Registration opens:
July 22nd, 2025

The Wisdom of William Penn

Erik Burro, public history advocate, presents on the life and legacy of William Penn, specifically Penn's Royal Charter and Penn's involvement in the West Jersey Proprietorship. Please register.

Our speaker has a unique insight into the life and times of William Penn. For nearly 50 years, he has made many in-character appearances as the Quaker proprietor before state legislatures, city councils, and state governors at a variety of historic commemorations. As Penn, he has addressed schools and colleges, corporate and convention audiences, and represented the City of Philadelphia on behalf of Germantown’s 300th in Krefeld, Germany, as well as engagements in Ireland and England. Both as Penn and history lecturer, Erik has been featured aboard Atlantic crossings of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2, as well as presentations in England, Ireland and on BBC Worldwide. In Washington, DC, he was showcased at the National Cathedral and later recognized by the National Platform Speakers Assn. Decades ago, he made public appearances on local TV and was a periodic guest on Captain Noah’s children’s show. Today, he only occasionally makes Penn appearances. Most of his efforts are programs and activities of Pennjerdel House, Burlington, NJ, a public history advocate for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. 

Burro’s previous programs and exhibits at the LBI Branch of the Ocean County Library have been on NJ’s unique sculptural monuments of WWI and the New Sweden Colony, first permanent settlement of South Jersey. 

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