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Benjamin Feldman Papers

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

Call Number:
828
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
4 linear feet (4 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Benjamin Feldman Papers, Accession 828, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1938-1998 (inclusive)
Creator:
Feldman, Benjamin
Form:
Administrative records, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws (administrative records), Clippings, Correspondence, Ephemera, Financial records, Manuscripts, Minutes (administrative records), Newsletters, Pamphlets, Periodicals, Publications (documents), Reports, and Speeches (documents)
Abstract:

Benjamin Feldman was born in Philadelphia on December 17, 1907. He graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1927 and from Temple University in 1930 with a degree in Pharmacy.

After graduation, Mr. Feldman worked as a pharmacist until the Depression, during which time he worked as a caseworker for the Department of Public Assistance for the State of Pennsylvania. In the late 1940s, Mr. Feldman owned and operated his own drug store, Modern Drug Store, at 5th and Spencer Streets in the Olney section of Philadelphia, until he retired in 1959.

Throughout his life, Feldman was a community activist, dedicated to supporting cooperative and consumer movements. He belonged to or was associated with over twenty cooperative or consumer groups. He was one of the early members of the food co-operative Weavers Way. In 1976, he founded and was elected Treasurer of the Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation. Feldman held various offices in the Philadelphia Consumer Services Cooperative, Inc. Up until the time of his death in 1998, he was still an active member of the Institute for Cooperative Housing.

The Benjamin Feldman Papers document the nearly fifty years involvement of Mr. Feldman in various cooperative and neighborhood organizations. The collection includes correspondence, pamphlets, brochures, for-profit and non-profit publications, and promotional material. The correspondence includes letters of general interest, mainly to co-ops or members of the Press. Personal correspondence includes correspondence to and from the State of Pennsylvania,1938-1947, that relate to Feldman's fight to clear his name and record from an accusation of Communist involvement. The Collection also contains a significant amount of material relating to organization of co-ops and community interest groups, including minutes and proceedings. The files of the Consumer Group Series provide an almost encyclopedic inventory of the many neighborhood and regional groups active in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley from the 1930s until the late 1970s.

The collection is arranged into 12 series as follows:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1938-1993
Series 2: Finances, 1959-1985
Series 3: Presentations, 1963-1974
Series 4: Consumer Groups, 1962-1993
Series 5: Group Law, 1967-1980
Series 6: Philadelphia Consumer Services Cooperative, Inc., 1944-1991
Series 7: Weaver's Way Cooperative Association, 1974-1979
Series 8: Consumer Education, 1964-1992
Series 9: Government Agencies, 1977-1998
Series 10: Organizations, 1947-1976
Series 11: Publications, 1964-1992
Series 12: Miscellaneous, 1968-1991

Donated by Benjamin Feldman in March 1996.

Processed by Mark Harwell, Mary Kirk, Ann Reinhardt, April 2001. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.

Photographs from this collection have been removed to the Miscellaneous Photograph Collection (PC-49), Box 11.

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
November 2023
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Benjamin Feldman Papers are the physical property 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

Scope and Contents

Series 1: Correspondence, 1938-1993, documents chronologically Mr. Feldman's communications with various people and institutions including the Department of Public Assistance, Jerry Voorhis, Claude Lewis, Larry W. Post, Cecil B. Moore, The Cooperative League of the USA, Morningstar Heights Consumers Cooperative, Inc., Consumer's Legal Services, WCAU, and various Congresspersons.

Personal Correspondence, PA Department of Public Assistance, 1938-1947.
Box 1 Folder 1
NAACP, Cecil B. Moore, 1963.
Box 1 Folder 2
Cooperative League of the USA, 1965-1967.
Box 1 Folder 3
Morningstar Heights Consumers Cooperative, Inc., 1966.
Box 1 Folder 4
Personal Correspondence, Jerry Voorhis, 1967.
Box 1 Folder 5
Consumer's Group Legal Services, Inc., 1972-1974.
Box 1 Folder 6
WCAU, 1973-1975.
Box 1 Folder 7
Municipal Employees Legal Services, 1974.
Box 1 Folder 8
Congressmen, 1974-1981.
Box 1 Folder 9
Personal Correspondence-Subpoenas, 1982.
Box 1 Folder 10
Personal Correspondence-Claude Lewis, 1990.
Box 1 Folder 11
Personal Correspondence-National Cooperative Business Association, 1990.
Box 1 Folder 12
Personal Correspondence-[Larry W. Post], 1993.
Box 1 Folder 13

Scope and Contents

Series 2: Finances, 1959-1985, contains personal financial statements, including the sale of Mr. Feldman's Modern Drug Store, and the start-up budget for the River Park Co-Op Apartments.

Personal, Modern Drug Store, 1959-1962.
Box 1 Folder 14
Personal, River Park Co-Op Apartments, 1963-1972.
Box 1 Folder 15
Personal, Haband Company, invoice, 1985.
Box 1 Folder 16

Scope and Contents

Series 3: Presentations, 1963-1974, contains personal public speaking speeches from 1963 on topics of how to manage one's personal finances, how poverty can demoralize, and how to join cooperative groups.

