Honoring historian and educator Kerry L. Bryan on the occasion of her 70th birthday.

WHEREAS, Kerry L. Bryan is a historical consultant, researcher, educator, and impersonator of historical women with decades of service to local institutions and sites; and

WHEREAS, Bryan graduated from Boston University

cum laude

in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in English and from Chestnut Hill College in 2004 with a master’s degree in education; and

WHEREAS, Bryan has served the local historical community as a researcher at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, maintainer of records at the Philadelphia City Archives, and educator at noteworthy museums and historical sites across Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, In particular, Bryan devoted years of service to preserving and informatively sharing the rich history of Fairmount Park and its historic sites - including the Laurel Hill Mansion - as a guide and researcher; and

WHEREAS, Bryan taught thousands of children from across the greater Philadelphia region as part of historic Germantown’s “history hunters” program, which takes students to five historic sites to explore how early settlers and Native Americans interacted, the battle of Germantown during the American Revolution, and the Underground Railroad; and

WHEREAS, Bryan often provided first-person portrayals of two nineteenth century Philadelphians: Civil War volunteer nurse and Sanitary Fair organizer Elizabeth E. Hutter (1821-1895) and Quaker abolitionist and pioneer feminist Lucretia Mott (1793-1880); and

WHEREAS, Bryan also worked, was an active member, or volunteer at the La Salle Art Museum, Cliveden National Trust, the Wyck Historic House and Garden, the Stenton House, and the Johnson House, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the Mutter Museum/College of Physicians, the General Meade Society, the Rosenbach, Friends of the American Philosophical Society, the Museum of the American Revolution, the Kislak Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Historic Strawberry Mansion, the Woodlands Cemetery, and Carpenters Company; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her career as a historian and educator, Bryan served as an assistant to former Pennsylvania State Senator Philip Price Jr. in his various efforts to preserve, protect and maintain City sites and institutions including Fairmount Park, the Woodlands Cemetery, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, among others; and

WHEREAS, Bryan also contributed to the “Philadelphia Freshman Prep” civic program - established in 2007 - which prepares and guides newly elected and appointed public officials through their first term; and

WHEREAS, The City and its local historical community have been well served by Kerry L. Bryan’s years of contributions and dedication to preserving the rich history and institutions of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it herby honors historian and educator Kerry L. Bryan on the occasion of her 70th birthday.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Kerry L. Bryan, further evidencing the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

End