Upcoming Events at Arch Street Meeting House
CollegeFest 2026 with Campus Philly
Photo by Danielle-Walton, courtesy of Campus Philly.
CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.
As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.
Campus Philly Block Party
September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets
Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®
Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!
…and more!
CollegeFest 2026 with Campus Philly
Photo by Danielle-Walton, courtesy of Campus Philly.
CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.
As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.
Campus Philly Block Party
September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets
Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®
Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!
…and more!
CollegeFest 2026 with Campus Philly
Photo by Danielle-Walton, courtesy of Campus Philly.
CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.
As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.
Campus Philly Block Party
September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets
Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®
Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!
…and more!
CollegeFest 2026 with Campus Philly
Photo by Danielle-Walton, courtesy of Campus Philly.
CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.
As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.
Campus Philly Block Party
September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets
Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®
Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!
…and more!
Revolutionary Family: The Biddles and American Independence
Revolutionary Family: The Biddles & American Independence
Arch Street Meeting House and Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum are excited to partner on a special program highlighting Andalusia’s current exhibition Revolutionary Family: The Biddles & American Independence.
Enjoy a screening of engaging documentary videos on the Biddle family and the Revolution, followed by a conversation and audience questions. A light reception will precede the program.
Revolutionary Family presents historic objects, artwork, and manuscripts to explore the influential roles that Biddle family members played during the Revolution. Four short-format documentary videos complement the exhibition, illuminating the experiences of nine Revolutionary-era Biddle family members and their stories of bravery, loss, ingenuity, love, and friendship: Mary Scull Biddle, matriarch and map editor, and her son John Biddle, surveyor and exiled loyalist; Colonel Clement and Rebekah Biddle, a devoted Quaker couple at camp; Captains Nicholas and Charles Biddle, brothers at sea; and Edward, James, and Owen Biddle, leaders of Revolutionary thought and action. Owen's son, architect Owen Jr., later designed Arch Street Meeting House.
The documentary videos feature subject matter experts from Andalusia and many other Philadelphia-area institutions, including the American Philosophical Society, Carpenters’ Hall, Independence Seaport Museum, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. After the screenings, Andalusia Executive Director John Vick and Research Assistant Brie Stoltzfus will join Arch Street Meeting House Executive Director Sean Connolly for a conversation about the project and its themes of family life during this fascinating, yet challenging, moment in American history.
Revolutionary Family: The Biddles & American Independence is on display through November 13, 2026, at Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum.
A 50-acre site located on the Delaware River in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Andalusia was first established in 1795 by Philadelphia merchant John Craig, then later expanded into a Greek Revival estate by his son-in-law Nicholas Biddle. Today, Andalusia stewards the Biddle family’s history and legacy through tours of the historic house museum and access to its spectacular gardens. Visit AndalusiaPA.org for more information on the exhibition and site.
Quaker Change Makers: The Women of 18th C. Philadelphia
Join us for a special screening in partnership with the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (NSCDA/PA) and Stenton Museum, featuring three episodes of For the Common Good: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation.
For the Common Good docuseries tells the vivid stories of pioneering women who made important contributions to the founding of America. These women shaped our nation, leading the way forward as businesswomen, religious leaders, educators, and more. By embracing a fuller concept of what it took to shape our nation, we can help make our founding history more relevant, accessible, and inclusive.
5:30 PM - Enjoy complimentary refreshments
6 PM - Documentary Episodes Screening (approx. 40 min.)
6:45 PM - Panel Discussion and Q&A
7:30 PM - Program ends
*Complimentary light refreshments will be available throughout the program.
This screening will focus on Philadelphia’s fiercely independent Quaker women, featuring the premiere episode of Elizabeth Hudson Morris, who delayed marriage and motherhood to answer the call of the Quaker ministry. Also featured are Sybilla Righton Masters, an inventor and the first American Colonist granted an English patent, and Dinah of Stenton, who gained her freedom from the prominent Quaker Logan family.
Sean Connolly, Executive Director of Arch Street Meeting House, will lead a discussion with Laura Keim, Curator at Stenton and the Wrestling with Justice: Quakers and Northern Slavery project.
