Philadelphia Area Archives

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Evening College records, 1935-1988 (bulk) 1921-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:: 30.3 linear feet (31 containers)
Abstract:: The Drexel Evening College was founded in 1891, as the Department of Lectures and Evening Classes within the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, and held its first classes in 1892. A program of study geared towards working adults, it offered courses in drawing, decorative painting, modeling, woodcarving, stained glass, mathematics, bookkeeping, stenography and typewriting, chemistry, physics, shop work in wood and iron, cookery, dressmaking, millinery, physical culture, economics, English and architecture. Since its inception, the Evening College has undergone significant academic, administrative and physical transformations, adapting to accommodate an ever changing student body as well as administrative and academic agendas. This collection documents those changes as well as the more general administrative, academic, and social activities of the College from 1921 to 1993. Materials in this collection include administrative records, reports, curriculum materials, faculty...(see more)

Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]

Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design records, 2005- (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 cubic feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of the records of the Antionette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, continuing UR 4.009, the Nesbitt College of Design Arts records. The collection has been arranged in 9 series; Architecture, Cinema and Video, Chorus, Dance, Fashion Design and Design and Merchandizing, MAD Dragon, Promotional Material, Television Management, and Theatre.

Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]

Society for Social Responsibility in Science records, 1948-1976 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7 linear ft. (14 boxes)
Abstract:: The Society for Social Responsibility in Science was founded in 1949, the convening meeting and Constituting Assembly both held at Haverford College. It was conceived as an organization of workers in the natural sciences to maintain free inquiry concerning the relations of science and society. The collection provides an in-depth look at the founding, history, activities and correspondence of the Society for Social Responsibility in Science.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Orchestra 1966 Latin American Tour collection, 1961-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.6 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:: In the 1960s, the Philadelphia Orchestra was led by music director Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985), who, with his predecessor, Leopold Stokowski, brought the Philadelphia Orchestra to international attention. The concert promoter, Oscar Humberto Alcazar Vega, determinedly spent five years planning for the Philadelphia Orchestra to tour Central and South America. This collection documents the Philadelphia Orchestra's 1966 Latin American Tour and includes material created and collected during the planning, from 1961 to 1966, as well as the tour which took place from May to June 1966.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Mark Sfirri collection of Hedgerow Theatre Company posters, 1948-1959, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.1 linear_foot (2 oversized folders)
Abstract:: The Hedgerow Theatre Company was established in 1923 by Jasper Deeter, a New York based actor and director. Located in the Rose Valley Arts and Crafts Community of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Hedgerow Theatre was considered a haven for cutting edge artists of the early 20th century. This collection consists of ten posters advertising Hedgerow Theatre Company's seasons and repertory, dating from the 1940s to the 1950s.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Ursula Sternberg-Hertz papers, 1923-2014 (inclusive) 1950-2000 (bulk)

Extent:: 23 linear feet (39 boxes)
Abstract:: Ursula Sternberg-Hertz (1925-2000) was a Philadelphia based artist who lived in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Canada before immigrating to the United States in 1971 with her husband, conductor Jonathan Sternberg. The collection documents her artistic career, with artwork ranging from rough sketches to finished pieces, using acrylics, charcoal, markers, pen-and-ink, stamps, watercolor, and other experimental mediums. She produced artwork on paper, metal, fabric, and leather; in sketchbooks; and on objects such as lampshades and boxes. In addition to her artwork, there is also family and personal material; correspondence; diaries, including an extraordinary run of her "visual diaries" from the early 1940s and from the 1970s until her death; and material related to her exhibits.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Edward S. Curtis collection of interpositive glass plates and papers, 1899-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:: 22 linear feet (44 boxes (2 boxes currently available to researchers))
Abstract:: Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) was a photographer, best known for documenting more than eighty tribes of Native Americans west of the Mississippi from the Mexican border to northern Alaska. In addition to taking more than 40,000 pictures over 30 years, Curtis produced The North American Indian, a set of twenty volumes containing text, photogravures, and a corresponding portfolio with additional photogravures. This collection consists of two gifts of glass plate interpositives with extensive artistic modifications by Edward Curtis for his The North American Indian as well as a small number of proof sheets of photogravures, largely from portfolios, bearing editorial markings and corrections; correspondence and material relating to the funding and publishing of the The North American Indian; and brochures and pamphlets advertising Curtis's studio and his photography.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Louis Lippa papers, 1953-2017 (inclusive)

