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Oscar I. Stern Papers
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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
Oscar Stern was a real estate appraiser and broker with an office at 503 Pine Street. He also served as a special lecturer in appraisal techniques and ethics at the Wharton School and taught professional courses for various appraisal societies. He was a frequent contributor of articles for real estate publications and was a consultant to the Institute of Urban Land Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
He was a member of the governing council of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, a member of the governing council of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, a member of the board of governors of the International Society of Real Estate Appraisers, and a board member of the Philadelphia Housing Association. A few of the appraisals in the collection were jointly accomplished by Mr. Stern and Roland Rodrock Randall, another Philadelphia appraiser.
Collection includes records related to real estate projects and cases.
Series 2: Philadelphia City Cases, 1954-1964
Series 3: Miscellaneous Files, 1928-1964
Series 4: Philadelphia Board of Viewers Property Plans, circa 1956-1964
Series 5: Photographs (PC-78), undated
Donated by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania through Peter Parker, Curator of Manuscripts, May 1979.
Collection organized and inventory prepared by George D. Brightbill. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in July 2023 by Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services.
- 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
- February 2024
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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The Oscar I. Stern Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creator/donor has not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them 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: Philadelphia City Projects: This series generally contains appraisal files dealing with properties taken by Philadelphia City for urban redevelopment projects. Files are arranged by project name. Many of the appraisal reports are in binders and contain a textual description of the neighborhood and land use information as well as specific property appraisals.
Series 2: Philadelphia City Cases: Consists of appraisal files dealing with properties affected by city activities including the widening of roads and sewer easements. Files are arranged by case number.
Series 3: Miscellaneous Files: Includes a variety of files produced by Mr. Stern as a realtor and appraiser. Included among these files are appraisals for estates and realty files dealing with the sales of properties such as the lots in the Cheyney Homesteads development. The realty files may contain copies of deeds and mortgages. Among the major projects for which Mr. Stern appraised properties was the Delaware Expressway.
Series 4: Philadelphia Board of Viewers Property Plans: Oversized plans which were removed from mostly Philadelphia City case files (Series II) and which are generally filed by the same number.
Series 5: Photographs (PC-78): Photographs removed or copied from other series are noted by a "PC" added to the file description in this inventory. Many of the photographs in this collection depict appraised properties. No inventory available.