Friends of Poe – Bicentennial Calendar of Events. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free but reservations are suggested. Please phone (215) 597-8780. Website: www.nps.gov/edal.
Friends of Poe - 2008 Fall Newsletter Read all about the latest updates, what legendary musician recently visited our site and more.
Thursday and Friday, October 23 and 24, evening $10.00 free for members A seasonal favorite, Park Rangers lead you through Poe’s home by candlelight, exploring Poe’s themes of horror. Because these tours are so popular and always sell out, we’re expanding to two evenings! Benefits Friends of Poe, call (215) 861-4971.
Saturday November (Date and Time to be announced) Former EDAL volunteer, now Park Ranger at Longfellow Historic Site, Rob Velella, will talk about Poe’s “Longfellow War” and sign and discuss his Poe biographical 2009 calendar.
Saturday January 10 (Time to be announced) On January 10, 2009 the Free Library of Philadelphia (http://www.library.phila.gov/), Central Branch, will feature internationally renowned Poe actor David Keltz as Poe. Also appearing at the library that day will be EDAL Park Ranger Helen McKenna-Uff as Poe’s fiancée Helen Whitman.
Friday evening, January 16 The Official Friends of Poe bicentennial birthday party! Festivities will take place at the German Society, 7th and Spring Garden Streets, across the street from EDAL. Actors and Park Rangers Paul Campbell and Helen McKenna-Uff will perform Poe’s works as his ego and alter-ego. There will be a wine-tasting of vintages mentioned in Poe’s works and a preview of the new exhibits.
Saturday, January 17, 2:00 PM Official opening day for new EDAL exhibits, Daniel Hoffman, Poe scholar and one-time equivalent to the United States Poet Laureate, will offer a talk on Poe’s influence on women writers like Joyce Carol Oates.
Friday April 3, 2:00 PM Karen Halttunen, a professor of U.S. cultural and intellectual history at University of Southern California. Ms. Halttunen will discuss her book Murder Most Foul, and how Poe’s Gothic horror was influenced by newspaper reporting.
Saturday, May 23, 2:00 PM Tony McGowan, a West Point English professor, will speak on Poe’s Military experience, which included a stint at West Point
Speakers and Events, Dates to be Announced Daniel Stashower, author of Beautiful Cigar Girl, relates the history of Poe’s story “Mystery of Marie Roget”, Stashower will present with Lou Bayard, who is publishing on detective Francois Vidocq, inspiration for Poe’s detective Dupin.
Hal Poe, who is a descendant of one of Poe’s cousins, will speak at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site. Dr. Poe, a professor at Union University in Tennessee, will share inside knowledge of the most famous member of his family tree.
Kevin Poe, a Park Ranger from Bryce Canyon, Utah (no relation to Edgar) will give a fascinating and entertaining illustrated talk (Power Point program) which reveals the science behind Poe’s major work, Eureka, a largely unknown and misunderstood work, that explains the origins of the universe.
David Reynolds , 19th century literary expert and biographer, will discuss Poe’s place in literary history; Representatives from the Whitman House will explain the connections between Walt and Edgar. Park Ranger Kevin Poe (no relation – that we know of), from Bryce Canyon Park in Utah, will give a power point demonstration about Poe’s understanding of astro-physics, to help explain Poe’s major work, Eureka.
Edgar the raven, will travel all the way from Connecticut with a handler, who will give a talk and demonstration about ravens. Park Rangers will discuss Poe’s poem about the bird.
Other Philadelphia Events
October 1 through February 13, 2009 “Quoth the Raven”; an exhibition of the Colonel Richard Gimbel Collection of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, commemorating the 200th year of his birth. Included are rare and rarely seen autograph manuscripts, first editions, and Poe family heirlooms. Among the manuscripts: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Raven," "Annabel Lee," and "For Annie." The rarest of printed pieces include the first edition of Tamerlane (1827), and "The Balloon Hoax" (1844). On view also is "Grip," Charles Dickens's pet raven, and inspiration for Poe's most famous poem.
Rare Book Department Parkway Central Library 1901 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Tours of the Department at 11 a.m.
Special Saturday hours Saturday, January 10, 2009 9 - 5 p.m.
Tuesday January 13 (Time to be announced) The Free Library of Philadelphia will host a “Great Poe Debate”, brainchild of journalist and Poe expert Ed Pettit, featuring representatives from various cities where Poe lived to prove why their city deserves Poe’s remains. The debate will by emceed by local comic, media personality and Poe performer Grover Silcox. Ed Pettit will have a chance to represent Philadelphia during the debate.
October 8 -11, 2009
The Third International Poe Conference will meet in Philadelphia Oct 8 to 11, 2009. At the conference, Poe scholars will present new scholarship. Participants will attend a premier of a musical composition, inspired by Poe, and written by Augusta Reed Thomas.