Extent:: 14.5 linear feet (16 boxes)
Abstract:: Louis Lippa (1928-2018) was an American playwright, actor, theater director, and teacher of the dramatic arts. An experimental and prolific playwright, he was influenced by the dramatic theories of Bertolt Brecht and concerned with political, historical, and social issues. This collection contains material produced and collected by Lippa, primarily but not exclusively related to his work as a playwright-in-residence at the People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern, PA.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Laurie Wagman collection of theater arts in education, 1989-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.5 linear feet (6 boxes) and 1.7 gigabytes
Abstract:: Laurie Wagman is a Philadelphia native and founder of the American Family Theater (TAFY), which has become one of the predominant children's theater organizations in the United States, helping to bring an educational arts experience to vast audiences. This collection shows Wagman's body of work, mainly through the many productions of the American Family Theater.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Mark Chiacchiere collection of Savoy Company records, 1982-2012 (inclusive) 1998-2005 (bulk)

Extent:: 3.4 linear feet ((4 boxes))
Abstract:: The Savoy Company is the oldest amateur theater company dedicated to the production of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. The donor, Mark Chiacchiere, Esq. served a member of the Savoy company and has held the offices of Treasurer and President. This collection contains materials dating from the years 1982-2012 (bulk 1998-2005) pertaining mostly to matters of finances, performance and rehearsal locations, meetings, productions, social events, and other related functions.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Sovereigns of Industry records, 1874-1877 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:: The Order of the Sovereigns of Industry was a consumer cooperative which ran from 1874 to 1880 through a network of councils across New England and the Upper Midwest. With the goal of lowering living costs for the economically exploited laboring class, the Sovereigns of Industry worked with retailers to offer discounts to its members on a variety of goods. This collection contains letters, pamphlets and administrative documents mostly relating to the Subordinate Council of the Order which was based in Philadelphia. These papers highlight the nature of communication between the Order's subgroups and its National Council and generally provide insight into late nineteenth century union operation.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Hedgerow Theatre Company records, 1901-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:: 59.5 linear feet (67 boxes)
Abstract:: The Hedgerow Theatre Company was established in 1923 by Jasper Deeter, a New York based actor and director. Located in the Rose Valley Arts and Crafts Community of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Hedgerow holds the distinction as the longest serving Repertory Theatre in America. The Hedgerow Theatre Company records contains a wide variety of materials, from business records and show materials to member ephemera and photographs. The collection provides both a practical and intimate look into the workings of this repertory theatre.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Monument Lab records, 2015-2017 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3 linear feet (3 boxes) and 40.9 gigabytes
Abstract:: Founded in 2012, the Monument Lab is an independent public art and history studio based in Philadelphia. Founded and led by Paul Farber and Ken Lum, Monument Lab works with artists, students, activists, municipal agencies, and cultural institutions on creative avenues for public engagement and collective memory. This collection documents the Monument Lab project, undertaken in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia, from 2015 to 2017, addressing the question, "what is an appropriate monument for the current city of Philadelphia?" The project collected 4,500 monument proposals, of which twenty were selected for temporary exhibit at a variety of public sites across the city

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania records, 1967-2018 (inclusive) 1982-2018 (bulk)

Extent:: 20.5 linear feet (22 boxes)
Abstract:: The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania, unofficially founded in 1982 and officially founded in 1995, supports the LGBTQ+ community at the University of Pennsylvania through services and programs focused on support, advocacy, and education. These records document the creation and development of the LGBT Center and the larger support of the LGBTQ+ community at Penn; the advocacy and influence of Robert Schoenberg and Center staff within the University of Pennsylvania administration; and the influence of global LGBTQ+ issues at the campus level at Penn and more broadly in academia.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

