International House Philadelphia's New Permanent Historical Exhibition |
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February 26, 2013,
Volume 59, No. 23 |
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This photo—one of several from the new exhibition—was taken at the 1929 International House Ball, at the original IHP location, 3905 Spruce Street, which had been known as the Joseph Potts Carriage House with 12 residential rooms (now the site of the University of Pennsylvania Press and former home of WXPN). |
On Thursday, February 28, International House Philadelphia (IHP) will officially open its first permanent historical exhibit titled IHP: The First 100 Years, highlighting the residential services and compelling social programming it has carried out for over 100 years. IHP has amassed an incredible archive of documents, which addresses the history of this important institution and its role in the Philadelphia community. Utilizing original material including photographs, correspondence, newsletters and press clippings the exhibit illustrates the story of IHP from its inception. This is a story that reveals a common thread through the changing physical, economic, religious and political climates that have given IHP a prominent place among institutions that advocate for open dialogue, cultural exchange, progressive thinking and peace.
To join IHP’s opening celebration of the exhibit on February 28 at 6 p.m., RSVP at http://ihousephilly.org/events/100years/ or call (215) 387-5125 and select option 2, Box Office.
Esteemed members of IHP’s community will join staff, residents and the general public for an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres sponsored by local restaurants and live music by The Gatsby Brothers in celebration of this institution’s century of service to tens of thousands of students, scholars, interns, the Philadelphia community and the worldwide International House movement.
A Look Back to the Beginning
In 1908 when Edward Cope Wood, director of the University of Pennsylvania Christian Association, and the Reverend A. Waldo Stevenson, a missionary, chanced upon a group of Chinese students on the University’s campus, Wood and Stevenson discovered they were the first to befriend them since their arrival in the United States. Touched by their evident loneliness and the prejudice and discrimination they and their friends experienced, Wood asked the Reverend and Mrs. Stevenson to open their Larchwood Avenue apartment to foreign students studying in the area.
Two years later in 1910, Wood persuaded the Christian Association to sponsor the Stevensons’ work. Thus began International House, a movement started in Philadelphia, now with 22 Houses around the globe. International Houses Worldwide is united by one mission: to provide students of different nationalities and diverse cultures with the opportunity to live and learn together in a community of mutual respect, understanding and international friendship.
By 1959, International House had outgrown two different buildings and in 1970, they built their permanent home in an award-winning structure at 37th and Chestnut Streets. In the late 1970s, International House developed two arts centers, the Folklife Center and the Neighborhood Film/Video Project, as part of their commitment to serve the broader community. In 1992, the House launched its most ambitious arts program: the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema. The combined efforts of their residential and arts centers make them a unique resource for Philadelphia and the region.
Through its distinctive programming, IHP maintains a diverse and welcoming community for scholars from around the world, while introducing them to the American experience; to broaden the horizons of its residents and the large community through high quality international arts and humanities programs.
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International House Philadelphia (IHP), an independent institution at 3701 Chestnut Street, was designed by the local architectural firm Bower and Fradley (now known as BLT Architects); the building was dedicated in 1970. The building houses more than 400 students at any given time from nearly 100 countries, including the United States. Approximately 80 percent of the residents are from foreign countries, and the remaining 20 percent are American. Each year, they provide accommodations for over 1,200 residents. The residents attend Penn, Drexel and other educational institutions in the area. The building also houses Penn's Office of International Programs, containing International Student and Scholar Services and Penn Abroad. |
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