Main content

Early photographs of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry

Notifications

Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]W. W. Hagerty Library, 3300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

The Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry was founded in 1891 and first opened to students in 1892. At first, the institute consisted of the following eleven departments:

  1. the Art Department, including fine art, architecture, and later the School of Illustration taught by Howard Pyle;
  2. the Scientific Department, offering courses in physics, chemistry, and math;
  3. the Department of Mechanic Arts, providing secondary education and manual training;
  4. the Department of Domestic Economy, later the Department of Domestic Science and Arts, with courses in cookery, dressmaking, millinery, household economy, and human physiology and hygiene;
  5. the Technical Department, including electricity, machine construction, and mechanical drawing;
  6. the Business Department, which taught stenography, bookkeeping, and typewriting;
  7. the Department of Physical Training;
  8. the Normal Department for the Training of Teachers;
  9. the Department of Lectures and Evening Classes;
  10. the Library and Reading Room, which supported one of the first library schools in the country;
  11. the Museum.

After a great deal of administrative reorganization under the first president, James MacAlister, the departments were consolidated by President Hollis Godfrey into four schools in 1914. In the School of Engineering, the curricula offered through the scientific and technical departments became the basis for four-year degree-granting courses of study, while the courses offered in mechanic arts became a lower school offering non-degree or preparatory courses of study. The departments of domestic economy, business, and lectures and evening classes became the School of Domestic Science and Arts, the Secretarial School (later the School of Business), and the Evening School, respectively. The library school was discontinued in 1914 and reopened in 1922. The Art Department had closed in 1905, except for the Department of Architecture, which also closed in 1914.

When the Drexel Institute opened, all of its classrooms and facilities were housed in a single building, the Main Building, which was designed and constructed by the noted Philadelphia architectural firm of Wilson Brothers and Company. The building was completed in 1891. A second building, East Hall (later Randell Hall), was built in 1901.

Athletic activity began at Drexel with physical education, which was required and taught by the Department of Physical Training, while competitive athletics were organized informally by students. An athletic association for men’s sports, responsible for organizing games and fostering student interest in athletics, was established in 1895; a women’s athletic association was formed sometime before 1908. President Godfrey began a policy of official support and funding for competitive sports in 1914. Sports played in the early days of the Drexel Institute included football, basketball, baseball, tennis, riflery, track, and possibly crew for men and basketball and riflery for women. Other important features of student life include fraternities and sororities, beginning in 1900; student publications such as the Eccentric (precursor to the Lexerd) and the Triangle (founded in 1926); and extracurricular activities such as bands, orchestras, glee clubs, and theatre.

Scope/content: This collection consists of photographs of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry from 1891 to 1936. It includes photographs of the exterior and interior of the Main Building, men’s and women’s athletic teams, and students from various academic departments. Arrangement: Arranged into four series: 1. Buildings and facilities photographs; 2. Athletics photographs; 3. Academic program photographs; 4. Student life photographs. Acquisition information: Source unknown. Subjects: Department of Domestic Economy (1891-1894) Department of Domestic Science and Arts (1894-1900) Department of Mechanic Arts (1892-1903) Department of Science and Technology (1902-1914) Department of Physical Training Library School (1900-1914) School of Home Economics (1922-1945) School of Engineering (1914-1945) Secretarial School (1914-1922) Scientific Department (1892-1902) Drexel University -- History. Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry -- Buildings. Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry -- Sports. Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry -- Students. Education, Higher -- Pennsylvania -- History. Home economics -- Study and teaching -- United States -- History.

The collection covers the early years of Drexel, with the bulk of the material dating from the late 1890s into the 1910s. The collection was compiled by the university archivist in August 2005 from photograph subject files. The use and provenance of most of the photos is unknown, but many can be found in school publications, such as the Lexerd and the Drexel Institute Bulletin.

    Arranged into four series:
  1. Buildings and facilities photographs
  2. Athletics photographs
  3. Academic program photographs
  4. Student life photographs

Provenance unknown.

Kevin Martin.

Publisher
Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Prepared by Kevin Martin and Megan Manchester.
Finding Aid Date
2006
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Consult archivist regarding copyright restrictions.

Consult archivist regarding copyright restrictions.

