urban problem area.

New Jersey (State of)

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:16:18 EDT

The Garden State really has two different states of mind. The state motto is Liberty and Prosperity.

Land Tour Around Delaware Bay

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:15:54 EDT

Starting in Philadelphia, it takes two days to tour around Delaware Bay. Down the New Jersey side to Cape May, ferry over to Lewes, tour up to Dover and New Castle, visit Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, Brandywine Battlefield and art museum, then back to Philadelphia.

Historical Motor Excursion North of Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:15:30 EDT

The narrow waist of New Jersey was the upper border of William Penn's vast land holdings, and the outer edge of Quaker influence. In 1776-77, Lord Howe made it the focus of his attempt to subjugate the Colonies.

Haddonfield

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:15:05 EDT

Haddonfield is a bit of a secret. It's Philadelphia's "Main Line, East".

Downtown

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:14:39 EDT

A discussion about downtown area in Philadelphia and connections from today with its historical past.

Delaware (State of)

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:14:13 EDT

Originally the "lower counties" of Pennsylvania, and thus one of three Quaker colonies founded by William Penn, Delaware has developed its own set of traditions and history.

Custom Tour of Private Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:13:48 EDT

Philadelphia Hospitality, a non-profit group, puts together the following tour for visiting bigwigs. A good guide to what's best around here.

Computers and Websites

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:13:24 EDT

Much of the early development of the electronic computer took place in Philadelphia. We lost the lead, but it might return.

City of Rivers and Rivulets

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:03:14 EDT

Philadelphia has always been defined by the waters that surround it.

Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks Counties

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:02:54 EDT

The Philadelphia metropolitan region has five Pennsylvania counties, four New Jersey counties, one northern county in the state of Delaware. Here are the four Pennsylvania suburban ones.

Architecture in Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:02:32 EDT

Originating in a limitless forest, wooden structures became a "Red City" of brick after a few fires. Then a succession of gifted architects shaped the city as Greek Revival, then French. Modern architecture now responds as much to population sociology as artistic genius. Take a look at the current "green building" movement.

America's Historic Square Mile (pre-1800)

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:02:04 EDT

Society Hill: Philadelphia's authentic colonial area, from the Delaware River west to 8th Street the limit of settlement in 1776, but for a while the center of America. The richest, most famous men in America lived within a few blocks of each other. Things happened here.

Arch Street: from Sixth to Second

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:01:32 EDT

When the large meeting house at Fourth and Arch was built, many Quakers moved their houses to the area. At that time, "North of Market" implied the Quaker region of town.

Personal Finance

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:03:05 EDT

The rules of financial health are simple, but remarkably hard to follow. Be frugal in order to save, use your savings to buy the whole market not parts of it, if this system ain't broke, don't fix it. And don't underestimate your longevity.

Dislocations: Financial and Fundamental

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:01:44 EDT

The crash of 2007 was more than a bank panic. It was a collision of several revolutions which were all ripples from the same splash.

Pacifist Pennsylvania, Invaded Many Times

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:55:49 EDT

Pennsylvania was founded as a pacifist utopia, and currently regards itself as protected by vast oceans. But Pennsylvania has been seriously invaded at least six times.

Curtis

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:23:02 EDT

To Cy Curtis, magazines were just vehicles for advertisers. In fact, his mags taught former farmers how to manage urban life, more or less accidentally creating a focus for American books, authors, politics and literature. The fall of his empire teaches the lesson that antitrust laws against vertical integration are probably unnecessary.

Connecticut Invades Pennsylvania!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:50:40 EDT

The rest of the world fights wars about national grievances, both recent and long past. Meanwhile, Connecticut once waged a serious war with Pennsylvania, and we don't even remember it.

Working Topic

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:51:39 EDT

Preliminary space for author use.

Philadelphia's River Region

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:47:52 EDT

A concentration of articles around the rivers and wetland in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Physicians

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:25:01 EDT

Philadelphia dominated the medical profession so long that it's hard to distinguish between local traditions and national ones. The distinctive feature is that in Philadelphia you must be a real doctor before you become a mere specialist.

