Philadelphia is the birthplace of religious freedom and democracy in America.

During the founding era of the United States, Philadelphia contained more religious diversity than anywhere else in the country. The history of that diversity is central to the story of American beginnings.

 
 

About this project

This research project will document and tell stories of religious diversity in early Philadelphia in order to stimulate dialogue about religious pluralism in the U.S. today. A new website will be created to serve as a resource and guide for visitors to Philadelphia’s historic district. This project is made possible with funding from a Digital Projects for the Public Discovery Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The principal investigator on this grant is David M. Krueger, Ph.D.


Affiliated Humanities Scholars

Zain Abdullah, Ph.D., Temple University

Elizabeth Hayes Alvarez, Ph.D., Dartmouth University

Zara Anishanslin, Ph.D., University of Delaware

Anthea Butler, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

John Fea, Ph.D., Messiah College

Kirsten Fischer, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Andrew Murphy, Ph.D., University of Michigan

Katie Oxx, Ph.D., St. Joseph’s University

Morgan L. Ridgeway, Ph.D., Harvard University

Rabbi Lance Sussman, Ph.D., Rabbi Emeritus of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel

Rev. Mark Tyler, Ph.D., Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church