Founder's Hall Museum

10/22/2026

Yesterday the Girard College class of 2027 received their senior jackets. This tradition grew out of the earlier tradition of lettermen jackets for sports. The first reference we've found so far referring to senior jackets specifically was a Feb 1989 Girard News, which noted that "new senior jackets have been approved for the class of 1990."

10/16/2026

This photo from our archives shows Girard College boys lining up outside the infirmary, slips in hand, while the nurse checks the boys ahead of them. It was taken in 1965 and we're asking for help to put names to faces.

If you recognize anyone, including yourself, drop a note in the comments. Or just share an infirmary memory. Your memories help us preserve and share Girard's history.

10/13/2026

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, October 14 , from 6-7:30 at the central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia for Game On! In the Archives.

In honor of Archives Month we'll be joining with twenty collections from across the Delaware Valley to showcase how sports, games, and play are documented in and catalyzed by archives and special collections. It's a drop-in event so stop in any time, say hi, and enjoy.

More info at bit.ly/GameOnFLP

10/09/2026

Who remembers this classic contest? Today is Cavalier Day at Girard College so for we've pulled out this vintage photo from the pie eating event of the early contests.

If you recognize yourself or a classmate, let us know in the comments. Or just share a field day memory, whether you knew it as Cavalier Day, Steel & Garnet Day or any other name.

10/06/2026

Happy National Coaches Day! We're celebrating with a few of our many photos of Girard coaches through the years.

Tell us about your favorite coach and share a memory!

You can find more historic photos of sports (and everything else GC) at our new online photo portal. show.pics.io/girardhistory

10/05/2026

Conservation in progress! Last week conservators Nicolette Absil and Adam Jenkins cleaned and waxed the Spirit of Girard statue in the front circle. They will be coming back in a few weeks to work on repairs and stain removal on the statue's base.

Check out these shots of Nicollete at work as well as an "in progress" image of the tall boy (modeled on Pete Scotese '37) , clearly showing the difference between treated and untreated areas.

10/02/2026

It's Can you help us put names to these faces?

This snapshot shows a group of Girard boys in their plaid winter coats on the back steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art . Based on the cars parked behind them, we think it was taken around 1950–1953.

If you recognize yourself, a classmate, or a family member, please let us know in the comments. Or just let us know your memories of field trips to the PMA. Please share this with Girard alumni and friends who might remember!

10/01/2026

October is American Archives Month. Founder's Hall is a proud partner of Archives Month Philly , our hometown celebration of archives, special collections libraries, and cultural institutions. Here's our programs for the month--all are at the museum unless otherwise noted. To find out everything happening across our region, please visit http://archivesmonthphilly.com/.

Game On! in the Archives
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6–7:30 PM, Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central
More than 20 archives are gathering for a community fair about sports, games and play. Stop by our table to see early photographs of Girard athletics, then try our trivia challenge and see if you can round the bases.

Hands on History Tour: Daily Life in the New Nation
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10 AM
Guests can look closely at selected decorative arts, and even handle some of them, to learn how everyday goods were made, bought and used in the early Republic.

Archives Month Campus Tour
Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 AM
Walk the 43 acres of our campus and compare what you see today with archival maps and photographs that show how the campus grew.

Weekend Open House: Halloween Highlights
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 AM–2 PM
Learn about life and death at Girard College and the school's Halloween traditions. .

Neighborhood Walking Tour
Thursday, Oct. 29, 3 PM
After the Revolution, Philadelphia led the way in creating schools, charities and reform societies. Using archival records and photographs, we'll follow the institutions that shaped our neighborhood on a walk from Girard College to Eastern State Penitentiary.

All events are free. Tours require registration, so visit www.foundershall.org to learn more and sign up.

An annual celebration of archives in the Philadelphia region!

09/30/2026

We’re honored to announce that Founder's Hall has received a 2026 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award for Construction Restoration! This recognized the meticulous conservation of our intricate aluminum-stenciled green ceiling, a project completed in 2025.

Originally painted around 1890 by George Herzog, whose artistry also graces Philadelphia’s Masonic Temple, this ceiling is an early example of aluminum used for decorative purposes, just a few years after the metal became commercially available.

On hand to accept the award were Kathy Haas, Girard College's Director of Historical Resources, and Jacintha Kruc, now of Preservation & Decorative Arts, the lead conservator on the project. Many thanks are due to Jeff Johnson of Johnson&Griffiths Studio, as well as the project's funders--PHMC (Pennsylvania Trails of History) and the Girard College Alumni Association Founder's Keeper's Fund. Congratulations to all the other amazing award recipients, it was inspiring to learn about your work!

Award photos courtesy of Emily Rund📸.

09/25/2026

Paging Girardians from the early 2000s. This picture was taken around 2001. Drop a comment if you recognize anyone.

For our series, we pull out unidentified photos from our collection and hope our community can help fill in the gaps