52 Weeks of Firsts
First U.S. Navy & Marine Corps: 1775
Anchors aweigh! Philly gave birth to the Navy and Marine Corps, launching fearless sailors and marines into a tradition of service and adventure that sails on to this day.
The 52 Weeks of Firsts shines a light on different Philly-born Firsts each week through a series of free public events called Saturday Firstivals, held every Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm from January 3 to December 26.
Each Firstival will feature a brief opening ceremony, a Once Upon A Nation storyteller sharing the true tale of that week’s First, family activities, giveaways, music and entertainment, selfie stations, and the spotlighting of a #1 sculpture representing that milestone.
All the FREE Saturday Firstivals will take place throughout 2026 at the locations — or in neighborhoods representing them — where these significant Firsts occurred.
Learn more about 52 Weeks of Firsts at 52firstsphilly.com.
Did you know that the first officer of the Continental Marines was a Quaker?
When Samuel Nicholas joined the Continental Marines (the precursor to the U.S. Marine Corps) during the American Revolution, he was kicked out of Arch Street Meeting House’s Quaker worship community for “learning the Art of War”. Quakers are pacifists after all!
Maj. Nicholas is buried here at ASMH, but his official resting place on the property is unknown. A memorial gravestone was placed on ASMH’s grounds by the U.S. Marines in 2013. Can you find it near the #1?
Another Philadelphia Quaker, Joshua Humphreys, is known as the “Father of the American Navy.” Humphreys designed the six original frigates of the Continental Navy. Of these frigates, the USS Constitution is still in use today.
LISTEN TO THE 52 WEEKS OF FIRSTS PODCAST
The Impact of William Penn and His Holy Experiment: Then and Now
After more than 250 years, what are William Penn’s enduring contributions? How did Penn’s Quaker values inform his understanding? Where did the Holy Experiment succeed and where did it fall short? What would Penn make of Philadelphia, his “Greene Country Towne,” today?
We gather at the historic Arch Street Friends Meeting House to delve into these questions with Penn scholars and historians.
This program is part of the Religious Freedom: Then & Now initiative.
9:30 AM → Walking Series with the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia (MMFP)
Description: Members, attenders, and visitors will gather at Arch Street Meeting House at 9:30 AM and pair up for a 45-ish minute walk through Old City (each pair chooses their own route!) before returning for Meeting for Worship. This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our community, engage in meaningful conversation, and explore the neighborhood. You might just get to know someone in our Quaker community better as you stroll.
Complimentary coffee and cups will be provided by MMFP’s Outreach Committee.
10:30 AM → Meeting for Worship with the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia - held in ASMH’s historic West Room
11:30 AM → Luncheon (FREE, East Room)
1 PM → Interfaith Philadelphia Event Begins (West Room)
Query & Introduction by Hazele Goodridge, MMFP Clerk & ASMHPT Trustee
Panel begins, with presentations by:
David Unkovic
Chris Mohr
Dwight Dunston
Liadhain Saoirse Reilly
2:15 PM → Brief closing worship
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the panel, the audience will be invited to engage in a 2-minute moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
About the Interfaith Philadelphia Program Series
Philadelphia’s unique historic setting provides an extraordinary backdrop for engaging contemporary understandings of and challenges to religious freedom, as we continue to uplift the dream of a just, compassionate society within our pluralistic democracy.
As we prepare to celebrate the Semiquincentennial, Interfaith Philadelphia seeks to further Philadelphia’s historic national role as a model for interfaith engagement and understanding by highlighting and connecting the origin stories of many of its earliest traditions and houses of worship for diverse groups of Philadelphians and visitors to explore.
Philadelphia Quakers and the American Revolution
Fleeing political upheavals in England for settlement in the New World, Quakers rose to unprecedented economic and political power in the Pennsylvania colony. However, the failure of the Quaker-dominated government to provide for defense in the wars from the 1730s into the 1760s began their downfall. By the Revolution, their fortunes waned and they were brutally suppressed by their political foes. Several dozen influential Friends were exiled to Virginia without so much as a hearing, and Quaker farms and businesses were subject to depredations. Labeled dissenters by Loyalist and Patriot alike, they stood their ground, alone and isolated.
