Annual Meeting at The Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company

Join us for our annual meeting at The Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company, located at the historic Frankford Arsenal in the Bridesburg neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. This is truly a historical hidden gem with something for everyone – historic architecture, rare books, ancient trees, military history, and of course, Philly history. The Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company is about a 12 minute drive north from Center City, or a 15-minute train ride from 30th Street Station (see details below).

We will be holding our annual meeting in The Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company’s beautiful building, a former officers’ quarters.

Come enjoy light refreshments, and a tour of the building with a full explanation of the history of the Arsenal, which dates back to 1814. After the tour, we will conduct our short annual meeting. We’ll give you a preview of exciting Club events in-the-works, and take a moment to elect new board members. Mark your calendars!

When: Saturday, May 4th 2013, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm. RSVP by 4/25 (details below). 

Where: The Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company, The Arsenal, Building #4, 2375 Bridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19137

Directions:

Driving: The Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company is about a 12 minute drive north on 95 from Center City, near Exit 27 (Bridge Street) at the Betsy Ross Bridge. Easy parking (directly in front of building, free). NOTE: We’ll be entering through the Bridge Street entrance. GPS tends to fail once you get into the Arsenal, so please take a look at the directions below before departing.

GENERAL
(Bridge Street Entrance)
    • Make your best way towards 2375 Bridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19137 
    • Turn into The Arsenal (you’ll see a sign for The Maritime Academy Charter School, Franklin Towne Charter School and for The Arsenal)
    • At the checkpoint, say you’re visiting the Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Room in Building #4, for the Smith event). 
    • Turn left at the T
    • When you enter the Parade Ground oval, go halfway around it you’ll see the building, which has a porch with white rocking chairs
From I-95 — Traveling NORTH
(Bridge Street Entrance)
    • Take Exit 27 off I-95 North, staying to the right
    • Swoop right onto Tacony
    • Turn right onto Bridge Street
    • Turn left into The Arsenal (you’ll see a sign for The Maritime Academy Charter School, Franklin Towne Charter School and for The Arsenal)
    • At the checkpoint, say you’re visiting the Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Room in Building #4, for the Smith event)
    • Turn left at the T
    • When you enter the Parade Ground oval, go halfway around it you’ll see the building, which has a porch with white rocking chairs
From I-95 — Traveling SOUTH
(Bridge Street Entrance)
    • Take Exit 27 off I-95 South
    • Turn left onto Bridge Street
    • After passing the light at Tacony, turn left into The Arsenal (you’ll see a sign for The Maritime Academy Charter School, Franklin Towne Charter School and for The Arsenal)
    • At the checkpoint, say you’re visiting the Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Room in Building #4, for the Smith event)
    • Turn left at the T
    • When you enter the Parade Ground oval, go halfway around it you’ll see the building, which has a porch with white rocking chairs
PARKING OPTIONS
You can either pull up right in front of the building or you can pull in between the stone pillars just past it to park in an area off the street. Also, a large parking lot is available to you via a right turn just past the big building with the carriage entrance, before you make the left towards Building #4; if you choose that, you can then walk back to the building along the Parade Ground.

Public Transportation: The most direct route from Center City is by Regional Rail. Take Trenton Line train to the Bridesburg station (15-minute ride). From there, it’s only a 10-minute walk on Bridge Street to the Philadelphia Rare Book and Manuscript Company. For those taking public transportation, we will plan to meet up and travel as a group. Here’s the plan:

We will take the Trenton line train (9717). It departs Market East station at 1:40pm, departs Suburban Station at 1:45pm, and departs 30th St. Station at 1:49pm, arriving at Bridesburg, our final destination, at 2:04pm. Smithies will aim to sit in the first car of the train—meet us there or on the platform at Bridesburg! NOTE: this train only leaves once every hour

Cost: $15 for members; $18 for non-members. (Now is the perfect time to renew your membership!). Payment can be made by check made out to “Smith College Club of Philadelphia” and mailed to “Treasurer, 918 Pine Street, 2R, Philadelphia, PA 19107” or through Paypal:

RSVP: Please send in your payment by 4/25 to RSVP for the event (if you are mailing a check, please email the us at phillysmithclub@gmail.com at so we’ll know to expect it). You don’t want to miss this. Check out this book below – it’s the first book on fly fishing written by a woman!

