Historian, Writer, Commentator
Thomas H. Keels is a lecturer, writer and commentator specializing in Philadelphia history and architecture. He is author or co-author of seven published books, including “Forgotten Philadelphia: Lost Architecture of the Quaker City,” and “Sesqui! Greed, Graft and the Forgotten World’s Fair of 1926,” both published by Temple University Press. He is currently working on two projects: a biography of 1920s political boss William S. Vare and “Lady with a Lute,” a murder mystery set in Philadelphia during WWII with a gay detective as its protagonist. Keels has appeared on various TV and radio programs, including “Philadelphia: The Great Experiment”; “Counter Culture and Philly Firsts” on WLVT (PBS39); and “World’s Greatest Cemeteries” on PBS. He has appeared on “Mysteries at the Museum” on the Travel Channel, discussing the real-life origins of the classic horror film “The Blob.” A confirmed taphophile (Greek for “lover of graves”), Keels has been a tour guide at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia’s premier Victorian necropolis, for 30 years. He has conducted classes on cemetery history for the Bucks County Community College Historic Preservation Program, Cheltenham Township Adult School and Mount Airy Learning Tree. Keels has addressed many of Philadelphia’s leading organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Curtis Institute of Music, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Free Library of Philadelphia, Harvard Club of Philadelphia, Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and Union League of Philadelphia. He lives in Ambler, Pennsylvania, with his husband, Larry, and their two cats, Dinky and Hugo.