Collection Inventory

Container 01 (from Accession #2005-085). BoxID: 637 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: [processed] Subjects: Arrangement: .
Physical Description

BoxID: 637 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: [processed] Subjects: Arrangement:

Container 02 (from Accession #2005-085). BoxID: 638 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: [processed] Subjects: Arrangement: .
Physical Description

BoxID: 638 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: [processed] Subjects: Arrangement:

Physical Description

BoxID: 639 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: [unprocessed] Subjects: Arrangement:

2005085177.
Physical Description

BoxID: 640 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: [unprocessed] Subjects: Arrangement:

2005085185.
2005085189.
2005085190.
2005085191.
2005085196.
2005085199.
2005085211.
2005085213.
Container 06 (from Accession #2006-094), 1897-1927. BoxID: 943 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Photographs. Subjects: Athletics. Arrangement: Alphabetical, see item list for arrangement..
Physical Description

BoxID: 943 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Photographs. Subjects: Athletics. Arrangement: Alphabetical, see item list for arrangement.

Physical Description

BoxID: 944 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Photographs. Subjects: Buildings, academics. Arrangement: Alphabetical, see item list for arrangement.

2005085_016.
2005085_021.
2005085_025.
Container OVD (from Accession #2006-094). BoxID: 953 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Oversized athletics and academics photographs. Subjects: Arrangement: Alphabetical, see item list for arrangement..
Physical Description

BoxID: 953 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Oversized athletics and academics photographs. Subjects: Arrangement: Alphabetical, see item list for arrangement.

Container 01 (from Accession #2005-100), 1905-2008. BoxID: 636 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Photo album containing about 25 photos, circa 1905. Subjects: Curriculum, mechanic arts, domestic science, Runnymede. Arrangement: .
Physical Description

BoxID: 636 Old Box Number (janick database): Description: Photo album containing about 25 photos, circa 1905. Subjects: Curriculum, mechanic arts, domestic science, Runnymede. Arrangement:

Scope and Contents note

The majority of photographs in this series are of the interior of the Main Building. The series also includes a photograph of the former home on the current site of the Main Building. Folders marked with the prefix "OV" are separated from letter-sized folders and are located at the bottom of the box.

2005085370, [no date].
Classroom, n.d.
2005085372, [no date].
2005085373, [no date].
2005085376, [no date].
2005085377, [no date].
2005085378, [no date].
2005085445, 1929.
2005085001, [circa 1915].
2005085002, [circa 1915].
2005085003, [circa 1915].
2005085446, 1935.
20050850486.
2005085004, 1892.
2005085005, 1892.
2005085447, 1892.
2005085448, 1892.
2005085006, [circa 1895].
2005085008, [circa 1915].
2005085074, [no date].
2005085075, [no date].
20050850490.
2005085009, 1892.
2005085010, [no date].
20050850492.
2005085011, 1892.
2005085012, 1892.
2005085013, 1892.
2005085449, [no date].
2005085014, 1892.
2005085076, 1894.
20050850488.
2005085015, 1892.
20050850471.
20050850473.
20050850478.
20050850485.
2005085016, 1892.
2005085017, 1892.
2005085018, 1892.
2005085019, [circa 1892].
2005085077, 1892.
2005085078, 1892.
2005085079, 1892.
2005085450, 1903.
20050850489.
2005085451, 1892.
2005085020, [circa 1915].
2005085021, [circa 1915].
2005085022, [circa 1915].
2005085452, 1894.
20050850500.
2005085080, 1891.
2005085081, 1891.
2005085082, 1891.
2005085023, [circa 1892].
2005085024, [circa 1892].
2005085025, [circa 1905].
2005085423, 1914.
2005085453, [no date].
2005085454, [no date].
20050850470.
2005085026, 1900-1901.
2005085027, 1900-1901.
2005085028, 1900-1901.
2005085029, 1900-1901.
2005085030, 1900-1901.
2005085031, 1900-1901.
2005085007, [no date].
2005085032, [no date].
2005085033, [no date].
2005085034, [no date].
20050850466.
2005085035, [circa 1915].
2005085036, [circa 1915].
2005085037, [circa 1915].
2005085038, 1892.
2005085367, 1936.
2005085039, [circa 1904].
20050850498.
2005085040, [circa 1904].
2005085041, [circa 1917].
2005085042, [circa 1915].
2005085043, [no date].
2005085046, [circa 1915].
2005085047, [circa 1895].
2005085044, [circa 1895].
2005085048, [circa 1895].
2005085049, [circa 1895].
2005085050, [circa 1900].
2005085051, [circa 1900].
20050850483.
20050850499.
2005085045, 1921.
2005085052, 1892.
2005085053, [1895].
2005085001f, 1891.
2005085001a, 1892.
20050850461, 1892.
2005085455, 1903.
2005085001e, [no date].
20050850469.
2005085083, 1900.
2005085456, [no date].
2005085001b, 1901.
2005085001c, [circa 1895].
2005085001d, [no date].
2005085054, [no date].
2005085457, [no date].
2005085055, [circa 1892].
2005085084, 1892.
2005085085, 1892.
2005085086, 1892.
2005085056, 1903-1904.
Main Building, publicity office, Undated. 1 photographs.
Box 1 Folder 35a
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

