Continuing the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: this month, Martha Grimes. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1931 to William Grimes, Pittsburgh's city solicitor, and June Dunnington, who owned the Mountain Lake Hotel in Western Maryland where Martha spent much of her childhood, Grimes earned her B.A. and M.A. at the University of Maryland. She then taught at the University of Iowa, Frostburg State University, and Montgomery College.
Grimes initially became known for her series of novels featuring Richard Jury, an inspector with Scotland Yard, and his friend Melrose Plant, a British aristocrat who has given up his titles. Her tales fall into the mystery genre referred to as the "Literary Mystery," with the emphasis on well-written character-driven stories and less on violence.
Her Emma Graham quartet of novels beginning with Hotel Paradise is set in an atmospheric aging lake resort in western Maryland, and delves into mysteries of past secrets and human nature. The background to the series draws on the experiences she enjoyed spending summers at her mother's hotel in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. The Andi Oliver set of two novels centers on a young drifter with amnesia, making her way in the northern U.S. mid-west armed with a strong sense of right and wrong, and a great compassion.
Here are more pictures from last Sunday's excellent presentation by John Whitenight. The parlor was well filled by a rapt audience who heard John discuss the fascination topic of Victorian glass domes (or "shades", as they were called back then). He brought in and displayed several of his own domes, and he let us know that Ryerss very own glass dome was not what it appeared to be. Thanks John... And thanks to volunteer Kathi McDonough who bought and donated to Ryerss Library a copy of John's book, Under Glass: A Victorian Obsession (2013)!
Whitenight talk on April 22, 2018
Thanks to those who came to Ryerss today to see/hear John Whitenight discuss the fascination topic of Victorian glass domes (or "shades", as they were called). The program, besides being captivating, was very popular, with over 30 participants! Thanks go also to John for a great talk...
UNDER GLASS: A VICTORIAN OBSESSION
Join us next Sunday, on April 22nd, at 1 pm, for a very special event: noted author, lecturer & collector John Whitenight will be speaking about Victorian Glass Domes and showing examples of these unique Victorian objects. He will also discuss his book, UNDER GLASS: A VICTORIAN OBSESSION: The Natural World Under Glass (copies will be for sale). Come learn about this fascinating Victorian art form at this talk to be held in Ryerss' downstairs Victorian parlor, not far away from our own example of a glass dome. Admission free; donations most appreciated.
Robert Ryerss Birthday Party
Thanks to all who came to celebrate Robert Ryerss' birthday at the mansion today! Old Bob Ryerss was 187 years old on March 8th. While he currently resides at Laurel Hill Cemetery, there were refreshments and games at his NE Philly home, including pin the tail on Old Gray! "Mrs. Ryerss" was a guest of honor, as was Mr. Cash, the therapy dog. (Remember that the Ryerss family loved their pets and horses.) And how surprised would Mr. Ryerss be to know that people were throwing him a birthday party 122 years after he died? This free annual event commemorates his legacy, as he graciously donated the mansion and all of Burholme Park to be used as a library, museum and park "Free to the people forever." Here are some photos...
Continuing the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: This week, Sandra Brown, an American bestselling author of romantic novels and thriller suspense novels. She was born in Waco, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth, and majored in English at Texas Christian University before leaving college in 1968 to marry her husband, Michael Brown, a former television news anchor and award-winning documentarian. Brown later worked as a TV weathercaster, then returned to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area where she became a news reporter . Brown started her writing career in 1981 on a dare from her husband. Since then, she has published nearly 70 novels and had more than 50 New York Times bestsellers. Brown's novel French Silk was made into a television movie. She has also published works under the pen names of Rachel Ryan, Laura Jordan, and Erin St. Claire. Ryerss has many of Brown's books; several are on special display.
Storytime parade
Children brought their favorite stuffed animal to Storytime on Friday. After hearing stories the children and their animals paraded around the gallery.
Continuing the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: This week, James Patterson, who you may have seen lately on cable TV hawking some kind of mystery show or another. Born in 1947, he is best known as an author of serial and stand-alone detective thrillers, non-fiction and romance novels. His books have sold more than 300 million copies. In 2016, Patterson topped Forbes's list of highest-paid authors for the third consecutive year, with an income of $95 million. His total income over a decade is estimated at $700 million.
