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VCP at LCP Celebrates the Collections of William H. Helfand

Circa 1895 board game advertising the laxative Pluto Water.Library Company members recently enjoyed a memorable afternoon with Trustee William H. Helfand at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The gathering on June 23, 2011, sponsored by the Library Company's Visual Culture Program, showcased the extraordinary patent medicine collections that Mr. Helfand has given to the Museum and the Library Company. The Museum's well-received exhibition Health for Sale served as the impetus and venue for entertaining and informative presentations by Mr. Helfand and VCP co-director Erika Piola. Read more ...

Image: Circa 1895 board game advertising the laxative Pluto Water.

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Launched in 2008, VCP at LCP promotes the use of historical images as primary sources for studying the past and fosters research, collection, and interpretation of historic visual material. Scholars and the general public are increasingly aware of the importance of visual images in examining the past. With the proliferation of sophisticated digitization technologies, researchers now have the opportunity to "see" images in new ways. No longer considered secondary to text and used merely to illustrate the written word, visual materials are taking their rightful place as primary evidence that documents the past and influences our understanding of the present. Through exhibitions, research fellowships, conferences, and public programs, VCP at LCP promotes the creative use of the Library Company's varied collections of visual materials.