The Chestnut Hill Conservancy Presents Discovering: The Last Notebook — A Conversation on Louis I. Kahn with Sue Ann Kahn and William Whitaker

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy presents a special edition of its Discovering series, titled “Discovering: The Last Notebook,” a conversation between Sue Ann Kahn, flutist, author, and preservation advocate, and William Whitaker, curator and collections manager of the University of Pennsylvania’s Architectural Archives. The program, co-presented with the Greater Philadelphia chapter of docomomo, will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Chestnut Hill Friends Meetinghouse (20 E. Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118) and via Zoom.
The event will explore “Louis I Kahn: The Last Notebook,” Sue Ann Kahn’s acclaimed book, which documents the final years and work of her father, the world-renowned architect Louis I. Kahn. An artifact of historical importance, the Notebook’s pages offer an intimate glimpse into Kahn’s creative process and insight into the mind of the architect at the height of his career. His personality permeates its pages, bringing the architect to life for a new generation.
Presented in a conversational format that Kahn and Whitaker previously shared at the University of Pennsylvania in 2024, this discussion will explore the personal and professional legacy of Louis Kahn, the stories behind The Last Notebook, and the challenges and joys of preserving an architect’s vision.
Following the presentation, architect and city planner Richard Bartholomew, FAIA, will moderate the Q&A. Bartholomew’s 45-year career in urban design includes 25 years as a partner at Wallace Roberts & Todd, where he led master planning projects for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Central Delaware Waterfront, and the Anacostia Waterfront. A Fellow of both the American Institute of Architects and the American Academy in Rome, he has received six national and eleven state and local awards for planning and design excellence.

“Louis I. Kahn: The Last Notebook is a remarkable creation.” — The New York Times
Details of the Event:
• Thursday, November 13, 2025
• Hybrid: In-Person 6:30–9:00 PM | Virtual 7:00–8:30 PM via Zoom
• Advance registration required
• $20 for Conservancy or docomomo Members | $25 for Non-Members
In-person attendees will enjoy early access, with doors opening at 6:30 PM, followed by a conversation from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. A shared Q&A session will take place from 8:00 to 8:30 PM for all attendees, and a book signing with Sue Ann Kahn will take place from 8:30 to 9:00 PM.
Virtual attendees will join the conversation and Q&A via Zoom from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.
Registration is required. The cost is $20 for Conservancy or docomomo members and $25 for non-members. Virtual attendees will receive a Zoom link approximately a day before the program. Special thanks to the co-presenter, the Greater Philadelphia chapter of docomomo, for their support of this special event. Their generous support allows a discounted rate for docomomo members and a discounted ticket price for all virtual attendees.
• Virtual Registration: https://chconservancy.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/chconservancy/event.jsp?event=1383&
• In-Person Registration (Limited Tickets): https://chconservancy.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/chconservancy/event.jsp?event=1378&
About Sue Ann Kahn
Sue Ann Kahn, daughter of Louis I. Kahn, has advocated for the preservation and restoration of her father’s architecture for over three decades. She has also been an active consultant and significant lender to the major exhibitions on his work. In 1996, she co-curated Louis I. Kahn Drawings: Travel Sketches and Synagogue Project for The Jewish Museum in New York, and in 2017, she collaborated on an exhibition of Kahn’s pastel works at the Kimbell Art Museum. She is the author of several recent essays on her father’s drawings, including “The Color of Light, the Treasury of Shadows” in Louis Kahn: The Importance of a Drawing (2021) and “My Father the Artist” in Reader’s Guide to The

Notebooks and Drawings of Louis I. Kahn (2022). Kahn is also a noted flute soloist, teacher, and chamber musician.
About William Whitaker
William Whitaker is curator of the Architectural Archives at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design, where he has spent decades documenting and interpreting the work of influential architects, landscape architects, and planners. He has organized numerous exhibitions and publications on Louis I. Kahn, including Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture (Vitra Design Museum, 2012–2014) and What Will Be Has Always Been: The Words of Louis I. Kahn.
About the Discovering Series
The Discovering series, one of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s signature public programs, spotlights the area’s rich architecture, history, and natural beauty through guided tours and lectures. Conservancy members enjoy discounted tickets and exclusive access to events, fostering deeper connections throughout Northwest Philadelphia and the lower Wissahickon watershed.
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s public programming is made possible through the generous support of its Lead Sponsor, Chubb, General Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and members. John B. Ward proudly serves as the 2025 Discovering Series Event Sponsor, and E.G. Rall Landscape Design is the 2025 Supporting Event Sponsor.
About the Chestnut Hill Conservancy The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historical, architectural, and cultural resources, as well as the open spaces, that define the character of Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities in the lower Wissahickon watershed. Founded over 55 years ago to protect and celebrate the area’s historic architecture, since 1990, it has protected more than 105 acres of land through its easement program, making it the nation’s first urban accredited land trust. The Conservancy maintains a professionally curated archive comprising over 66,000 items, accessible to the public, and engages the community through educational programs, advocacy, and various events. The organization has also documented thousands of structures, contributing to Chestnut Hill’s designation as a National Register Historic District. 8708 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 | 215-247-9329 | chconservancy.org