Money Management, 1963-1974.
Box 1 Folder 17
Poverty, 1966.
Box 1 Folder 18
Joining Co-Ops, undated.
Box 1 Folder 19

Scope and Contents

Series 4: Consumer Groups, 1962-1993, includes materials on information, correspondence, brochures, and pamphlets on various consumer advocate and cooperative groups including the American Society for Testing Materials, Consumer Cooperative Alliance, Consumer Council of Greater Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation, Delaware Valley Council for the Protection of Consumers, Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc., Mid-Eastern Cooperatives, Inc., and the Strawberry Mansion Cooperative Association.

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1978-1987.
Box 1 Folder 20
C. C. A., 1970-1971.
Box 1 Folder 21
Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia, 1962-1965.
Box 1 Folder 22
City of Philadelphia Co-Op Committee, 1985.
Box 1 Folder 23
Community Accountants, undated.
Box 1 Folder 24
Consumer Cooperative Alliance, 1966-1982.
Box 1 Folder 25
Consumer Council of Greater Philadelphia, 1977.
Box 1 Folder 26
Consumer Council of Greater Philadelphia: Energy, 1971-1977.
Box 1 Folder 27
Cooperative Alumni Association, Inc. Co-Op Alumni News, 1991.
Box 1 Folder 28
Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation, 1979-1984.
Box 1 Folder 29
Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation—Housing, 1983.
Box 1 Folder 30
Delaware Valley Consumer Sounding Board, 1981-1982.
Box 1 Folder 31
Delaware Valley Council for the Protection of Consumers, 1965-1967.
Box 1 Folder 32
General Co-Ops, 1993.
Box 1 Folder 33
Greater Philadelphia Group Health Plan—Organizing Committee, 1970.
Box 1 Folder 34
Housing Council of the Delaware Valley, 1965.
Box 1 Folder 35
Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc., 1963-1993.
Box 1 Folder 36
Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc.--Board of Directors List, 1986-1993.
Box 1 Folder 37
Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc.--By Laws, 1993.
Box 1 Folder 38
Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc.--Financial Committee Report, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 39
Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc.--Financial Statement, 1971-1990.
Box 1 Folder 40
Institute for Cooperative Housing, Inc.--Fund-Raising, 1986-1988.
Box 1 Folder 41
Mid-Eastern Cooperatives, Inc., 1964-1966.
Box 1 Folder 42
National Association of Housing Cooperatives, 1991.
Box 1 Folder 43
North City Congress, 1964.
Box 1 Folder 44
Organizational Material: Miscellaneous, 1978-1990.
Box 1 Folder 45
Ruth L. Bennett Tenant Council: Grant Application, 1988-1991.
Box 1 Folder 46
Strawberry Mansion Cooperative Association, Inc., 1967-1969.
Box 1 Folder 47
Strawberry Mansion Council of Block Organizations: Citizenship Committee, 1964.
Box 1 Folder 48

Scope and Contents

Series 5: Group Law, 1967-1980, includes detailed information on this legal service group, including committee meetings, insurance, service plans, leaflets, news-clippings, publicity and workshops.

Committee Minutes, 1973-1975.
Box 2 Folder 1
Feasibility Study, 1973.
Box 2 Folder 2
Forms, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 3
Group Legal Insurance, 1967-1980.
Box 2 Folder 4
Group Legal Service Plan, 1973-1975.
Box 2 Folder 5
Group Legal Service Plan-Various Publications, 1973-1974.
Box 2 Folder 6
Group Legal Service Plan-Various Publications, 1973-1974.
Box 2 Folder 7
Leaflets, 1970-1975.
Box 2 Folder 8
Legal Service Plan, 1971-1975.
Box 2 Folder 9
Legislation, 1973.
Box 2 Folder 10
News clippings, 1972-1975.
Box 2 Folder 11
PA Insurance Department, 1968-1975.
Box 2 Folder 12
Publicity, 1974-1976.
Box 2 Folder 13
Retainer Agreements, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 14
Second National Consumer Conference on Legal Services, 1973-1976.
Box 2 Folder 15
Workshops, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 16

Scope and Contents

Series 6: Philadelphia Consumer Services Cooperative, Inc., 1944-1991, includes organizational papers including financial statements, minutes, membership information, applications, organizational material, brochures and news-clippings.

Philadelphia Consumer Services Cooperative, Inc., 1944-1975.
Box 2 Folder 17
Philadelphia Consumer Services Cooperative, Inc., 1963-1977.
Box 2 Folder 18
Bank Statements, 1970-1976.
Box 2 Folder 19
Finances, 1967-1968.
Box 2 Folder 20
Financial Statements, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 21
Financial Statements, 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 22
Legal Services Plan, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 23
Minutes, 1973-1975.
Box 2 Folder 24
Organizational Materials 1967-1991, undated.
Box 2 Folder 25
Philadelphia Bar Association, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 26
Receipts, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 27

Scope and Contents

Series 7: Weaver's Way Cooperative Association, 1974-1979, contains organizational material on the beginnings of this cooperative group, including financial statements and reports, committee meetings, publications, and by-laws.

