This summer a young friend attended summer camp at Pennsbury Manor, and during the course of the week she formed some opinions about my job as the Museum Educator. She Read More
Penn’s Pen
Penn’s Pen: A Government of Freedom
On Sunday we honored William Penn’s early hopes for a land of freedom. Now we want to highlight the personal freedoms he made into law, just before sailing to his Read More
Penn’s Pen: Caretaker of a New World
In honor of our upcoming Independence Day, we thought it fitting to share some of William Penn’s thoughts. In the letter excerpt below, Penn had just received the Charter from King Charles II and Read More
Penn’s Pen: Even William Has a Romantic Side!
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we want to offer some touching words of love from William to his first and second wives. William and his first wife Gulielma show every Read More
Penn’s Pen: Getting Arrested, Quaker-Style
In November of 1667, William Penn, a freshly converted Quaker, was arrested with18 other Quakers in County Cork, Ireland. Christopher Rye, the Mayor of Cork, was well-known for his persecution Read More
A New Year
I hope everyone has enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season! I love the end of the year, it offers everyone a chance to reflect on the past 12 months Read More
Penn’s Pen: Poetry…From Prison
England’s persecution of the Quakers meant that William Penn spent a good deal of time in prison. He wrote a lot of pamphlets defending his beliefs, but also expressed his Read More
Penn’s Pen: Stay in School
As children get ready to return to school, let’s take a look at Penn’s vision for schooling his own children. This is from a letter to his wife Gulielma written Read More
Penn’s Pen: Dear Emperor of Canada…
In June of 1682, Penn was busily preparing to leave for Pennsylvania. But already he was writing to the Native Americans and establishing his two main concerns: peaceful title to Read More
Ahoy Matey!
With the release of yet another Pirate movie, I thought I’d share some of our own William Penn’s experience with the swashbuckling menaces! In April of 1700, Penn wrote to Read More