2005085087, [circa 1885].
2005085057, 1900.
2005085058, [circa 1905].
2005085436, 1896.
2005085437, 1896.
2005085438, 1896.
2005085059, [circa 1920].
2005085060, [circa 1915].
2005085061, [circa 1915].
2005085062, [circa 1915].
2005085063, [circa 1915].
2005085064, [circa 1915].
2005085065, [circa 1910].
2005085066, [circa 1915].
2005085067, [no date].
2005085458, [no date].
2005085459, [no date].
20050850510.
20050850511.
20050850512.
20050850513.
20050850514.
20050850515.
20050850516.
20050850517.
20050850518.
20050850519.
20050850520.
20050850521.
2005085425, [no date].
2005085428, [no date].
2005085072, [no date].
2005085073, [no date].

Scope and Contents note

Team photographs of both men’s and women’s athletic teams. The bulk of the photographs are from the late 1890s to the 1910s. Basketball is the most represented sport.

2005085122, [no date].
2005085393, [no date].
2005085123, [no date].
2005085088, [circa 1900].
2005085089, [circa 1915].
2005085404, [no date].
2005085405, [no date].
20050850467, undated.
2005085090, 1894-1895.
2005085091, 1897.
2005085406, 1897.
2005085396, 1897.
2005085092, 1897-1898.
2005085093, 1897-1898.
2005085407, 1903-1904.
2005085408, 1915-1916.
2005085094, 1911-1912.
2005085095, 1913.
2005085096, [no date].
2005085381, [no date].
2005085385, [no date].
2005085386, [no date].
2005085124, 1897-1898.
2005085125, [1899].
2005085126, [1899].
2005085395, [no date].
2005085399, 1905.
2005085394, 1907.
2005085390, 1911.
2005085391, [no date].
2005085400, [no date].
2005085409, 1905.
2005085410, 1907.
2005085127, 1911.
2005085128, 1912.
2005085129, [circa 1915].
2005085130, [circa 1915].
2005085131, [circa 1920].
Basketball, women's team picture, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 2
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

2005085132, [circa 1915].
2005085133, [circa 1915].
2005085134, [circa 1895].
2005085135, [circa 1895].
2005085136, [circa 1895].
2005085137, [circa 1895].
2005085138, [circa 1895].
2005085139, [circa 1895].
2005085140, [circa 1895].
2005085141, [circa 1895].
2005085142, [circa 1895].
2005085143, [circa 1915].
2005085144, [circa 1915].
2005085145, [circa 1915].
2005085146, 1917.
2005085412, [no date].
2005085097, 1893.
2005085147, 1894.
2005085413, 1897.
2005085148, 1901.
2005085098, 1906.
2005085099, 1906.
2005085149, 1919.
2005085414, 1919.
2005085415, 1919.
2005085150, 1922.
2005085100, 1923.
2005085101, 1924.
2005085102, 1924.
2005085103, 1924.
2005085383, [no date].
2005085416, [no date].
2005085417, [no date].
2005085418, [no date].
2005085419, [no date].
2005085420, [no date].
2005085421, [no date].
Football, team picture, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 3
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

20050850468, undated.
2005085151, [no date].
2005085397, [no date].
2005085392, [no date].
2005085152, [no date].
2005085153, [no date].
2005085104, [circa 1905].
2005085422, [no date].
2005085105, 1911.
2005085106, 1911.
2005085107, 1922.
2005085154, [no date].

Scope and Contents note

This series is arranged into subseries by department: art, domestic science and arts, engineering and science, library school, mechanic arts, secretarial, physical education, and unidentified. The bulk of the photos are from 1903-1904 and 1914-1915. Domestic science is the predominant subject. Folders are arranged chronologically within subseries; folders marked with prefix OV are located in box 2.