New Year, New Career!

Colleen O’Mara, associate director for alumnae engagement, will be in the Philadelphia area to offer free career development programs for Smith Alumnae. There will be workshops offered as well as individual career counseling appointments available.

Friday, January 11, 6 p.m. -8 p.m.
Using Social Media to Boost Your Career

It’s a social world today, with Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and many other platforms changing the way we portray our personal stories, communicate with others and share information. Learn how to use social media as a powerful tool in your career by broadening your network, marketing your accomplishments, and making a great first impression – online.

Saturday, January 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tap Into Your Talents

Absolutely everyone has talents. Your talents are not the same as your job, your skills, or your education. Your talents are the innate abilities that you were born with. Spend the morning discovering your talents and find out how to incorporate them into a career that you love.

Both events will be held at
LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania
3907 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6031

These events are free, but you must register. To register or to schedule an individual career counseling appointment, please contact Colleen at comara@smith.edu or 413-585-2588.

Annual Faculty Speaker Event

UPDATETopic Announced! 

Referendum or Choice? The 2012 Election and the Shape of Things to Come. Political science models that rely on economic indicators predict that the incumbent in a recession will lose… but lots of us wonder if that’s all there is to it.

The Smith College Club of Philadelphia is proud to announce that Marc Lendler, Professor of American Government, will be coming to Philadelphia on October 9th to speak to our group about the upcoming presidential election.  For those who did not have the pleasure of taking a class with him, Professor Lendler is an engaging lecturer who is sure to bring a unique perspective to current electoral issues. We are thrilled to be holding this event at The Acorn Club, an elegant women’s club in Center City established in 1886. Join us for a delicious meal, followed by Professor Lender’s talk, and of course, time for Q&A and mingling afterwards. RSVP with pre-payment required.

When: Tuesday, October 9th, 6 – 9 pm. Cash bar cocktail hour from 6 – 7 pm. Dinner will be served at 7 pm, followed by talk.

Where: The Acorn Club, 1519 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Click here for directions.

Menu: Acorn Salad (Greens in Season, Chevre, Julienne Tomato and Cucumber, French Vinaigrette), Poulet Grand’Mere Vol au Vent and Haricot Verts, Lace and Chocolate Chip Cookies, Tea and Coffee. Vegetarian/vegan options are available upon request. Please indicate any dietary requirements when you RSVP.

Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Pre-payment reserves your place. Spouses, partners, and friends welcome.

RSVP required by October 6. Please reserve your spot via Paypal, below (in the “Notes to Seller” area, please indicate “Lendler event,” and provide your name and class year, number of guests, and any dietary requirements) or by mailing a check made out to “Smith College Club of Philadelphia” to Lindsey Allen, Treasurer, 918 Pine Street, 2R, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Not a member yet? Support the club and get a discount on this and other upcoming events by becoming a member today.

Summer Picnic!

On Saturday, August 18th, join us for a picnic on the banks of the Schuylkill River! Celebrate the end of summer and beginning of a new Smith year.

Bring along lawn games, kids, pets, and friends! Please also bring your own packed lunch and picnic blanket.

The specifics:

Saturday, August 18th, 2012

Beginning at 11:00am

Schuylkill Banks at 25th and Walnut Streets (near the Locust entrance)

Walkable from 30th Street Station and other Center City transportation hubs. This website should help you find a parking garage if you’re coming by car. 

Annual Meeting and Reception at the Rosenbach Museum and Library

Join us at the Rosenbach Museum and Library for a special event hosted by Judy Guston ’82, Curator and Director of Collections.

