The next monthly meeting of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 7 pm. (PLEASE NOTE that this is NOT the usual second Wednesday of the month). The meeting will feature Dr. Liz Covart, a historian of the American Revolution and host of the award-winning podcast Ben Franklin’s World, who will present her research into the creation of the American union from Common Sense through the ratification of the Articles of Confederation.

Liz holds a BA from Penn State University and obtained her Master’s and PhD from the University of California, Davis. Liz’s interests focus on the social and cultural history of the revolution and early republic periods. In 2017, the Academy of Podcasters awarded Ben Franklin’s World its “Best History Podcast” award. In 2022, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded the podcast its first-ever Franklin New Media award. And the Pennsylvania State University History Department awarded Liz a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022.

Most episodes of Ben Franklin’s World feature a conversation with a professional historian. Other episodes present narrative storytelling in which multiple people are interviewed. The goal of this project is to create wide, public awareness about early American history and the work of professional historians by providing convenient access to well-researched, scholarly history. Since the podcast’s launch in 2014, listeners have downloaded episodes over 11 million times. Beyond a podcast, Ben Franklin’s World is also a community of listeners and historians who interact with each other via e-mail, Twitter, and in a vibrant Facebook community called “Ben Franklin’s World.”

Come early for dinner and drinks! The meeting will be in-person at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks, 114 Market Street, upstairs, and livestreamed on Zoom. The Zoom link will be available in the APT Tour Talk newsletter the week of the meeting; non-members should contact Marianne Ruane president@phillyguides.org no later than 5 pm the day of the meeting to receive the link. A recording will be available on the APT YouTube page for a month following the talk.

APT meetings are open to aspiring and working tour guides as well as anyone with an interest in Philadelphia-focused history. Attend one meeting for free and then it is $60 to join the association for the year or $10 per monthly meeting in-person event. Zoom meetings are free. Please join us for convivial company, good food, fascinating presentations, and lively discussions!