Patterson has written 147 novels since 1976. Many of them feature his character Alex Cross, a forensic psychologist formerly of the Washington Metropolitan Police and FBI, who works as a private psychologist and government consultant. These volumes are the top-selling U.S. detective series in the past ten years. Patterson has had 114 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds The New York Times record for most #1 New York Times bestsellers by a single author (67). His novels account for one in 17 of all hardcover novels sold in the United States; in recent years his novels have sold more copies than those of Stephen King, John Grisham, and Dan Brown combined.
Patterson founded the James Patterson PageTurner Awards in 2005 to donate over $100,000 that year to people, companies, schools, and other institutions that find original ways to spread the excitement of books and reading. The PageTurner Awards were put on hold in 2008 to focus on Patterson's new initiative, ReadKiddoRead.com, which helps parents, teachers, and librarians find the best books for their children.
Patterson's awards include the Edgar Award, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the Year, the International Thriller of the Year award, and the Children's Choice Book Award for Author of the Year. He is the first author to have No. 1 titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children's bestsellers lists. In November 2015, Patterson received the Literar
Continuing the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: This week, sadly, Sue Grafton, who died this past Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer of the appendix. She is best known as the author of the "alphabet series" ("A" Is for Alibi, etc.) of detective novels featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. "Y Is for Yesterday" is the last book she completed in this series. Grafton had publicly stated that the final book would be titled "Z" Is for Zero, but she did not live to start writing it. Her daughter said Grafton would never allow a ghostwriter to write in her name and "as far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends at Y." Grafton started the alphabet novels in 1982.
Born in 1940, Sue Grafton was the daughter of detective novelist C. W. Grafton. Prior to success with the best-selling "alphabet series," she wrote screenplays for television movies. Grafton's novels have been published in 28 countries and in 26 languages. She had refused to sell the film and television rights to her books, as her time writing screenplays had "cured" her of the desire to work with Hollywood. The strongest influence on her crime novels was author Ross Macdonald. Ryerss has many of the Grafton's books; several are on special display.
Here are some pictures, taken by Ryerss super volunteer Cheryl McQuade, of the Deck the Halls at Ryerss festivities yesterday, when volunteers came to the mansion and decorated it for the Christmas season. The Friends of Ryerss organized the event in preparation for next weekend's Victorian Christmas Bazaar and Tea. Come out next Saturday to experience a local annual holiday tradition. The event is free and features a visit from Santa at 10:30--and Gary the Elf. Lunch will be available--a platter includes half a sandwich wrap, snack bag, potato salad, 2 pastries, and a beverage, all for $7). Hot and cold beverages (especially tea(!) and coffee) will also be available for purchase in the mansion's tea room. The event includes a homemade bake table and craft tables featuring the creations of a variety of vendors. Even Fox Chase Farms will be on the porch selling holiday greens, and Stuart the Blacksmith from the Philadelphia Blacksmith Guild, will be giving demonstrations of his craft at the Ryerss Carraige House throughout the day. A raffle will offer spectacular gift baskets donated by local businesses, and the monthly Ryerss used book sale will be held in the basement. The Ryettes, a local girl's dance group, will be performing on the porch at 11 am, and Fox Chase School choir (under director Christina DiBernardo) will be singing at 12. And watch for a visit from "Mr and Mrs. Ryerss" in Victorian costume. A great time can be had by young and old at the Ryerss Victorian Christmas Bazaar and Tea!
P.S. The Burholme Stamp will be meeting the next day, Sunday, in the early afternoon.
Continuing the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: This week, Philadelphia's own Lisa Scottoline (born July 1, 1955). An author of legal thrillers, she earned a B.A. in English magna cm laude from the University of Pennsylvania, then graduated cm laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She clerked for judges at the state and federal appellate courts and later became a litigator at the Dechert firm in Philadelphia. After the birth of her daughter, she left the law firm and started writing. She has written 30 bestselling novels, including Look Again and Don't Go, both which reached number two on The New York Times Best Seller list. Several, including her most recent, Exposed, are on display at Ryerss.
Scottoline has served as President of the Mystery Writers of America and won many other honors. Her book Final Appeal received an Edgar Award for excellence in crime fiction. Her novels have been translated into 30 languages and she has 30 million copies in print. Since March 2007, Scottoline and her daughter Francesca Serritella have been writing the "Chick Wit" column for The Philadelphia Inquirer. A collection of those humorous nonfiction columns has been published in a series of bestselling books co-written with her daughter Francesca Serritella.
