One of the best places to start exploring those contributions is the Free Library of Philadelphia.
The main branch on Logan Circle was built in 1927, designed by African-American architect Julian Abele.
A plaque on the Vine Street side notes his accomplishment. Inside, the library has a number of departments, and virtuaslly all have something special going on in February.
A gallery just off the main lobby features a collections of masks from throughout Africa. The popular books section across the hall includes shelf after shelf of African-American fiction.
But don't stop there.
The music department holds all sorts of treasures, from LP's long off the market to today's CD's. The jazz collection is particularly strong. There's also sheet music documenting the work of African-Americans in many kinds of music.
On our visit, we saw one piece Nina Simone autographed and donated.
Upstairs in the rare book room, you can see documents from the Pennsylvania Aboltionist Society dating back to the 1700's, long before the movement swept the country. This department is funded entirely by private contributions, and the library currently is seeking grants to expand its collection of African-American books and documents.
Downstairs, the children's department has a wide array of books of interest: biographies, bedtime stories, and much more.There are also movies and many other collections that's just at Parkway Central.
.Every library in the Philadelphia system will have programs through the month, so there's bound to be something going on right in your own neighborhood.
To learn more about the collections and all the events system-wide, visit the Free Library website, All library resources are available to cardholders. A card is free to residents of the city, and to non-residents who work in town and pay city wage tax.
But the selection of resources is so vast that a growing number of people who are otherwise ineligible for a free card pay for one at a cost of $15.00.
This gives them access to services from practice versions of standardized tests, to books downloadable to the Nook electronic reader.
People from as far away as Australia who have never even been to Philadelphia subscribe.
You can find out how to get a card from the library website, or by visiting the branch nearest you.