Revolutionary Philadelphia's Patriots

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:23:42 EDT

Hotheads in the London Coffee House got stirred up about an inoffensive Tea Act, Scotch-Irish had come here to escape the British Crown, both the local artisan class and the local smuggler class had unexpectedly prospered under non-importation, and the local gentry were offended to be denied seats in Parliament like other Englishmen. But Pennsylvania wavered until the day Ben Franklin stepped off the boat from London with a grievance.

Customs, Culture and Traditions

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:17:54 EDT

Abundant seafood made it easy to settle here. Agriculture takes longer.

Causes of the American Revolution

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:16:47 EDT

Britain and its colonies had outgrown Eighteenth Century techniques of governance. Unfortunately, both England and America also lacked the sophistication to make drastic changes smoothly.

Deaths of the Shah, by Donald Hough

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:16:37 EDT

Black Philadelphia

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:35:08 EDT

The City of Philadelphia is only a part of the region, but within that part, the black population holds political power. That's definitely not true in the rest of the region. Discordances like this create problems until political evolution smooths them out.

Philadelphia Politics

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:51:05 EDT

Originally, politics had to do with the Proprietors, then the immigrants, then the King of England, then the establishment of the nation. Philadelphia first perfected the big-city political machine, which centers on bulk payments from utilities to the boss politician rather than small graft payments to individual office holders. More efficient that way.

Religious Philadelphia

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:52:13 EDT

William Penn wanted a colony with religious freedom. A considerable number, if not the majority, of American religious denominations were founded in this city.

Foreign Affairs

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:50:13 EDT

This topic is under construction. Feel free to watch it evolve.

Outlaws

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:47:05 EDT

Even the criminals, the courts and the prisons of this town have a Philadelphia distinctiveness. The underworld has its own version of history.

Medical Malpractice

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:46:41 EDT

The medical system is on the point of abandoning the city to escape abusive lawsuits. A series of observations about shared blame, ultimately assigns responsibility to the mistake of allowing this matter to be covered by insurance, thus creating a financial target.

The British Attack Philadelphia

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:58:12 EDT

Fighting in the Revolutionary War lasted eight years; for two full years (June 1776 to June 1778) Philadelphia was the objective of military attack. Only the Civil War killed a larger proportion of the population.

Nature Preservation

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:18:42 EDT

Nature preservation and nature destruction are different parts of an eternal process.

Science

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:36:24 EDT

Science

Benjamin Franklin

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:34:40 EDT

A collection of Benjamin Franklin tidbits that relate Philadelphia's revolutionary prelate to his moving around the city, the colonies, and the world.

Sporting Philadelphia

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:19:40 EST

A few reflections about sports in and around Philadelphia.

Evolving Philadelphia

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:06:52 EST

The city changes.

Nobel Prizes

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:17:23 EST

Some Philadelphians won Nobel Prizes for work done here, or elsewhere. Some prize winners would deny they are Philadelphians, but their work was nevertheless done here.

Historical Preservation

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:59:35 EST

The 20% federal tax credit for historic preservation is said to have been the special pet of Senator Lugar of Indiana. Much of the recent transformation of Philadelphia's downtown is attributed to this incentive.

The Proprietorship of West Jersey

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:18:01 EST

The southern half of New Jersey was William Penn's first venture in real estate. It undoubtedly gave him bigger ideas.

Revolutionary Philadelphia's Loyalists

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:15:41 EST

History is written by the victors, so the Tory Loyalists of Revolutionary Philadelphia have mostly fallen from view.

Quakers: All Alike, All Different

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:14:47 EST

Quaker doctrines emerge from the stories they tell about each other.

Articles of Confederation

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:50:48 EST

For thirteen years the country was ruled by the Articles of Confederation, and by Philadelphia. We learned many lessons during that episode, and we are beginning to forget we learned them.

Tourist Trips Around Philadelphia and the Quaker Colonies

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:11:38 EST

The states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and southern New Jersey all belonged to William Penn the Quaker. He was the largest private landholder in American history. Using explicit directions, comprehensive touring of the Quaker Colonies takes seven full days. Local residents would need a couple dozen one-day trips to get up to speed.

Philadelphia Fish and Fishing

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:08:45 EST

Less than a century ago, Delaware Bay, Delaware River, Schuylkill River, Pennypack Creek, Wissahickon Creek, and dozens of other creeks in this swampy region were teeming with edible fish, oysters and crabs. They may be coming back, cautiously.