2005085172, 1892.
2005085173, 1892.
2005085174, 1892.
2005085175, 1892.
2005085176, [circa 1895].
2005085178, [circa 1900].
2005085177, [circa 1900].
2005085179, 1904.
20050850505.
20050850506, 1915.
20050850507.
20050850508.
20050850509.
2005085180, 1904.
2005085181, [circa 1904].
2005085182, [circa 1900].
2005085424, [no date].
Department of Fine and Applied Art, Architectural Students, 1897. 1 photographs.
Box 7 Folder 3
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

2005085183, 1892.
2005085184, 1892.
2005085185, 1893.
2005085186, 1894.
2005085187, [circa 1895].
2005085188, 1898.
2005085189, 1903.
2005085190, 1903-1904.
2005085191, 1903-1904.
20050850476.
2005085192, 1903-1904.
2005085193, 1912 or 1913.
2005085194, 1912 or 1913.
2005085195, 1914.
2005085196, 1914.
2005085197, [circa 1914].
2005085426, 1913-1914.
2005085198, 1914-1915.
2005085199, 1914-1915.
2005085200, 1914-1915.
2005085201, 1914-1915.
2005085202, 1914-1915.
2005085203, 1914-1915.
2005085204, 1914-1915.
2005085205, 1914-1915.
2005085206, 1914-1915.
2005085207, 1914-1915.
2005085208, 1914-1915.
2005085209, 1914-1915.
2005085210, 1914-1915.
2005085211, [circa 1915].
2005085212, [circa 1915].
2005085213, [circa 1915].
2005085214, [circa 1915].
2005085215, [circa 1915].
2005085216, [circa 1915].
2005085217, [circa 1915].
2005085218, [circa 1915].
2005085219, [circa 1915].
2005085220, [circa 1915].
2005085221, [circa 1915].
2005085222, [circa 1915].
20050850482.
20050850484.
20050850504.
2005085223, [circa 1915].
2005085108, 1915.
2005085224, [circa 1915].
2005085225, [circa 1915].
2005085226, [circa 1915].
2005085227, [circa 1915].
2005085228, [circa 1915].
2005085229, 1915.
2005085230, 1915.
2005085231, 1915.
2005085232, 1915.
2005085233, 1915.
2005085234, [circa 1915].
2005085235, [circa 1915].
2005085236, [circa 1915].
2005085237, [circa 1915].
2005085238, [circa 1915].
2005085239, [circa 1915].
2005085240, [circa 1915].
2005085241, [circa 1915].
2005085242, [circa 1915].
2005085243, [circa 1915].
2005085244, [circa 1915].
2005085245, [circa 1915].
2005085246, [circa 1915].
2005085247, [circa 1915].
2005085248, [circa 1915].
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

20050850468.
2005085249, [circa 1915].
2005085250, [circa 1915].
2005085251, [circa 1915].
2005085252, [circa 1916].
2005085253, 1915.
2005085254, 1915.
2005085255, [circa 1915].
2005085256, [circa 1916].
2005085257, [circa 1916].
2005085258, [circa 1916].
2005085259, [circa 1916].
2005085260, [circa 1916].
2005085261, [circa 1916].
2005085262, [circa 1916].
2005085263, [circa 1916].
2005085264, [circa 1916].
2005085265, [circa 1916].
2005085266, 1917.
2005085267, [circa 1918].
2005085268, [after 1922].
2005085389, [no date].
2005085269, [no date].
2005085271, [no date].
2005085272, [no date].
2005085388, [no date].
2005085273, [no date].
2005085427, [no date].
2005085429, [no date].
20050850503.
2005085274, 1892.
20050850495.
20050850501.
2005085275, 1903-1904.
2005085430, 1903-1904.
2005085276, [circa 1904].
2005085277, 1904.
2005085278, [circa 1904].
2005085279, [circa 1904].
2005085280, [circa 1910].
2005085281, [circa 1910].
20050850487.
2005085282, [circa 1913].
2005085283, [circa 1914].
2005085284, [circa 1915].
2005085285, [circa 1915].
2005085286, [circa 1915].
2005085287, [circa 1915].
2005085288, [circa 1915].
Engineering School, physical laboratory, 1892. 1 photographs.
Box 3 Folder 12c
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