Smithies can choose to take a house tour or to view the exhibitions; afterward we will gather for a Q&A with Ms. Guston, then conduct our short annual meeting, and enjoy a wine and cheese reception.

Sign up ahead of time to take a house tour of the 1865 townhouse owned by renowned book dealer, Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach, and his brother, Philip Rosenbach. The docent-led tour includes a visit to the rare book library, and a re-creation of modernist poet Marianne Moore‘s Greenwich Village living room. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot for the tour.

Those who do not take the tour can check out the two current exhibitions:

–From Pen to Publisher: The Life of Three Sendak Picture Books, which follows the creation of Maurice Sendak‘s ―The Sign on Rosie‘s Door (1960), Outside Over There (1981), and Brundibar (2003).

–Titanic: The Rise of Rosenbach which tells the story of Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach as he hears about the sinking of the Titanic and realizes a protégé has died on board. Learn about the tragic event and how Rosenbach‘s personal loss inspired his later success.

Since there is not time for both tour and exhibits, Ms. Guston has
generously offered each attendee an additional ticket, to return to the Rosenbach and take a tour or see the exhibitions at a later date
[Regular admission is usually $10].

Tuesday, May 22, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Cost: $15 (classes of 2006-2011); $18 (other classes and guests)

Please RSVP by May 15

Payment can be made by check (e-mail phillysmithclub@gmail.com for mailing address) or our Paypal link:

In the “Notes to Seller” area, please provide your name and class year, the phrase “annual meeting” and indicate if you want to take the tour.

The Rosenbach is wheelchair accessible (see their website for
more information). Discounted parking is available at 5-Star Parking, 2031 Lombard Street (parking ticket must be validated at the Rosenbach).

A Walk in the Park–Rescheduled!

Due to unforeseen circumstances this event had to be canceled on its original date in April. But never fear! We have rescheduled it for June.

Enjoy the beautiful Wissahickon Creek and Watershed area with us on a walk down the Green Ribbon Trail! The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association‘s Anne Standish ’79, along with a volunteer horticulturist and a birder, will lead us from the WVWA’s historic Four Mills Barn, and we’ll enjoy refreshments together afterwards. Well-behaved canines are welcome!

The details:

Sunday, April 29, 2012 June 3, 2012 (Rain or shine!)

2:00-4:00pm
Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association’s Four Mills Barn

12 Morris Road
Ambler, PA 19002

$5.00 per person, $10.00 per family (to cover refreshments)

R.S.V.P. to phillysmithclub@gmail.com

You can pay by cash or check at the event, or in advance here:

(In “Notes to Seller,” include your name, the phrase “spring walk,” and number of attendees.)

Rare Books at the Free Library

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, April 14, we will be treated to a special tour of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Rare Book Department, led by Katharine Chandler ’97. Katharine will show us a cuneiform tablet, an Egyptian book of the dead, a medieval book of hours, a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, the Elkins Room, and more! While there, you can also check out the Charles Dickens exhibition, celebrating the author’s 200th birthday.

Rare Book Department, Free Library of Philadelphia

We’ll meet at 10:30 to begin the tour at 11am; please R.S.V.P. to phillysmithclub@gmail.com!

Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens

Please note, all visitors will be required to check coats and bags (including purses) when touring the precious collections. They will be held securely by Free Library staff.

“On the 18th” Sunday Brunch

We’re headed to the Suburbs this month!  Join us for a delicious Sunday brunch at Du Jour in Haverford, PA, at 11am on Sunday, the 18th of March. The restaurant is conveniently located around the corner from the Haverford Station on the Paoli/Thorndale SEPTA line (formerly the R5). It gets busy there, so we need to place a reservation – if you’d like to join us, please RSVP to phillysmithclub@gmail.com by March 15th to secure a spot!

Hope to see you there!