Philadelphia, A Running Commentary

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:46:49 EST

A series of observations in and around Philadelphia by notables over the last three and one-half centuries.

Insurance in Philadelphia

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:02:06 EST

Early Philadelphia took a lead in insurance innovation. Some ideas, like life insurance, flourished. Others have faded.

Favorite Reflections

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:54:54 EST

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The Constitution

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:10:22 EST

The Constitution is not just a paper signed at a convention in Philadelphia. Its full significance lies in the difficulties which forced its creation, and the difficulties which soon emerged after it was implemented. All of that belongs to Philadelphia.

Reminiscences

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:04:10 EST

Watching the constantly passing scene, occasionally opportunities arise to change its flow.

Particular Sights to See:Center City

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:51:50 EST

Taxi drivers tell tourists that Center City is a "shining city on a hill". During the Industrial Era, the city almost urbanized out to the county line, and then retreated. Right now, the urban center is surrounded by a semi-deserted ring of former factories.

Japan and Philadelphia

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:48:39 EST

Philadelphia and Japan have had a special friendship for 150 years.

Touring Philadelphia's Western Regions

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:44:50 EST

Philadelpia County had two hundred farms in 1950, but is now thickly settled in all directions. Western regions along the Schuylkill are still spread out somewhat; with many historic estates.

Food and Drink in Philadelphia

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:34:55 EDT

A flowing abundance of food sources made Philadelphia the capital of food and drink, right from earliest times.

Quakers: William Penn

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:20:08 EDT

Although Ben Franklin lately gets more ink, William Penn deserves at least equal rank among the most remarkable men who ever lived.

Fanny Kemble

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:47:12 EDT

Fanny Kemble was more than the toast of the town, she was the most glamorous woman in the English speaking world. But far beyond that, she was a famous author, Shakespearean scholar, and had a major influence on the Civil War.

Premature Solutions to the Credit Crisis of 2007

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:44:22 EDT

Proposals for reforms which would prevent another credit crunch are starting to surface. Even in a presidential election campaign, people are pretty hesitant to suggest dramatic reforms. At least, once said Hippocrates, please don't make things worse.

Philadelphia Reflections forum

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:41:10 EDT

An interactive addition to this group of articles

Detroit Makes, Philadelphia Takes

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:37:20 EDT

The heap of crushed auto bodies at the foot of Philadelphia's Platt Bridge is an important part of the regional economy.

Volunteerism Needs a Business Plan

Tue, 06 May 2008 15:42:12 EDT

Volunteerism has declined in recent years because of conflicting demands made by gainful employment. The spirit of volunteerism has not diminished, it just needs a different business plan.

Native Habitat

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:41:13 EDT

Increased foreign trade, especially to Asia, has brought us some new plant types. Lacking natural enemies, they are taking over.

Proposal: A Second Federal Reserve

Mon, 05 May 2008 19:41:26 EDT

Henry Kaufman recently made a number of wise observations about the monetary situation, followed by a radical proposal that might be rather hard to implement.

Flanders & Swann

Mon, 05 May 2008 18:12:29 EDT

And who, pray, hasn't heard of this duo?

Asset Allocation and Portfolio Rebalancing

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:55:04 EDT

The steps to take to invest a lump sum and maintain the investment with portfolio rebalancing.

Mortgages From the Bank's Viewpoint

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:32:00 EDT

When a bank issues a mortgage, there are lots of bumps in the road it starts to travel.

Linking Oil Prices to the Credit Crisis

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:55:45 EDT

For a while it seemed we had two unrelated crises at the same time, a housing crisis, and soaring oil prices. The two may be the same thing.

Retirement Planning Video

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:16:03 EDT

The retirement situation and how much to save for yourself.

Retirement Planning

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:15:35 EDT

A process to determine the amount of investment portfolio to accumulate for retirement.

Broad Street North and South

Sat, 03 May 2008 23:43:01 EDT

Broad Street in Philadelphia stretches due north from the old Nary Yard on the Delaware River, past City Hall in the center of town, to the northern edge of the city at Elkins Park. Further North of the City Route 611 continues straight on through Doylestown to Easton, where it rejoins the Delaware River.

The Value of Large Law Firms

Fri, 02 May 2008 16:26:09 EDT

Young lawyers clamor and strive to be employed by huge law firms, but most of them complain bitterly once they achieve the goal. What's this all about?

