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Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance 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 Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA) was founded in 1972 by nine leading Philadelphia cultural institutions: The Academy of Music, Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Library Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and The Philadelphia Zoological Garden. The leaders of these organizations originally came together to coordinate historical and cultural events for the Bicentennial Celebration of 1976. From these interactions an idea evolved to band together permanently to share mutual concerns and solve common problems among Philadelphia area cultural institutions. Through its sponsorship of numerous programs and activities, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance also sought to arouse public awareness, participation and financial support for the humanities, arts, and sciences in the Delaware Valley region.
This collection contains organizational histories, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and annual reports; materials from GPCA annual meetings; correspondence and meeting minutes for the GPCA Board of Directors and executive committee; correspondence and miscellaneous material related to the Executive Directors Office of GPCA; and photographs. This collection includes preserved versions of the organizations website, available through Archive-It.
Series 2: Departments, 1973-1987
Series 3: Membership Services, 1962-1987
Series 4: Organizations, 1971-1987
Series 5: Audio-Visual Material, 1973-1987
Series 6: Miscellaneous, 1980-1987
Series 7: Closed Files, 1971-1986 (RESTRICTED)
Series 8: Photographs (PC-53), circa 1927-1987
Series 9: Website versions in Archive-It, 2001-2016
Additions to this collection are expected. Websites are captured using Archive-It periodically, and the latest additions may not yet be included in this finding aid. For information on material–physical and digital, including captured websites–that may have been added since the last finding aid update, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.
Deposited by Monny Schlotzhauer on February 16, 1989.
Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in July 2015 by Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services. Finding aid updated with captured website information in July 2016.
Organization
Subject
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
- April 2025
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research. Restricted materials in Series 7 are available only with permission of the donor. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
- Use Restrictions
-
The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Records are in custody of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. 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 contains general information on NSC including organizational histories, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and annual reports; materials from GPCA annual meetings; correspondence and meeting minutes for the GPCA Board of Directors and executive committee; correspondence and miscellaneous material related to the Executive Directors Office of GPCA.
Series 2 includes financial statements, budget proposals, grant applications, tax and insurance information for GPCA. The series also contains files detailing GPCA fund-raising projects such as The Corporate Sponsor Program; and the Personnel Office whose records include employee manuals, resumes, correspondence and staff meeting minutes and reports.
2 folders
6 folders
2 folders
7 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
4 folders
Series 3 documents activities and services provided by and participated in by GPCA and member agencies. Files include information on conferences, publications, seminars, surveys and studies, and a variety of programs including The Management Improvement for Cultural Organizations (MICO) Program and The Ticketbooth Project.
3 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
3 folders
2 folders
2 folders
4 folders
4 folders
2 folders
2 folders
3 folders
2 folders
4 folders
8 folders
6 folders
7 folders
2 folders
6 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
Series 4 consists of files kept by GPCA on member and non-member arts agencies. Files consist predominantly of correspondence and publications on such organizations as The National Endowment for the Arts, The Philadelphia Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, and The National Association for Local Arts Agencies (NALAA).
2 folders
4 folders
2 folders
Series 5 consists of photographs, tapes, audio and video cassettes, films and slides on a variety of GPCA activities. Materials can be found in boxes 41-42 and the general Urban Archives audio-visual collection.
2 tapes
2 tapesParts 1 and 2
2 tapes
8 tapes
8mm
8mm Films
2 folders
Series 6 contains award certificates, oversize appointment and events log book, and floor plans for the GPCA Ticketbooth Project.
Series 7 contains personnel employee files for the years 1979-1986.
Series 8 contains Photographs include images related to dance, music, art, and other cultural events in the Philadelphia area. Includes images of the Philadelphia Festival of 1973 and 1975 and portraits of John Goberman, Ivan Nagy, and Boris Sokoloff. Photographers include Laird Bindrim, Henry Grossman, Deng Jeng Lee, Duane Perry, Adrian Siegel, Susanne Faulkner Stevens, and Bruce Stromberg.
2 folders
This series contains preserved versions of the GPCA website. To access these sites, see the Temple University Special Collections Urban Archives Archive-It web page.
Physical Description1 Archived Websites