Through the words of those who were there, author and historian Jeff Denman vividly describes the precipitous rise of the Philadelphia Quakers and their fall during the American Revolution.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, join Jeffrey A. Denman at Arch Street Meeting House as he discusses his book, Philadelphia Quakers and the American Revolution.
6:00 PM - Explore The History of Quakers: A Religious Revolution - ASMH’s new permanent exhibition, which opened in April 2026.
6:30 PM - Keynote Presentation by Jeffrey A. Denman, followed by a Q&A and book signing.
7:30 PM - Program Ends
Presented in partnership with the John Woolman Memorial Association.
JEFFREY A. DENMAN is a former American history teacher, author and historian from the Brookline Public Schools in Brookline, MA; University of Maine, B.S.; University of Connecticut, M.A.; published seven articles on subjects ranging from the American Revolution to World War II; co-author of Greene and Cornwallis in the Carolinas: The Pivotal Struggle of the American Revolution, 1780-81; author of John Quincy Adams, Reluctant Abolitionist; author of Philadelphia Quakers and the American Revolution; current project: Closing the Ring: George Washington’s War in the North, 1778-1781 (July 2026).
Meetinghouse by Candlelight
SAVE THE DATE! Arch Street Meeting House’s annual winter celebration, Meetinghouse by Candlelight, returns on Friday, December 4th, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 7 pm.
Celebrate the season with festive live music, hands-on craft activities suitable for all ages, and exciting raffle prizes from local Old City businesses and institutions. Lit by real candlelight, experience ASMH’s historic West Room (1811), then Meet Quaker History by exploring the museum’s exhibits.
Stay tuned for more information.
Becoming Benjamin Lay
The documentary Becoming Benjamin Lay by director Tony Buba and historian Marcus Rediker explores the life and ideas of an unknown radical Quaker dwarf abolitionist who demanded an end to slavery almost 300 years ago. At the center of the film is the prize-winning play Rediker wrote with Naomi Wallace, The Return of Benjamin Lay. Actor Mark Povinelli embodies the visionary Lay, challenging us to live with courage and conviction in dark times. The film brings a forgotten hero back to modern public memory.
Marcus Rediker is Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History at the University of Pittsburgh. He has written or edited seventeen books, including The Many-Headed Hydra (2000, with Peter Linebaugh); The Slave Ship (2007); The Fearless Benjamin Lay (2017); and Freedom Ship (2025). His writings have won numerous awards and been published in twenty languages worldwide. He has produced two documentary films with Tony Buba: Ghosts of Amistad in 2014 and now Becoming Benjamin Lay.
Opening Reception: Redefining Democracy in Red, White, Black, and Blue
On Friday, September 11, 2026, enjoy the opening reception for the inaugural Art at Arch Street Meeting House installation, Redefining Democracy in Red, White, Black, and Blue.
Redefining Democracy in Red, White, Black, and Blue is the latest series by local artist Walter Francis Elling. In homage to Jasper Johns, Elling uses actual flags as canvases to provoke responses to issues of race and queer liberation. Spray-painted messages interweave with a color-altered geometric landscape of the flags themselves, transforming the geometry of the stars and stripes into visual symbols that reimagine patriotism.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.
This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.
Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
History on the Street: Back to School Edition with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
This street festival will feature vendors, activities, food trucks, and a live DJ. Connect with partner organizations like the Museum of the American Revolution and the National Constitution Center to explore what Philadelphia’s history community has to offer for students, teachers, and families alike.
Then, step inside the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to experience the work of student historians as they share their National History Day projects—from documentaries to performances to websites! Plus, explore a pop-up exhibit highlighting HSP’s collection on local Black history.
Open to all, History on the Street: Back to School Edition is the perfect way to close out the nation’s 250th summer celebration and get inspired and excited for what’s next!
NHD Philly students - join us! Fill out this Student Presenter Form or email nhdphilly@gmail.com for more information.
The event will proceed rain or shine with no rain date scheduled.
Funders & Sponsors
This program is made possible with support from The Connelly Foundation, The Lily Foundation, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania, and The Brook J. Lenfest Foundation.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.
This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.
Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.
This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.
Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
Free Museum & Burial Ground Tour
Step inside Arch Street Meeting House, built in 1804 and still an active Quaker place of worship. Originally deeded by William Penn in 1701 as a burial ground, its historic grounds hold nearly 20,000 burials.
On this tour, discover how early Quakers helped shape Pennsylvania and influenced the founding ideals of the United States.
FREE. Registration not required.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
Meet Quaker History - Education Cart
Pop by the Education Cart to create, learn, and explore some unexpected history. Fun for all ages.
Stay tuned for more information.
Free Museum & Burial Ground Tour
Step inside Arch Street Meeting House, built in 1804 and still an active Quaker place of worship. Originally deeded by William Penn in 1701 as a burial ground, its historic grounds hold nearly 20,000 burials.
On this tour, discover how early Quakers helped shape Pennsylvania and influenced the founding ideals of the United States.
FREE. Registration not required.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
Meet Quaker History - Education Cart
Pop by the Education Cart to create, learn, and explore some unexpected history. Fun for all ages.
Stay tuned for more information.
Free Museum & Burial Ground Tour
Step inside Arch Street Meeting House, built in 1804 and still an active Quaker place of worship. Originally deeded by William Penn in 1701 as a burial ground, its historic grounds hold nearly 20,000 burials.
On this tour, discover how early Quakers helped shape Pennsylvania and influenced the founding ideals of the United States.
FREE. Registration not required.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.
A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones
Run Time: 30 minutes
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.
Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)
The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
Meet Quaker History - Education Cart
Pop by the Education Cart to create, learn, and explore some unexpected history. Fun for all ages.
Stay tuned for more information.
Free Museum & Burial Ground Tour
Step inside Arch Street Meeting House, built in 1804 and still an active Quaker place of worship. Originally deeded by William Penn in 1701 as a burial ground, its historic grounds hold nearly 20,000 burials.
On this tour, discover how early Quakers helped shape Pennsylvania and influenced the founding ideals of the United States.
FREE. Registration not required.
Quakerism Unmasked: Joyce Mosley & the Bustill-Douglass Family
In the book Gram’s Gift, Joyce Mosley shares her family’s history, tracing African, European, and Native American roots back to the 1600s. The story follows Gram as she gathers her grandchildren to teach them about their ancestors' vital contributions to American history.
The narrative begins with Cyrus Bustill, who was born enslaved but eventually purchased his freedom and operated a successful bakery that supplied bread to George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge. After the Revolutionary War, Cyrus moved to Philadelphia, becoming a prominent businessman, educator, and community leader. His descendants upheld this legacy as agents for the Underground Railroad, soldiers in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War, and dedicated voting rights advocates.
This presentation will specifically highlight the achievements of Sarah Mapps Douglass and her mother, Grace Bustill. Both women demonstrated extraordinary courage and leadership during an era of limited rights for Black women. The talk will explore their significant accomplishments as well as the challenges they endured.
Gram’s gift to her grandchildren was the preservation of this legacy, of which Sarah and Grace are an integral part. She hopes you enjoy learning about this history as well.
5:00 PM - Complimentary Refreshments. Explore ASMH's new core exhibit, The History of Quakerism: A Religious Revolution, which opened in April 2026 after a multi-year capital campaign.
6:00 PM - Presentation by Joyce Mosley
7:00 PM - Program ends
Joyce Mosley assumed the role of family historian over twenty years ago. She wrote Gram’s Gift to ensure her family’s children know their history and that all children know that Black history is American history. Her family is among the first families to reside in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She can trace her family history to the 1600s to the first mayor of Philadelphia, Humphrey Morrey, and Cyrus Bustill, born 1732, enslaved, purchased his freedom, and baked bread for George Washington’s troop at Valley Forge.
Joyce is a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Colonial Daughters of the 17th Century, the Society of Founding Families of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the African American Genealogy Group, the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage, and the Society of the First African Families in English America.
She presents her research at DAR, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) meetings and conferences, as well as at local libraries, churches, and schools.
In 2019, PBS featured Mosley on an episode of “Movers and Makers” https://video.whyy.org/video/outbound-y8big3/
BOOK AWARDS
Phillis Wheatley Book Award 2021
International AAHGS Book Award 2021
A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass
An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.
This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.
Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.