~ 2026 History in Motion ~
Thursday, November 5th • 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Philmont Christian Academy
Shopping Event: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Presentation: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Shopping: 8:00-9:00 p.m.
Whether you remember shopping at Strawbridge’s, or are discovering its legacy for the first time,
Margaret Strawbridge Butterworth charts the history of Philadelphia’s iconic department store, Strawbridge & Clothier through vivid stories from past employees.
For 128 years the store strove to meet the needs of its customers and employees. It held fast to its founding principles of integrity and character and built a ‘store family’ culture that adapted to changing times. The department store branched out to nearby New Jersey and Delaware in the mid to late Twentieth Century.
At the time of its sale in 1996, Strawbridge & Clothier was the oldest department store in the country with continuous family ownership and management.
Margaret invites you to join the ‘store family’ as she shares Strawbridge & Clothier’s rich history.
About our Presenter
Margaret Strawbridge Butterworth grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Merion and attended the Agnes Irwin School. She moved to Seattle, WA in 1997 where she currently resides with her husband and two children. She is a freelance writer for several Seattle-based publications.
Philadelphia’s Strawbridge & Clothier: From Our Family to Yours is her first book.
♦ Meg’s book will be available for sale and signing.