Today is Love Your Park day here at Burholme Park. Many thanks to the volunteers who came to weed, rake and otherwise clean up the grounds around Ryerss Mansion. Burholme Park received a lot of love today...
Halloween is coming to Ryerss! Besides visiting Ryerss for Trick or Treat from 6 to 8 PM on Halloween night, you can check out some of the classic scary books in the collection any Friday, Saturday or Sunday, 10 til 4. Frightening titles include Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Stephen King's Pet Sematary (how appropriate for Ryerss Mansion, which has its own pet cemetery out back!), among his other horror titles. And then there's Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, a collection of some of Poe's greatest stories of the macabre. If that isn't horrifying enough, you can take whack at Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, all 741 pages of it.
Continuing the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: This week, Janet Evanovich, who began her career writing short contemporary romance novels under the pen name Steffie Hall, but gained fame authoring a series of contemporary mysteries featuring Stephanie Plum, a former lingerie buyer who becomes a bounty hunter to make ends meet after losing her job. The numbered novels in this series are set in Trenton, New Jersey, and have been on The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestseller lists. Evanovich has had her last seventeen Plums debut at #1 on the NY Times Best Sellers list and eleven of them have hit #1 on USA Today Best-Selling Books list. She has over two hundred million books in print worldwide and is translated into over 40 languages. Pictured are just a few of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum titles, as well as few non-Plum books.
Continuing on the series of posts highlighting famous modern-day authors: This week, Stephen King.
Born September 21, 1947, Mr. King is an author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. He has published 54 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and six non-fiction books. He has also written about 200 short stories, most of which have been collected in book anthologies. King's books have sold more than 350 million copies, and many have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books. His novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption was the basis for the film The Shawshank Redemption, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. In 2003, the National Book Foundation awarded King the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He has also received awards for his contribution to literature for his entire oeuvre, such as the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement (2004), the Canadian Booksellers Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2007), and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America (2007). In 2015, King was awarded with a National Medal of Arts from the United States National Endowment for the Arts for his contributions to literature. He has been described as the "King of Horror".
Come check out (i.e., borrow) any one of these Stephen King books on special display at Ryerss Museum & Library, located in Philadelphia's Burholme neighborhood. You can't miss it, the mansion is on top of a hill at 7370 Central Ave.
Yesterday was Remote Control Course car day in the parking lot area of Ryerss Museum and Library! Check out these photos taken by Ryerss volunteer Cheryl McQuade, who put on the event for Ryerss. The course was made of recycled material, built by Boy Scout Cheltenham Troop #22 and the McQuade family. The battery-controlled cars (and their young drivers) were able to handle the RC course, no problem, but only after they received their souvenir "drivers licenses" (see the photo). Besides Daredevils Tunnel, there was a miniature car wash for them to drive their cars through!
John Michael Crichton was a best-selling author, screenwriter, film director and producer known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted into films. Crichton was diagnosed with lymphoma in early 2008 and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the time of his death on November 4, 2008.
Crichton's novels epitomize the techno-thriller genre of literature, often exploring technology and failures of human interaction with it, especially resulting in catastrophes with biotechnology. Among other works, he wrote The Andromeda Strain (1969); Congo (1980); Sphere (1987); Travels (1988); Jurassic Park (1990); Rising Sun (1992); Disclosure (1994); The Lost World (1995); Airframe (1996); Timeline (1999); Prey (2002); State of Fear (2004); Next (2006); Pirate Latitudes (2009); and Micro, an unfinished techno-thriller published in 2011. Many of these books are on display in the Ryerss Library.
You may not be aware of his recently-discovered work, Dragon Teeth (2017), a historical novel set in the American West during the golden age of fossil hunting in America (1870s and 1880s). The posthumous publication is a thrilling adventure centered around the "Bone Wars," also known as the Great Dinosaur Rush. The "Bone Wars" was a period of intense and ruthlessly competitive fossil hunting and discovery, marked by a heated rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope (of Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences) and Othniel Charles Marsh (of Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History). Each paleontologist used underhanded methods to try to outdo the other, resorting to bribery, theft and the destruction of bones. Each scientist also sought to ruin his rival's reputation and cut off his funding, using attacks in scientific publications.
