Call Number:

3624

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

0.6 linear feet (; 2 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Elizabeth Wurster photographs of Philadelphia (Collection 3624), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

circa 1975-1992

Creator:

Wurster, Elizabeth

Abstract:

Elizabeth Wurster (1919-2009), originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, was a Philadelphia resident from 1942 to 1992. She lived at 10th and Spruce streets and worked at the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. This is a collection of photographs she took of various local buildings and events over the course of almost 20 years. All the photographs are in color and many are identified.

The collection consists of two boxes of photographs in archival sleeves and is arranged loosely into five groups, and chronologically in each group. The first group relates to events that took place in Philadelphia from 1976-1991 including Bicentennial events, Thanksgiving Day and Mummers parades, visits from Pope John Paul II and President Ford, and the aftermath of fires. The second group contains images of Philadelphia landmarks dating from 1975-1992 including Independence Mall, Penn's Landing, City Hall, public art, parks, and the Philadelphia Zoo. The third group contains images of various Philadelphia streets and people from 1975-1992. The fourth group contains images of city views from 1975-1992 including city skylines, architectural details, documentation of construction and demolition, private gardens and courtyards in the neighborhood of 10th and Spruce, and murals. The fifth and final grouping contains miscellaneous images from 1976-1985 of views from Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, and unidentified interior shots and people. The collection also contains negatives for some of the photographs.