S5 | Episode 2 | Layers of Legacy: John Y. Wind, John Frederick Lewis & the Rosenbach Brothers

Written By Amber Manning

Photograph by Christopher Tyler, 2025 

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the DEAR JOHN installation at the Rosenbach Museum and Library, turning our attention to the role of family, heritage, and personal legacy.

We’re joined by Rudy Lewis, great-grandson of noted philanthropist and bibliophile John Frederick Lewis, whose deep ties to the Rosenbach offer a unique perspective on family history and the preservation of memory. Artist John Wind returns to discuss how these themes echo throughout DEAR JOHN, as personal letters, heirlooms, and archival material blur the lines between public history and private lives.

Together, Rudy, John, and I reflect on how family stories, whether inherited or discovered, shape identity and creative expression. It's a conversation about connection, both generational and emotional, and how art can hold space for both.

Amber Manning

I founded AmberCo. when I was five years old. Over the years, it has offered a variety of services from house cleaning, babysitting, car washing, travel planning, interior design and more. After college, I serendipitously fell into working for a web development company and I never looked back. I am happy that AmberCo. has finally settled on a mission that helps people in a meaningful way. I am also happy that some of the original services AmberCo. offered (cleaning and organizing) have carried through into its current iteration. I have been lucky enough to work for significant nonprofits such as the Sierra Club and the International Committee of the Red Cross and small local companies such as Hinkel Equipment Rental and Indars Stairs. My favorite part of working in technology is finding creative solutions for people and making their day to day work easier.

https://amberco.co
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S5 | Episode 3 | Past is Present: Painting the Gilded Age in Philadelphia
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S5 | Episode 1 | Material Matters: Art, Archives, and the Artist John Y. Wind