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Regional Planning Federation of the Philadelphia Tri-State District Records
Notifications
Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. 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 Regional Planning Federation of the Philadelphia Tri-State District had its beginnings in the meetings of a group of municipal reformers at the City Club in early 1924. Their goal was the development of a comprehensive regional planning program for the Philadelphia Tri-State district and in May 1928 the Regional Planning Federation was incorporated. The major accomplishment of the federation was the publication of the Regional Plan for the Philadelphia Tri-State District in 1932 and the various surveys taken in preparation for the Plan. In the years following the publication of the plan the Federation became increasingly overshadowed by the various New Deal agencies and finally suspended its activities indefinitely in 1941.
Collection contains minutes, bylaws, organizational records, reports, financial records, news clippings, correspondence, and speeches by or related to the Regional Planning Federation of the Philadelphia Tri-State District. Photographs consist primarily of high altitude aerials shot in 1928 by the Aero Service Corporation, including low altitude aerials of various areas including Center City, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Delaware Avenue, Delaware River, Fairmount Park, and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Additional boxes of this collection are not described in this inventory. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Series 2: Overall planning, 1925-1937, undated
Series 3: Specific planning areas, 1925-1939, undated
Series 4: Conferences and special projects, 1924-1939, undated
Series 5: General operations, 1870-1939, undated
Series 6: Outside agencies and organizations, 1928-1939, undated
Series 7: Newspaper clippings, undated
Series 8: Photographs (PC-22), 1928-1952
Donated by the University of Pennsylvania through Alan Morrison, Fine Arts Librarian, March, 1978, Acc. 330.
Organization
Subject
- Aerial photography -- New Jersey
- Aerial photography -- Delaware
- Aerial photography -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- City planning -- Pennsylvania
- Planning -- Pennsylvania
- Regional planning -- Pennsylvania
Place
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
- Finding Aid Date
- May 2025
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
The Regional Planning Federation of the Philadelphia Tri-State District records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Temple University holds intellectual property rights only for material donated to the university with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Board of Directors and Executive Material contains material pertaining to the establishment of the Federation such as the Regional Planning Committee, Constitution and By-Laws plus Board of Directors and Executive Committee Correspondence and Minutes and Presidential and Executive Director's material.
5 Folders
10 Folders
9 Folders
15 Folders
12 Folders
2 Folders
12 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
Series 2: Overall Planning contains material relating to overall planning in the entire Tri-State region such as the comprehensive Plans and Technical Advisory Committees, Consultants and Planning Staff.
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
7 Folders
3 Folders
5 Folders
5 Folders
4 Folders
4 Folders
4 Folders
6 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
Series 3: Specific Planning Areas consists of material relating to specific planning areas as opposed to the overall picture; the largest collection of material being Aviation, Highways, Parks and Parkways, Port and Rail, and Sanitation and Water.
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
6 Folders
9 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
5 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
6 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 copies
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 FoldersParts I-VI
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
3 Folders
Series 4: Conferences and Special Projects consists of material from various conferences, the bulk of the material being from the Planning Conference at the University of Pennsylvania in April 1936, plus the Parks, Passenger Traffic, and Sanitation and Water Supply Surveys. The Series also contains material on the organization, publication and presentation of the Regional Plan.
copies
5 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
4 Volumes
2 Volumes
1 Volumes
1 Volumes
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
6 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
Series 5: General Operations contains material on the day to day operations of the Federation such as financial and legislative material, publicity; general correspondence, and the various yearly campaigns.
2 Folders
5 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
13 Folders
46 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
20 Folders
5 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
(incomplete)
(including oversized)
2 Folders
2 Folders
7 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
8 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
9 Folders
2 Folders
7 Folders
2 Folders
6 Folders
5 Folders
5 Folders
4 Folders
8 Folders
3 Folders
14 Folders
8 Folders
3 Folders
3 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
10 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
Series 6: Outside Agencies and Organizations consists of material pertaining to various organizations and agencies with which the Federation had contacts for the purpose of gathering or dispensing information or for assistance in various projects.
5 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
3 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
3 Folders
2 Folders
4 Folders
2 Folders
Series 7: Newspaper Clippings contains miscellaneous clippings on various subjects.
in folders
in folders
Oversized
Series 8: Photographs (PC-22) includes high altitude aerial photographs for the 24 quadrangles in the district, some low altitude aerials of parts of Philadelphia and roads leading to Fairless Works, meetings and activities of the agency, the laying of granite block pavement in New York City, and portraits of Samuel F. Wetherwill, Jr. Photographers include Aero Service Corp., Wm. Shewell Ellis, and Phillips Studio. All aerials taken by Aero Service Corporation.