A Life in Letters: A Celebration of Dr. Barbara Oberg

A daylong celebration in honor of Dr. Barbara Oberg, hosted by the American Philosophical Society and the Omohundro Institute.

Dr. Oberg has played crucial roles in numerous organizations and initiatives throughout her career, especially in her capacity as General Editor of the Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson Papers; her role as Chair of the Executive Board of the Omohundro Institute; and her long service as Chair of the Committee on Library at the American Philosophical Society. She was elected to membership in the Society in 1998.

The day will consist of a series of panels reflecting Barbara’s interests, especially related to her work on documentary editing, the various contributions of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, and the history of women in the American Revolution. It will conclude with a roundtable plenary at 6:00 p.m. ET on leadership featuring Cliff Fleet, President and CEO, Colonial Williamsburg, and Sasha Suda, The George D. Widener Director and CEO, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and moderated by Linda Greenhouse, Senior Research Scholar, Yale Law School. A full schedule may be found below.

The event is free and open to all, but registration is required to attend. All sessions will be livestreamed.

Program

“A Life in Letters: A Celebration of Dr. Barbara Oberg" Program
June 7, 2023
**All times are listed in ET**
Note: Times are subject to change.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

8:30-9:00 a.m.: Registration opens; Light breakfast

9:00-9:30 a.m.: Welcome

9:30-10:30 a.m.: Panel 1: Women in the Revolution
Chair: Mary Beth Norton (Cornell University)
Lauren Duval (University of Oklahoma)
Serena Zabin (Carleton College)
Holly Mayer (Duquesne University)

10:30-11:00 a.m.: Break

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Panel 2: Documentary Editing
Chair: Karin Wulf (John Carter Brown Library)
Erin Holmes (University of Missouri)
Jim McClure (Princeton University)
Bayard Miller (American Philosophical Society)

12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00-2:00 p.m.: Panel 3: Franklin
Chair: Joseph M. Adelman (Framingham State University)
Joyce Chaplin (Harvard University)
Ellen Cohn (Yale University)
Ed Gray (Florida State University)

2:00-2:30 p.m.: Break

2:30-3:30 Panel 4: Jefferson
Chair: Alan Taylor (University of Virginia)
Jim Ambuske (George Mason University)
Alyssa Penick (University of Virginia)
Jeff Looney (Thomas Jefferson Papers)

3:30-3:45 p.m.: Break

3:45-4:45 p.m.: Concluding Discussion
With Peter Onuf (Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia) and Annette Gordon-Reed (Harvard University)

5:00-6:00 p.m.: Reception

6:00-7:00 p.m.: Roundtable Plenary: The Needs and Opportunities of Leadership
Featuring:
Cliff Fleet (President and CEO, Colonial Williamsburg)
Sasha Suda (The George D. Widener Director and CEO, Philadelphia Museum of Art)
Moderated by Linda Greenhouse (Senior Research Scholar, Yale Law School)

Registration

"A Life in Letters: A Celebration of Dr. Barbara Oberg" will be held in-person on June 7th, 2023. The event will be held in Benjamin Franklin Hall (427 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106). All sessions will also be live-streamed.

Please register using the link to the left.

Please direct any questions to Adrianna Link at [email protected].

Accommodations

Old City Hotels:

There are several hotels within walking distance as well as many within a short ride by public transit, taxi, or Uber. Addresses and contact information are below. The hotels listed here represent accommodations in Old City, Philadelphia. There are many additional options in other areas of the city including Center City and Rittenhouse Square. Philadelphia is also served by Airbnb and other accommodation sharing sites.

Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel (Marriott)
401 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reservations: 215-925-0000

Hotel Monaco (Kimpton)
433 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reservations: 855-295-BELL
Hotel: 215-925-2111

Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District
400 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-923-8660

Philadelphia Marriott Old City Hotel
1 Dock Street (Between 2nd and Walnut Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-238-6000

Best Western The Independence Park Hotel
235 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-922-4443

Getting Here

APS Addresses: The conference will take place in the APS’s Franklin Hall, located at 427 Chestnut Street. The Library is located at 105 South Fifth Street, and the APS Museum is housed across the street from the Library, in Philosophical Hall at 104 South Fifth Street.

Planes: The Philadelphia International Airport is 12 miles from the American Philosophical Society and is served by most major domestic and many international airlines. Philadelphia is a regional hub for American Airlines.

Ground Transportation from Airport: The airport is connected to Philadelphia through a network of public transit, rental cars, taxis, and private car services. In addition, rideshare services can be booked for transport to and from the airport. More information on specific modes of transport can be found on the airport’s website.

Trains: Philadelphia has an Amtrak station and is on the busy Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C. Both Northeast Regional and Acela trains stop at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. In addition, the Keystone, an east-west Amtrak route, stops several times a day in Philadelphia.

Automobiles: The American Philosophical Society is easily reached by I-95, 676, and the 76/Schuylkill Expressway.

Parking: There are several parking garages within a convenient distance from the APS. The Bourse Garage is the closest facility, at 4th and Ranstead Streets. Additionally, there are garages at the Independence Visitor Center and the National Constitution Center.

Buses: Many bus companies in the Northeast serve the Philadelphia area including Bolt Bus, Mega Bus, and Greyhound. Bolt Bus and Mega Bus arrive at 30th Street Station, which is a short ride away from the APS. The Greyhound station is between 12th and 13th Streets, just behind the Jefferson Station SEPTA stop.

Public Transportation in Philadelphia: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the major public transportation provider in the Philadelphia region. SEPTA runs Regional Rail lines through the city to the outlying suburbs and the airport. The Market-Frankford Line stops every couple of streets in Center City and runs out to West Philadelphia, by the University of Pennsylvania. SEPTA also runs trolley lines and buses throughout the city. Schedules, maps, fares, and additional information about the public transit system in Philadelphia can be found on their website.