The Nation's Capitol

Thu, 01 May 2008 18:27:09 EDT

George Washington himself may have stated the vision of the Capitol building in the city named after him; Thomas Jefferson stated strong views. But the original building was designed by Bulfinch of Boston, rather like the Massachusetts General Hospital. After the War of 1812, a succession of Philadelphia Architects took over and made it what we know today. Benjamin Latrobe set things moving, then Thomas U. Walter reset the proportions under the influence of William Strickland. If Philadelphia was to lose the capitol in a polical deal, at least it could define the outcome.

Robert Adams, Jr.

Thu, 01 May 2008 17:11:15 EDT

Robert Adams Jr fought what is thought to be the last duel in Philadelphia. His opponent was the dashing eccentric J. William White M.D., who is much better known. Adams, however, was later a State legislator, an Ambassador to Brazil, and a U. S. Congressman.

Curing Stagflation

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:43:23 EDT

More than a century ago, Walter Bagehot succinctly told us what to do about the dilemma of stagflation. We'll get back to him, after politicians make us try everything else first.

Geo Positioning

Thu, 01 May 2008 09:21:40 EDT

With the advent of Google Earth, the tagging of websites, blogs and photographs with latitude and longitude information has taken a great leap forward.

Calendar of Local Events

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:28 EDT

Dates maintained by Dr. Fisher for his readers

HowTo Create A Subprime Derivative

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:43:09 EDT

It's easier than you thought

The Cause of the Subprime Crisis

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:35:28 EDT

Things you suspected but kept to yourself

Financing a Research University

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:02:11 EDT

Responding to staggering financial temptations, our most prestigious universities are beginning to put both themselves and the rest of the country at unacceptable risk.

Fernery

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:58:27 EDT

Around 1840, there was a brief world-wide craze for ferns, related to the exciting discovery of their complicated reproductive process. Only one Victorian fernery still exists in North America, at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia.

Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:54:58 EDT

First you must learn how colonial buildings were made, then you have to learn how to do it yourself. And after that, this imaginative preservation society has branched out to helping other regions restore colonial buildings.

Equal Pay for Equal Work

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:52:23 EDT

Sometimes the representatives of political interest groups try, just a little too hard.

Edward Hicks: Peaceable Kingdoms

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:51:00 EDT

This uneducated Bucks County farm boy has steadily risen in reputation as a painter of primative art, just as he and his cousin have become spiritual leaders of non dogmatic religious thought.

Economics of La Cosa Nostra

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:48:15 EDT

Organized crime in Philadelphia has always seemed a little quaint. The most famous local godfather seems to have designed an organization that made lots of money without annoying the public.

ZTo Germantown: A Short Appreciation

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:26:15 EDT

The Western World was long defined as a province of Rome

Gettysburg

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:26:12 EDT

The strategy of both sides in the Battle of Gettysburg was shaped by the type of weapons in use.

Mussolini in South Philadelphia

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:00:20 EDT

The American public had scarcely heard of Benito Mussolini before World War II, but Italian immigrants in South Philadelphia were agitated by news from the old country.

The Kimmel Center: Comments On The Economics of Music

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:26:03 EDT

Philadelphia needs more than one concert hall, but two of them may be more music than we can manage.

Main Line School Night

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:30:24 EDT

There are a lot of continuing education courses, but few are as successful as Main Line School Night, with 14,000 students, hardly any of whom need education.

Murky Crisis

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:48:58 EDT

Six months after the credit crisis began, it's still not clear how bad it is.

Market Street, East (3)

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:14:07 EDT

Philadelphia built a White House for George Washington at Ninth and Market, a block from the place Franklin once flew his kite.

The Housing Bubble

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:08:39 EDT

For now, let's call the economic upheavals of 2007 a housing bubble. It followed a dot-com crash, and both bubbles were part of the electronic revolution, beginning in 1975.

Blackball

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:16:14 EDT

To blackball someone has nothing to do with billiards. At one time, most Philadelphia social clubs required unanimous agreement for the admission of a new member. There actually was a wooden box into which voting members dropped either a white ball or a black one.

Plain Speech

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:53:26 EDT

A visit to a neighboring city.

Parliamentary procedure(2)

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

Parliament once was the model for civil discourse, but the corporate model supplanted it. Now, it's all the lengthened shadow of one man, the CEO. King George III learned what happens when you annoy Americans with that style.

