Grave Matters—Victorian Mourning Rituals—Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:00pm – Jane Peters Estes, a Civil War re-enactor, will explain 19th century mourning rituals. This program is a tongue-in-cheek look at death and dying during the Victorian Age.  It covers everything from the dying words of famous individuals to headstone epitaphs. Although the topic may be deadly, many portions of the program are humorous. Jane will talk about many of the mourning customs of the Civil War era and there will be a small display of mourning memorabilia.

Searching for Cleopatra—the Last Queen of Egypt—Thursday, May 10th at 7:00pm – Dr. Stephen Phillips, the library’s favorite Egyptologist, returns to talk about Egypt’s most famous queen, Cleopatra. She has been the subject of literature and lore stretching from the historians of ancient Rome, to Shakespeare, to modern literature and finally to current cinema.  What do we really know about Cleopatra, and how do we know it?  This lecture relies on actual archaeological data, such as it is, to tell us the true story of ancient Egypt’s fabled queen. Did she really exist? Do we actually know what she looked like? Did she really marry Mark Anthony? Do we even have any idea where she is buried? This illustrated lecture looks at, and looks for, the latest evidence concerning this last queen. Dr. Phillips is the Research Assistant to the Curator-in-Charge of the Egyptian Section of the Penn Museum. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has participated in a wide range of archaeological excavations over the last 15 years, including fieldwork in Jordan, France and seven field sessions in Egypt. He specializes in the analysis of ancient Egyptian human skeletal remains, mummies and mummifications. This is an Outreach Program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Register during library hours.

“Meet me at the Eagle” – Spend an Evening with John Wanamaker—Wednesday, May 23rd at 7:00pm – “Meet me at the Eagle” was a frequent suggestion for Philadelphians over the years. The statue was impressive and so was the department store named for its founder, John Wanamaker. Actor Bob Gleason’s Wanamaker gives us the story of a businessman who provided variety and fun for his customers and who was rewarded for his efforts. Here was a man who was civic-minded and charitable.  Wanamaker fostered a progressive relationship with his employees, making it possible for them to go to school, building a vacation amusement place for employees to use on weekends, housing the biggest organ in the world (built for the St. Louis Centennial Exposition) and arranging for the organ to be played in the store. John Wanamaker was a man who made a lot of money and tried to do good things with it. Please call during library hours to register.

The Township Library is located at 1983 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville. 

You can register at the Information Desk or by calling the library at 215-355-1183, ext. 104.