The Andromeda Strain (1969), Sphere (1987), and Jurassic Park (1990) are among this librarian's favorite films, although I regret not having read
There was lotsa fun last night around Ryerss last night. Besides the showing of The Secret Life of Pets in Burholme Park, there were pets to meet, art to make, snacks to eat, faces to get painted, and so much more. Best of all, this librarian won the cat scratching post in the raffle!
Today, Sunday (8/6), is Day 2 of Mural Making with People to People International. Young people 4-19 can work with an artist to foster a spirit of peace and respect among people with various backgrounds. Registration is required for this free event! Examples of murals completed by children from across the world are on display in the Ryerss library. Here are some pictures from yesterday, along with artist Chabane Djouder (showing his paintings, which are also on display)...
Ryerss Mansion ("Burholme") in Philadelphia's Burholme neighborhood is a spectacular architectural specimen with its amazing Moorish cupola, complete with stained glass windows and decorative weathervane. A great view of the foliage of Burholme Park and panoramic views of Center City Philadelphia and surrounding areas can be had by looking through the stained glass windows.
Consider that while stained glass had been used for centuries in churches and cathedrals before the 19th century, architects started using such glass for windows in domestic buildings during the 1800s. What prompted this change? Building material became cheaper and there was a reduction of taxes on glass. Also, a popular Victorian needlepoint design was reportedly based on the stained glass in the cupola of Ryerss Mansion. BTW, the black and white image in this post is from The Victorian Home in America: With Over 250 Illustrations (1972), by John Maass.
Of the Ryerss Mansion, its cupola ("the fine observatory"), and the surrounding estate, Samuel Fitch Hotchkin wrote in The York Road, Old and New (1892):
Burholme may well remind one of an English country-seat. A long, graveled avenue, lined with fine trees, leads up the hill to the mansion, which is built upon a foundation of solid rock. From the piazza the beholder is struck with the delightful view; but the extensive prospect from the fine observatory on the top of the house exceeds anything which I have seen in this section of country. The panorama of hill and valley and woodland is simply magnificent. On a clear day, the spires of Philadelphia and Mount Holly in New Jersey are alike visible, while the villages of Fox Chase, Bustleton, Huntingdon Valley, Jenkintown and Holmesburg lie under the eye of the delighted observer. The height of the house added to the height of the hill gives this extended sweep of view. This is the beginning of the Chelten Hills, and when Southern troops were feared, before the battle of Gettysburg, stakes we
Father's Day is coming soon, Sunday, June 18th. According to wikipedia, "Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic Europe, it has been celebrated on March 19 (St. Joseph's Day) since the Middle Ages. This celebration was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America, where March 19 is often still used for it, though many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the U.S. date, which is the third Sunday of June. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Mother's Day, Siblings Day and Grandparents Day."
So come to Ryerss Museum and Library to check out these books on Fathers:
--My Father Before Me, How Fathers and Sons Influence Each Other Throughout Their Lives, by Michael J. Diamond
--Father's Melancholy Daughter, a novel by Gail Goodwin
--The Bookmaker's Daughtrer, a memoir by Shirley Abbott
Note that this list of "Father's" books is shorter than the list of "Mother's" books that appeared on this page last month. Maybe because Bill Cosby's book Fatherhood didn't make the cut...
Vintage Baseball is back in Burholme! Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia vs. the Flemington Neshanocks. Root for the home team in Burholme Park on Saturday, June 17th at 12 PM - 4 PM. In celebration of Vintage Baseball, we have put on display in Ryerss Library some vintage baseball books. These works of fiction and non-fiction include:
--The Boys of Summer, by Roger Kahn
--The Miracle at Coogan's Bluff, by Thomas Kiernan
--Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball, by Bob Costas
--They Also Served, Baseball and the Home Front, 1941-45, by Bill Gilbert
--The American League: An Illustrated History, by Donald Honig
--The National League: An Illustrated History, by Donald Honig
--The National League Story, by Lee Allen
--Steinbrenner, by Bill Madden
So, to prepare for June 17th's doubleheader, check out these baseball-related books at Ryerss Museum & Library in Philadelphia's Burholme neighborhood. You can't miss it, the mansion is on top of a hill at 7370 Central Ave.