William Steig papers, circa 1907-2002 (inclusive) 1950-2000 (bulk)

Extent:: 21 linear feet (45 boxes)
Abstract:: William Steig (1907-2003) was an American cartoonist, illustrator, and writer of children's books. In 1930, Steig began a long and fruitful relationship with The New Yorker, for which he produced more than 2,600 drawings and 117 covers. When he was sixty-one, Steig began writing children's books, including Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (1969), Dominic (1972), Doctor De Soto (1982), and Shrek! (1990), the basis for the DreamWorks animated film of the same name. This collection includes 45 boxes of material, including correspondence; personal and professional records; drafts of Steig's writings; financial records; press, promotional material, and material from exhibits; awards Steig received; and original artwork, including original ink and watercolor drawings and work that would later appear in the New Yorker. There is also ephemera related to the movie Shrek, as well as personal artifacts, such as Steig's brushes and pens.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Ashley Bryan papers, 1823-2019 (inclusive) 1928-2019 (bulk)

Extent:: 85 linear feet (146 boxes)
Abstract:: Ashley Bryan (1923-2022) was an artist and storyteller best known for his award-winning children's book illustrations with particular emphasis on African folktales and African-American spirituals. Bryan authored, illustrated, published, and distributed his first book in Kindergarten, later graduating from Cooper Union and Columbia University, being awarded a Fulbright to study at the University of Freiburg, before becoming a professor at Dartmouth College. The collection documents his lifelong devotion to the arts including sketchbooks, artwork, and especially materials relating to the publication process of over sixty book projects. There is also material relating to his professional engagements; certificates, awards, diplomas, and plaques relating to his many achievements; and personal and family materials, notebooks, photographs, greeting cards and postcards, school children thank you cards and artwork, and research files and ephemera. Also included are foundational...(see more)

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (OIC) instructional and promotional material collection, 1969-1979 (inclusive)

Extent:: .2 linear_foot (1 box)
Abstract:: The Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (OIC), founded in 1964 by Reverend Leon Sullivan (1922-2001) provided free job training to unemployed or underemployed persons, a motivational and attitudinal service to both the individual and the community, a job placement service to industry, and an on-going prototype and motivational service to other OICs. The collection consists of instructional and promotional material created, largely by the OIC, for members of the OIC, the community that they wished to serve, and the larger public. The records date from 1969 to 1979, therefore documenting only the first decade of an organization that continues to operate today.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Jeremy Duncan Nicholson papers related to LGBT issues at the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, 1976-1984 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.6 linear_foot (2 boxes)
Abstract:: Jeremy Duncan Nicholson (born 1948) was a community organizer for the gay and lesbian community at the University of Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia, from roughly 1975 to 1982, when he was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. This collection includes material from several organizations of which Nicholson was a part, such as the Christian Association of the University of Pennsylvania (CA), the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force (PLGTF), Gay Peer Counseling (GPC), Gays at Penn, and Philadelphia community health organizations, including Lavender Health and the Eromin Center.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

Marlboro Music School and Festival records, 1946-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 150 linear feet (227 boxes, 3 oversize folders) and 4.1 gigabytes
Abstract:: The Marlboro Music School and Festival Records spans Marlboro's history from 1950 through 2013 and showcases its influence on chamber music in America as it documents its growth from a small and informally organized summer school in the early 1950s to its current status as a prestigious institution that has shaped careers and inspired the formation of numerous renowned ensembles. The school's emphasis is on the intensive study of chamber music where young and senior professionals collaborate in a relaxed atmosphere that is removed from the demanding rehearsal and performance schedules that they face throughout the year. The collection comprises administrative documents, concert programs, printed promotional materials, articles and reviews, photographs, and audio-visual materials relating to the Marlboro School of Music and annual summer festival as well as the related Musicians from Marlboro touring series and the Marlboro Recording Society.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]