PA Humanities

This summer, PA Humanities is excited to welcome Amelia Spielman as our intern working primarily with our programs and communications teams, including special support for The Window Keeper: Civic Honors. Amelia is a Haverford College student double majoring in English and economics, with experience in social media, writing, student engagement, and community-building. She even has a Carnegie Hall piano performance on her résumé!

Follow the link to learn more about Amelia, what drew her to PA Humanities, and what she hopes to learn this summer.

Haverford's John B. Hurford '60 Center for the Arts and Humanities

Getting to know PA Humanities intern Amelia Spielman - PA Humanities A native of Austin, Texas, Amelia Spielman just completed her sophomore year at Haverford College and is double majoring in English and economics. Click to get to know her better.

🎬 Pennsylvania's episode of American Stories: A Reading Road Trip is now available to watch on PBS Books' website and YouTube channel!

American Stories: A Reading Road Trip is a new series produced by PBS Books in partnership with The Library of Congress and its Affiliate Centers for the Book. Timed with America’s 250th anniversary, the series celebrates the literary heritage and storytelling traditions that have shaped each U.S. state and territory.

Pennsylvania’s episode takes viewers on a vibrant literary journey from Pittsburgh through the Appalachian Mountains to Philadelphia and beyond, highlighting the Commonwealth’s enduring influence on American literature, journalism, theater, education, and public life.

The episode includes interviews with Ellysa Stern Cahoy (Director of the PA Center for the Book), Dawn Frisby Byers (Senior Director of Content and Engagement at PA Humanities), and Sony Ton-Aime (Director of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures) as well as contemporary writers Jennifer Weiner, Marjorie Maddox Hafer, Eric Smith, and Raina J. León.

Watch Pennsylvania's episode here: https://www.pbsbooks.org/event/pennsylvania-american-stories-a-reading-road-trip-episode-113/
Penn State University Libraries

Back for round 2!
Real stories. Black voices. From story circles to the screen.
Join us on Saturday, June 6th, from 11:00am - 1:00pm to share your story!

Select participants will be invited for a feature in Voices of History's short films, combining oral histories with archival materials. Join our cohort of storytellers and build a living archive for generations to come.

Space is limited so register now! Scan the QR code or click the link in our bio.

Kudos to our executive director, Laurie Zierer, for leading an engaging session at 2026 entitled "From Isolation to Integration: How to Build and Sustain Cross-Sector Collaborations."

AFTACON 2026, presented by Americans for the Arts, is where artists, administrators, and advocates gather to shape the future of arts and culture and organize for impact. Three and a half days of learning, strategy, and connection — with 1,000+ peers from across the country.

Who will you recognize in your community? Nominations are now open for The Window Keeper: Civic Honors, PA Humanities’ statewide initiative celebrating Pennsylvanians whose everyday actions help shape strong communities and sustain civic life through the power of the humanities.

A Window Keeper can be a librarian or educator, or a museum or nonprofit professional expanding access to knowledge and bringing learning into everyday spaces. Perhaps it’s a local historian or archivist preserving community memory. Maybe your Window Keeper is a cultural tradition bearer passing down language, foodways or art. Or a community organizer or small business owner creating spaces for connection.

Everyone knows someone - who is your someone? Nominate them today!

Who’s your Window Keeper? Nominate them today! - PA Humanities Real-life Window Keepers are everyday people who illuminate what’s possible in their communities, helping others to connect and participate more fully in civic life. Over the coming months, PA Humanities will recognize Window Keepers from all across Pennsylvania, but we can't do it without YOU! Re...