Tucked away on a quiet residential street, the Plays and Players Theater ( PA-SHARE Resource # 1973RE00090) at 1714 Delancey Street in Philadelphia may seem like an unlikely place for a moment in international history. The building’s modest scale and architectural style harmonize with the neighboring rowhomes. Yet, a passerby with a keen eye may notice a small plaque–inscribed in both English and Korean–telling a much larger story that connects this neighborhood theater in Philadelphia to Korea’s struggle for independence.
“This is the site”, the plaque reads, “of ‘the First Korean Congress’, April 14-16,1919, in support of Korean Independence and all oppressed nations.”
As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year, the Plays and Players Theater offers a unique insight into how Pennsylvania’s history of independence extends beyond America’s founding, and has served as an example for numerous countries searching for democratic ideals and freedom.
Plaque on the far left of the facade commemorating the First Korean Congress. Credit: Ha Leem Ro, October 2026).
The Plays and Players Theater
The theater was originally built in 1912 as the “Little Theater of Philadelphia”, commissioned by Beulah E. Jay. Under Jay’s creative vision, architect Amos W. Barnes designed the theater for the Metropolitan Dramatic Club to produce and stage “American plays of ideas.”[1] The design reflected Jay’s ambition to distinguish the venue from the “cut-and-dried things” of standard theater design–even including a stage equipped with the ability to be filled with water.[2] In older photos of the building, you can spot the water tank on the top of the roof.
Plays and Players Theater, c. 1963. Note the water tank on the top left. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development Archives.
The theater’s artistic ambitions extended beyond the stage. In 1918, muralist Edith Emerson, a student of Violet Oakley and later director of Philadelphia’s Woodmere Art Museum (1947-1978), painted the auditorium’s murals depicting the classical myth of Ariadne and Dionysos.[3] Purchased by the Plays and Players Theatre group in 1922, the theater continues to operate, now as a member-owned institution under the same name dedicated to producing innovative performances, engaging diverse audiences, and nurturing local talent.[4] The theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 in recognition of its significant architecture and theater history.[5]
The Korean Independence Movement
If you visit the theater today, you can experience a remarkably similar setting (sans the water tank), as the First Korean Congress when they visited in spring of 1919. From April 14th to the 16th, the theater held space for what the congress members aspired to be “a very solemn and momentous mission […] to deal with questions and problems that will have a far-reaching effect […] upon 20,000,000 of Koreans.”[6]
Just weeks earlier, the March First Movement (Samil Undong, 3·1 운동) had erupted across Korea against Japanese colonial rule. As Koreans at home and abroad mobilized in support of independence, Philadelphia, the birthplace of American independence, was chosen as the ideal stage for a forum for deliberation and collective action.
The First Korean Congress and Dr. Philip Jaisohn
The First Korean Congress was largely organized by Dr. Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae Pil, 서재필), a prominent doctor, businessman, and activist. Dr. Jaisohn was a Pennsylvania resident and the first Korean to become a naturalized United States citizen in 1890.[7] With the help of his leadership, around 150 people gathered at the Little Theater with representatives from the Korean Provisional Government, immigrants from across the United States, and several religious leaders of Philadelphia.
A group of Korean delegates in front of the theater. Source: Korean Congress. Philadelphia, First Korean congress, held in the Little theatre, and Delancey streets, April 14, 15, 16 (Philadelphia, 1919), ix. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/19013493/.).
The First Korean Congress sought to energize the greater Korean diaspora and bring awareness of the movement to the American public. Notable figures addressed the congress, including:
- Nodie Dora Kim (김혜숙): a major figure in Korean women’s rights in Hawaiʻi
- Syngman Rhee (이승만): the first President of the Korean Provisional Government until 1925. He would become the first president of South Korea in 1948.
- Dr. Floyd W. Tomkins: rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He and Dr. Jaisohn founded the first branch of The League of Friends of Korea in Philadelphia and served as its first President.
At the conclusion of the congress, the attendees paraded from the Little Theater to Independence Hall with both Korean and American flags in hand.[8]
Korean Congress members in front of Independence Hall. Source: Korean Congress. Philadelphia, First Korean congress, held in the Little theatre, and Delancey streets, April 14, 15, 16 (Philadelphia, 1919), pg 41. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/19013493/.)
Further Research
While the theater’s role in hosting the First Korean Congress is not currently reflected within the National Register nomination, its history encourages several avenues for potential research including other historic Korean resources within Pennsylvania, of the Korean Independence movement and beyond. In fact, as of October 2026, only one property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with the significance of Ethnic Heritage-Korean—the Old Korean Legation building in Washington, DC.
Want to Learn More?
Interested in learning more about Dr. Philip Jaisohn and the Korean Independence movement in Pennsylvania? The Dr. Phillip Jaisohn Memorial House in Media, PA displays many historic photos and records–where you will also spot a blue and gold PHMC Historical Marker for Dr. Jaisohn (Historical Marker # 1994HM00016).
References
[1] “This Woman Built A Theater to Prove Her Theories,” The New York Times, June 22, 1913.
[2] “This Woman Built A Theater to Prove Her Theories,” The New York Times, June 22, 1913.
[3] “Emerson, Edith,” Woodmere Art Museum, accessed October 17th, 2026, https://woodmeremuseum.org/artist/edith-emerson.
[4] “Mission & History,” Plays and Players Theater, accessed October 17th, 2026, https://www.playsandplayerstheatre.org/about. If you’re interested in learning more about the theater, visit Plays and Players Theatre.
[5] Joseph P. Barker. Jr., “Plays and Players”, National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1973).
[6] First Korean Congress, Held in the Little Theatre, and Delancey Streets, April 14, 15, 16 (Philadelphia, 1919), 3, PDF, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/19013493/.
[7] “The Life of Dr. Philip Jaisohn (1864-1951),” The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, accessed October 29, 2026 , https://jaisohn.org/dr-philip-jaisohn/.
[8] First Korean Congress, Held in the Little Theatre, and Delancey Streets, April 14, 15, 16 (Philadelphia, 1919), 3, PDF, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/19013493/.
This article was written in collaboration with guest author Ha Leem Ro. Ha Leem is an architectural conservator specializing in the documentation and management of historic buildings, landscapes, and archaeological sites. Her work centers on field-based surveys and data-driven assessments, translating on-the-ground observations into practical tools for site planning and stewardship. She holds an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and currently works as an architectural conservator and research associate at the Center for Architectural Conservation, Preservation Research Collaborative at Penn, where she contributes to preservation projects at historic and archaeological sites and national parks throughout the United States.
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