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.

Majid Alsayegh, Board member Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council and the Dialogue Institute

Elizabeth Hayes Alvarez, Ph.D., Dartmouth University

Rick Bell, Ph.D., University of Maryland

Anthea Butler, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

John Fea, Ph.D., Messiah College

Kirsten Fischer, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

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

Steven Weitzman, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania’s Katz Center for the Advanced Study of Judaism