The Philadelphia Bay (1)

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:20:41 EDT

In geological times, New Jersey and Delaware were barrier islands of the Atlantic, and lower Delaware Bay was the inlet between them. Then, we silted up and formed land bridges, leaving a twisting extension of a river which ought to end at Trenton. Upper Delaware Bay is Philadelphia Bay.

Frozen Markets

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:08:22 EDT

After August 17, 2007, it was widely reported that financial markets froze up. What in the world does that mean?

The Heirs of William Penn

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:03:19 EDT

The death of William Penn left his heirs the largest land holdings in America. Although they managed it fairly well, it proved to be more than a single family could cope with.

Making Money (6): The Laffer Curve

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:57:29 EDT

The first President Bush called it Voodoo Economics. His son embarrassed him with the truth.

Urban Termites

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:49:21 EDT

Slums are occasionally created deliberately ... when skyscrapers are conceived

Philadelphia Food: Ingredients

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:18:07 EDT

The region has always been surrounded by abundant fishing, hunting and farm products.

Please Don't Lose Any Sleep Over This

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:10:43 EDT

New research suggests that when medical Resident physicians stay up all night working, they get sleepy. When a minimum sleep requirement for doctors was suggested, administrators were a little stunned to find doctors were annoyed.

Zane Grey, Dentist

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:09:05 EDT

Owen Wister may have invented the theme of the noble cowboy, but Zane Grey made it famous.

Rosencrantz and Gildenstern (4)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:07:21 EDT

After an idea "grows legs and runs around", it no longer belongs to its originator

IRA ... Individual Retirement Accounts (3)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:06:20 EDT

A legislative proposal gets started, beginning in the right place.

Easy Ride: Perth Amboy to Trenton

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:35:15 EDT

The British Army romped down the narrow waist of New Jersey, from New Brunswick to Trenton. But it's not safe to go too fast too far into enemy territory.

July 4, 1776

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:25:27 EDT

Patients in Pennsylvania Hospital on Independence Day, 1776.

Philadelphia Gardens

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:05:09 EDT

Philadelphia loves its gardens, particularly boxwood and azalea.

Wall Art in Philadelphia

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:36:03 EDT

Several thousand Philadelphia buildings now display outdoor paintings by local artists, encouraged and funded by the City government. In the summer, bus trips with guides tour around the town, explaining things.

The Savoy and the Orpheus

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:52:02 EDT

Two amateur singing groups are fixtures of the Philadelphia musical, and social, scene. Their success is partially due to high costs of union labor.

The Blue Cross Discount (6)

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:50:34 EDT

Hospitals customarily inflate many charges so far beyond their costs that you must buy insurance to protect yourself. Whatever the dominant health insurers may be doing to encourage that practice, they are the main ones to benefit from it.

Nation's First Hospital, 1751-2008

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:01:33 EDT

The nation's oldest hospital changed more from 1948 to 2008 than it did from July 4. 1776 to 1948.

Manna

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:30 EDT

It's heartening to see Philadelphians as unlike each other as show biz, and the City Troop, coming together to help the victims of HIV/AIDS.

Germantown and the French and Indian War

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:39:22 EDT

In 1750, the frontier was not very far from Germantown, and the pacifist Germans were as conflicted as English Quakers about Scotch-Irish behavior, Indian warfare techniques, and Benjamin Franklin

Greenwich, Where?

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:38:52 EDT

A charming little colonial village in the Pine Woods of New Jersey has a long history, few visitors, and nothing reconstructed. It's the real thing.

The Richest Men in America

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:26:16 EDT

In ten minutes, you can walk between the Society Hill homes of Robert Morris, William Bingham, Stephan Girard, and Nicholas Biddle.

Dedication: Deaths of the Shah

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:16:20 EDT

....

Andrew Hamilton (1676-1741)

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:12:30 EDT

The original Philadelphia Lawyer, Andrew Hamilton gets confused with Alexander Hamilton, no relation. Judged from his life accomplishments, Andrew was one of the most influential people in pre-Revolutionary America.

Marian B. Sanders, Quaker Activist, 87

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:33:56 EDT

Mrs. Sanders wasn't famous, even among Quakers. Her obituary records a fairly representative life among seriously dedicated members of the Society of Friends.

