Contributed by Erin DeFord
What a great start to Archives Month Philly! The Trestle Inn hosted the first event, a happy hour centered on Annie Anderson’s new book, The Tenderloin & The Trestle: Organized Crime in and Around Philadelphia’s Notorious Red-Light District. Coincidentally, our happy hour location was the perfect fit for the subject of Annie’s new book.
In conducting her research, Annie used a variety of archival repositories in the Philadelphia area including the Philadelphia City Archives, the Special Collections Research Center at Temple University, and the Independence Seaport Museum to name a few. She explained how Philadelphia’s Tenderloin district was a center for vice of all sorts during the 20’s and 30’s which was made possible through organized crime. Annie really brought to life the documents that are housed right here in Philadelphia. To see where Annie got some of her photos for her presentation you can go here: PhillyHistory.org.
One of Archives Month’s goals is to create public awareness about the value of historical records and archival collections. The Happy Hour Kick Off was a great way to show the interesting documents and photographs held right here in Philadelphia!
If you’ve missed the Kick Off, don’t despair, there are still many events as well as ongoing exhibits throughout the month of October for you to check out! Also, these events are not limited to archivists. So, bring your friends and family to the next event to introduce them to the expansive and fascinating world of archives!
Delaware Valley Archivists Group 