Behind the Bookcase Tour | The Influence of Antiquity: from Wheatley to Angelou: Ancient Lyric and Comic Poetry, the Self, and the Other | In-Person

Behind the Bookcase Tour | The Influence of Antiquity: from Wheatley to Angelou: Ancient Lyric and Comic Poetry, the Self, and the Other | In-Person

$ 35
Thu, Apr 23, 2026 • 6:00 PM—7:00 PM

About this event

Tours

Registration Admission for this tour is $35. Members receive exclusive discounts on our programs and courses. Not a member? Learn more. Please check your spam folder for your email confirmation. If you have questions, please call (215) 732-1600 or email rsvp@rosenbach.org. This program is for those 18 and older. To promote access to onsite and virtual Rosenbach experiences, we offer scholarships for each Signature Program. To inquire, email Associate Curator and Manager of Public Programs Bryn Michelson-Ziegler at bziegler@rosenbach.org. Registration opens for Delancey Society members on Friday, March 13, for Rosenbach members on Friday, March 20, and for the general public on Friday, March 27. Register Description Join us in the Rosenbach’s historic library as we begin this series with Phillis Wheatley’s 18th-century publication, Poems on Various Subjects... and discover her use of Latin lyric and comic poetry to construct her literary persona. We will consult materials dating from antiquity to the present, including ancient poetry, contemporary recordings, and visual images to recognize how poets from Wheatley to Maya Angelou employed ancient sources to shape their self-presentation.   This is part of a series that explores the lasting impact of classical antiquity on literary and material works through the present. Through visual, auditory, and textual content, participants will explore ancient influences that informed the creative content of works in the Rosenbach’s collections. Sponsors The Influence of Antiquity: from Wheatley to Angelou Behind the Bookcase program is kindly sponsored by Lois and Larry Deckelbaum. Behind the Bookcase: Hands-on Tours at The Rosenbach Behind the Bookcase: Hands-on Tours offer unparalleled access to see, and even touch, rare and important items not usually on view to the public. Each program is dedicated to a different author, theme, or topic and grants a truly hands-on experience with materials in The Rosenbach’s inspiring collection. See all upcoming tours here. Space is limited and advance registration is strongly recommended. 

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The Rosenbach Museum & Library

The Rosenbach Museum & Library is a community that celebrates the art of the written word using our collection of rare books and manuscripts.