The Library Company of Philadelphia – America's oldest cultural institution, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731.

Note: The Library Company will be closed to the public for staff training on Tuesday, October 3.

Starting October 9, our online catalog will look and function differently. Sneak peek coming soon.

Applications for 2024–25 long-term Postdoctoral Fellowships are now open! Information is available here; apply here.

The reading rooms are welcoming all readers!

For text materials (first-floor reading room), walk-ins are welcome and appointments are optional. Click here to learn more.
For visual materials (second-floor reading room), appointments are required. Click here to learn how to make an appointment.

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Current Exhibition: Old News

LCP Online

Many of the Library Company of Philadelphia’s collections and events are available to researchers near and far through our online resources. We invite you to participate in virtual fireside chats, tune into our podcast series, use and re-use tens of thousands of open access digital images, and share your discoveries on social media.

Late 19th-century motion-study photograph of nude, jumping white man.

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