2005085289, [circa 1915].
2005085290, [circa 1915].
2005085291, [circa 1916].
2005085292, [circa 1916].
2005085431, 1917-1918.
2005085293, [circa 1924].
2005085294, [circa 1924].
Engineering School, graduating class, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 4
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

Engineering School, graduating class, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 4
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

Engineering School, graduating class, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 4
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

Engineering School, graduating class, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 4
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

20050850472.
2005085369, 1938.
2005085375, 1938.
20050850465, 1925.
2005085432, 1900.
2005085460, 1904.
2005085109, 1931.
Library School, class of 1898, 1898. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 2
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

2005085295, 1892.
2005085296, 1892.
2005085297, 1892.
20050850479.
2005085298, 1892.
2005085299, [circa 1895].
2005085300, [circa 1895].
2005085301, 1895-1896.
2005085440, 1896.
2005085441, 1896.
20050850496.
2005085302, 1896.
2005085110, 1896.
2005085111, 1896.
20050850474.
2005085303, 1896.
2005085304, [1896].
2005085305, 1896.
2005085306, 1896.
2005085307, [1896].
2005085434, 1900.
2005085435, 1903.
2005085308, 1903-1904.
2005085309, [circa 1904].
2005085113, [circa 1904].
2005085310, [circa 1895].
2005085311, [no date].
2005085312, [no date].
2005085313, [no date].
2005085314, [no date].
2005085315, [no date].
2005085433, [no date].
20050850475.
2005085439, [no date].
20050850477.
20050850497.
Mechanic Arts Department, class of 1895, 1895. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 2
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

2005085316, [circa 1915].
2005085317, [circa 1915].
2005085318, [circa 1915].
2005085319, [circa 1915].
2005085320, [no date].
2005085321, [no date].
2005085322, [no date].
2005085323, [no date].
2005085324, [no date].
Department of Commerce and Finance, commerce and accounts, 1909.
Box 7 Folder 17A
2005085325, 1897.
2005085326, 1904.
2005085327, 1904.
2005085328, [1904].
2005085329, [1904].
2005085330, [circa 1915].
2005085331, [circa 1915].
2005085332, [circa 1915].
2005085333, [circa 1915].
2005085334, [circa 1915].
2005085335, [circa 1915].
2005085336, [circa 1915].
2005085337, [circa 1915].
2005085338, [circa 1915].
2005085339, [circa 1915].
2005085401, [no date].
2005085380, [no date].
2005085379, [no date].
2005085387, [no date].
2005085398, [no date].
2005085382, [no date].
2005085384, [no date].
2005085444, [no date].
2005085340, [circa 1915].
2005085115, 1910.
2005085368, [circa 1936].
2005085343, [no date].
2005085344, [no date].
2005085345, [no date].
2005085346, [no date].
2005085347, [no date].
2005085349, [no date].
2005085350, [no date].
2005085351, [no date].
2005085352, [no date].
2005085353, [no date].
2005085354, [no date].
2005085355, [no date].
2005085356, [no date].
2005085357, [no date].
2005085358, [no date].
2005085359, [no date].
2005085360, [no date].
2005085361, [no date].
2005085362, [no date].
2005085363, [no date].
2005085364, [no date].
2005085365, [no date].
2005085366, [no date].
2005085341, [no date].
2005085114, [no date].
2005085342, [no date].
2005085116, [no date].
Unidentified female children with unidentified instructor, undated. 1 photographs.
Box OVD Folder 2
Physical Description

1.0 photographs

Scope and Contents note

This series includes photos of student dorms, student activities, and facilities on campus for students. Photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject/title.

2005085155, [no date].
2005085156, [no date].
2005085402, [no date].
2005085157, 1911.
2005085403, 1921.
2005085158, 1925.
2005085159, [circa 1910].
2005085371, [circa 1937].
2005085161, 1917.
2005085162, [no date].
2005085163, [no date].
2005085164, 1917.
2005085165, 1917.
2005085166, 1917.
2005085167, 1924.
2005085168, [no date].
2005085118, 1916.
2005085068, [circa 1900].
2005085069, [circa 1900].
2005085070, [circa 1900].
2005085374, [no date].
2005085169, [circa 1915].
2005085170, [circa 1915].
2005085171, [circa 1920].
2005085119, [no date].
2005085120, [no date].
2005085121, [no date].
20050850462_015.
Box 7 Folder 1
20050850462_020.
Box 7 Folder 1
20050850462_023.
Box 7 Folder 1

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