Here's a little display of books about Native Americans, especially the Indians of the Delaware Valley. Local historian Gerald Francis, President of the Lower Merion Historical Society, will speak at Ryerss Museum and Library on May 7th, 2017. His topic will be The Lenape: The First Inhabitants of the Philadelphia Region. The Leni-Lenape group of Native Americans have been in the Delaware Valley area for 12,000 years. Besides being the first people to inhabit the Philadelphia region, they were the same group who met William Penn (the great "Onas," meaning "writing quill/pen") when he and his followers reached this area in the 1680s. Mr. Francis will discuss the unique culture of the Lenape, and will display some artifacts. Come to this lecture on May 7th, 2017, at Ryerss Museum & Library in Philadelphia's Burholme neighborhood. You can't miss it, on top of a hill at 7370 Central Ave.
February is Library Lovers Month! So now is the time to get--and give--a little love at Ryerss... In addition to love stories and romance titles available at Ryerss Museum and Library, keep in mind that February is Library Lovers Month! Here are some images to help you remember. Don't cha just luv it?
You can borrow most any of the thousands of other books in the Ryerss collection if you have a Ryerss library card. A Ryerss card is different than a card from the Free Library of Philadelphia, as Ryerss is a standalone community library (and museum), although it is administered by the City of Philadelphia. Ryerss is housed in a Victorian mansion in Philadelphia's Burholme neighborhood. You can't miss it, on top of a hill at 7370 Central Ave.
It almost February--and it's almost Valentine's Day. In celebration of Valentine's Day, check out this display of books related to LOVE in the Ryerss collection (in no particular order):
--Frontiers: Four Inspirational Love Stories from America's Frontier, by Colleen L. Reece, a collection of love stories from the American wilderness
--A Gift of Love, by Judith McNaught and Jude Deveraux, a collection of love stories by two leading ladies of romance
--The Lovers, by John Connolly, an exciting mystery from this best-selling author
--This Time Love, by Elizabeth Lowell, a story of passion and redemption by this best-selling author
--To Love and Be Wise, by Josephine Tey, a mystery story of love and romance
--The Perfect Love Song, by Callahan Patti Henry, a holiday story of love and forgiveness
---The Princess Bride: An Illustrated Edition of S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, by William Goldman, the subtitle says it all
Now, if it's romance poetry you are in to, try out:
--On the Street of Divine Love, by Barbara Hamby, a collection of romance poems and similar writings
And from the Young Adult section, we have a comical title:
--Love Is a Many Trousered Thing: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by the best-selling author Louise Rennison, a story of the turmoil of young love
Of course, love can be a familial thing. For example:
--Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility, by Foster Cline, MD, and Jim Fay, as seen nationally on public TV
--Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind, by Michael J. Bradley
So now is the time to get--and give--a little love at Ryerss... You can borrow these or most any of the thousands of other books in the Ryerss collection if you have a Ryerss library card. A Ryerss card is different than a card from the Free Library of Philadelphia, as Ryerss is a standalone community library (and museum), although it is administered by the City of Philadelphia. To get a Ryer
Ryerss Museum & Library is housed in a Victorian mansion in Philadelphia's Burholme neighborhood. You can't miss it, on top of a hill at 7370 Central Ave. It's a peculiar location, practically science fiction. Speaking of SCIENCE FICTION, check out the library's modest selection of classic science fiction books. Novels by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, J.R.R. Tolkien, and H.G. Wells share the shelves with Dune, the 1965 epic by Frank Herbert, and Planet of the Apes, the 1963 novel by French author Pierre Boulle, as well as a substantial collection of Star Trek and Star Wars tales.
Classic! Ryerss Museum & Library and Library is housed in a classic Victorian mansion in Philadelphia's Fox Chase neighborhood. Classic! The library, as such, has a fine collection of "the Classics." Visit the library to look at everything from Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper to Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby to Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath to Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, among many others classics... Classic!
Ryerss Museum & Library is housed in a Victorian mansion in Philadelphia's Fox Chase neighborhood. As such, the library has a fine collection of books on Victorian topics. Victoriana galore! Visit the library to look at everything from Victorian: The Cinderella of Antiques (1950) to The Pleasure of Antiques (1974) to Favorite Songs of the Nineties (1973). And then there's Queen Victoria's Sketchbook (1979) and 19th-Century America: Furniture and Other Decorative Arts (1979) and Collecting Georgian and Victorian Crafts (1973), among other titles. For fans of Downton Abbey, the collection includes Not in Front of the Servants (1973) and The Rise and Fall of the Victorian Servants (1975). (Apparently, Victoriana was a popular thing to write about in the 1970s.) Victoriana galore for sure!
