From the Local Host Committee

Welcome to Philadelphia

Top Locations

Places of Worship

Hosted Excursions

Sponsoring Institutions

Philadelphia Firsts

Map - Conference Activities and Excursions

Printable Guides

• Dining Guide (pdf)
• Parking Guide (pdf)
• Worship Guide (pdf)

Seated, left to right: Stephanie Kaceli, Jeff Brodrick, Cait Kokolus, Sandy Finlayson; standing, left to right: Daniel LaValla, Marsha Blake, Gerald Lincoln, Karl Krueger, Steve Crocco, Debbie Stern 
(not pictured: Jonathan Riches)

Welcome to Philadelphia

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Theological Library Association (SEPTLA) and ATLA welcome you to Philadelphia, “A City of Firsts.” While Philadelphia is best known for its role in developing our nation’s political foundations as the home of the First Continental Congress, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the first capital of the United States, Philadelphia is credited with many other firsts in our nation’s history. Here are just a few more firsts that have a historical significance for theological librarians:

• 1698- our nation’s first public grammar school
• 1706- the first Presbytery was organized by seven Presbyterian ministers
• 1731- The Library Company of Philadelphia became our nation’s first public circulating library
• 1779- the University of Pennsylvania was founded as our nation’s first university
• 1796- the first Unitarian church was established
• 1943 to 1946- the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), considered to be the world’s first functional all digital computer, was created in Philadelphia.

As you travel to the Doubletree Hotel, you will be experiencing one of the United States’ firsts, because the Doubletree is located in the heart of the first “planned city” in North America,  originally designed by Philadelphia’s founder, William Penn, in 1682. The section of Philadelphia between South and Vine Streets and the Delaware and Schuylkill (pronounced school-kill) Rivers was intentionally laid out with its streets in a grid pattern and five public squares.

The opening reception will be held at The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, “one of the largest family history libraries in the nation.” The building is located at 1300 Locust Street and is listed on the City of Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places. It has more than 20 million holdings of local, regional, and national significance. We encourage you to check out its online exhibits before you arrive as well as the items on exhibit when you are there. Please note that the Historic Society of Pennsylvania is located next to The Library Company of Philadelphia. The banquet and entertainment will provide a relaxing atmosphere perfect for catching up with your long-distance colleagues.

Another great aspect of the conference’s location at the Doubletree Hotel is that it is also in the heart of the section of Philadelphia known as the “Avenue of the Arts,” which offers a variety of top entertainment and cultural venues. Much of the Avenue has been recently redeveloped; it runs along Broad Street between Glenwood and Washington Avenues and also extends east and west of Broad to 15^th and 13^th Streets. Before you arrive we encourage you to visit and explore the Web site of The Avenue of the Arts, Inc. so that you can plan to take advantage of the opportunity of being just a walk away from world class restaurants, museums, galleries and other premier venues for music, dance, theatre, art, film, and much more.

Here is a dining guide in pdf format with links to many restaruant websites.

Here are links to some of the top locations in the midst of the Avenue:

Academy of Music, Asian Arts Initiative Gallery, Fabric Workshop and Museum, Gershman Y, Kimmel Center, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (The U.S.’ first art museum), Prince Music Theater, Merriam Theater, University of the Arts, and Wilma Theater.

We hope you will be able to experience some of these attractions and the tours planned for Thursday and Friday. Please refer to the Hosted Excursions webpage prior to your arrival for planning your itinerary. Here, you will find information about restaurants, signing up for tours, and the many excursions planned by the members of SEPTLA and the ATLA Local Host Committee. As usual, the Local Host Committee table will also be able to help you with these matters once you arrive.

On Saturday, the conference will provide bussing to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania for the scheduled workshops, roundtable and panel discussions, and closing banquet. We hope you will join in the celebration of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s 175^th anniversary and encourage you to tour the beautifully renovated Ryan Memorial Library while on campus.

We look forward to your arrival and hope you have a wonderful time!

The Local Host Committee, 2007 Conference
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Theological Library Association

Sponsoring Institutions

	Baptist Bible College and Seminary, Clarks Summit , PA
	Bethel Seminary of the East, Dresher , PA
	Biblical Theological Seminary, Hatfield , PA
	Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, Lansdale , PA
	Evangelical Theological Seminary , Myerstown , PA
	Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster , PA
	Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster , PA
	Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg , PA
	Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia , PA
	Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem , PA
	New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick , NJ
	Palmer Theological Seminary, Wynnewood , PA
	Philadelphia Biblical University, Langhorne , PA
	Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton , NJ
	Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote , PA
	Reformed Episcopal Seminary, Blue Bell, PA
	Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, PA
	Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, PA
	Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Firsts

Links to comprehensive lists of Philadelphia Firsts: