Why Drexel wants to take over the Philadelphia History Museum
Drexel University has proposed taking over the 130,000-piece collection of the Philadelphia History Museum. Will the public get to see it? And why does Drexel want it?
Listen 13:20
A taxidermied dog named Philly, who served in Philadelphia's 315th Infantry during World War I, is among the items in the collection of the Philadelphia History Museum. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
Drexel University has proposed taking over a 130,000-piece collection that was previously housed at the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent before it closed last July. The collection includes everything from Jimmy Rollins’ World Series uniform to George Washington’s desk. While that move would keep these objects in the city, they would not be on public display, leaving some to wonder whether Drexel’s stewardship is ideal. On this episode of The Why, WHYY reporter Peter Crimmins explains why the university wants the collection in the first place.
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