Betsy Ross on Hard Times

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:21:57 EDT

The famous Revolutionary seamstress lived a long time into the 19th Century, and apparently outlived her savings. A useful tale, perhaps, for Social Security reform.

Henry Mercer's Rathskeller

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:18:02 EDT

The Racquet Club's basement resembles a rathskeller, and is the famous origin of the Mercer style of architecture.

The Godfather

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:17:12 EDT

The chief thug in town turns out to be quite a wit.

Curtis: The Business Plan

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:14:24 EDT

Magazines are sold for less than they cost to print, just as grand opera costs more to produce than the ticket price. Therefore, both survival and failure can have misleading causes.

Contemporary Germantown

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:11:45 EDT

"Well," said Bockus, "Every famous surgeon I know, has a house on an island, somewhere. Where's your island?"

The Swedenborgian Church

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:10:28 EDT

The Swedenborgians belong to the Church of the New Jeruselem, following the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and strongly emphasizing personal responsibility, individuality, and good works. The Philadelphia branch is particularly strong, centered around a magnificent medieval cathedral in Bryn Athyn. Johnny Appleseed and Helen Keller were notable adherants, and a driving force has been the Pitcairn family of industrialists.

Nature Preservation

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:02:54 EDT

Philadelphia shares the nation's confusion about what to do about animals, when people need the real estate for their own purposes.

Victorian Broad Street

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:00:47 EDT

Some massive beautiful Victorian buildings still dominate the City crossroads on Broad Street near City Hall.

Elizabethan Accents in Philadelphia

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:02:02 EDT

In the birthplace of American independence, there's still a lot of Olde English buried in the speech patterns.

Falstaff Without Prince Hal

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:01:04 EDT

The parents of W.C. Fields didn't treat him very well, but he always acted as though Philadelphia didn't treat him well. Philadelphia's main crime was probably that it disliked the Volstead Prohibition of Alcohol Act somewhat less than Fields disliked it.

Fanny Kemble

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:59:08 EDT

Frances Anne Kemble had it all: fame, beauty, wealth, personal friendship with real royalty and literary royalty. Beyond that, she caused a major new understanding of Shakespeare, and was a major force in the abolition of slavery. Philadelphia wasn't big enough to hold her; perhaps no town was.

Finances of the Girard Estate

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:57:21 EDT

When he died in 1830. Stephen Girard was the richest man in America. A quick review of the outcome of his life work suggests he was maybe the smartest man in America, too.

Further Acknowledgments (2)

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:50:37 EDT

Finding a publisher is often hard, but sometimes easy.

Harriton House

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:49:02 EDT

The original house in the old Welsh barony gave its name to Bryn Mawr, and once was the home of the secretary of the Continental Congress.

Harvard Men Suggest a Cold Place for Yale

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:47:32 EDT

The northeast corner of Pennsylvania was once covered by a glacier.

International Visitors

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:46:11 EDT

, The International Visitors Council does a great job welcoming visitors from abroad.

It Ain't Necessarily So

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:26:44 EDT

James A. Michener (1907-1997)

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:22:19 EDT

< James A. Michener was a birthright Quaker from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he made his home when he wasn't traveling. He wrote 40 books, most notably "South Pacific", but lived a fairly simple smalltown life, in spite of giving over $100 million to charity.

Joseph Priestley, Shaker and Mover

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:49:11 EDT

The father of the science of chemistry was also the founder of the Unitarian Church.

La Fayette, We Are Here

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:47:13 EDT

LaFayette's first experience in charge of troops very nearly ended in his capture.

Larger Clubs

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:45:56 EDT

No longer exclusively all-male (or, occasionally, all-female), the downtown club is changing its role but remains a social center of considerable importance.

Laundered Money

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:44:34 EDT

A real-life story of counterfeiting and the Secret Service -- and a little old lady doing her laundry.

Lewis Harlow van Dusen, Jr. (1910-2004)

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:42:43 EDT

rode together on the Metroliner down to Washington, stayed at a club there, and after the hearing took the train back to Philadelphia.

Lindbergh Boulevard

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:41:19 EDT

There's a street in Southwest Philadelphia in honor of a visit by Charles Lindbergh. It runs approximately from Bartrams's Garden to the Airport.