Financial organization, 1974-1979.
Box 3 Folder 1
Financial statements, 1975-1976.
Box 3 Folder 2
Financial report, 1975-1978.
Box 3 Folder 3
Planning Committee Meetings, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 4
Publications, 1976-1977.
Box 3 Folder 5
Credit Union Meeting, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 6
Education Committee Meeting, 1979.
Box 3 Folder 7
By-laws, undated.
Box 3 Folder 8

Scope and Contents

Series 8: Consumer Education, 1964-1992, includes information pamphlets on various topics of interest to consumers.

Appliances, 1971-1972.
Box 3 Folder 9
Car Rental, 1993.
Box 3 Folder 10
Cleaning Products, 1969-1971.
Box 3 Folder 11
Consumer Rights, 1971-1979.
Box 3 Folder 12
Cosmetics, undated.
Box 3 Folder 13
Credit, undated.
Box 3 Folder 14
Credit Unions, 1977-1978.
Box 3 Folder 15
Direct Selling, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 16
Economics for Children, 1971-1972.
Box 3 Folder 17
Energy, 1980.
Box 3 Folder 18
59th Street Legal Clinic, undated.
Box 3 Folder 19
Food, 1967-1977.
Box 3 Folder 20
Furniture, undated.
Box 3 Folder 21
Gardening, 1975-1987.
Box 3 Folder 22
General Co-Op Information, undated.
Box 3 Folder 23
Grant Writing, 1991-1992.
Box 3 Folder 24
Health, undated.
Box 3 Folder 25
Insurance, 1974.
Box 3 Folder 26
Labels, 1978.
Box 3 Folder 27
LaSalle Non-Profit Management Development Center, 1993.
Box 3 Folder 28
Leases, 1976-1977.
Box 3 Folder 29
Legal Services, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 30
Legal Services: Divorce, 1974-1976.
Box 3 Folder 31
Medical Issues (news clippings), 1976.
Box 3 Folder 32
Medications, 1965-1978.
Box 3 Folder 33
Metric System, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 34
Money Management, 1964-1977.
Box 3 Folder 35
Money Management, 1967-1976.
Box 3 Folder 36
Money Management, 1970-1972.
Box 3 Folder 37
Nursing Homes, 1975.
Box 3 Folder 38
Nutrition Labeling, undated.
Box 3 Folder 39
Occupational Licensing, 1978.
Box 3 Folder 40
Political Petition, undated.
Box 3 Folder 41
Real Estate, 1966-1975.
Box 3 Folder 42
Real Estate, 1975-1976.
Box 3 Folder 43
Retirement, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 44
Senior Legal Services, undated.
Box 3 Folder 45
Small Claims Court, 1971-1974.
Box 3 Folder 46
Telephone Service, undated.
Box 3 Folder 47
Utility Costs, 1966.
Box 3 Folder 48
Unit Pricing, undated.
Box 3 Folder 49
Warranty Rights, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 50
Wills, 1969-1974.
Box 3 Folder 51

Scope and Contents

Series 9: Government Agencies, 1977-1998, contains correspondence and news clippings on HUD, PA Office of Consumer Advocacy, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

Housing and Urban Development: Co-Ops, undated.
Box 3 Folder 52
PA Office of Consumer Advocate, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 53
PA Office of Consumer Advocate, 1977-1978.
Box 3 Folder 54
Philadelphia Housing Authority: Philadelphia Inquirer, 1998.
Box 3 Folder 55

Scope and Contents

Series 10: Organizations, 1947-1976, covers organizational information, brochures, pamphlets, meeting information on the Wharton Center-Settlement House, and the Philadelphia Council for Neighborhood Organizations.

Philadelphia Council of Neighborhood Organizations, 1976.
Box 4 Folder 1
Wharton Centre: Settlement House, 1947-1967.
Box 4 Folder 2

Scope and Contents

Series 11: Publications, 1964-1992, contains journals, newsmagazines, pamphlets, news clippings, guides, newsletters, and annual reports.

Newsweek-Responsibility Series, 1964.
Box 4 Folder 3
Consumer Government Publications, 1964-1980.
Box 4 Folder 4
Map of Harrisburg, PA, 1972-1973.
Box 4 Folder 5
Massachusetts Law Quarterly, 1973.
Box 4 Folder 6
Philadelphia Consumer Services Guide, 1973.
Box 4 Folder 7
Directories, 1973-1976.
Box 4 Folder 8
American Bar Foundation, 1975-1976.
Box 4 Folder 9
American Bar Foundation Research Journal, 1976.
Box 4 Folder 10
Miscellaneous, 1976-1994.
Box 4 Folder 11
Philadelphia Bulletin-Common Sense, 1977.
Box 4 Folder 12
Office of Consumer Advocate, 1978.
Box 4 Folder 13
Raisin Consciousness, 1981.
Box 4 Folder 14
Co-Op Development Report, 1982.
Box 4 Folder 15
National Cooperative Business Association, 1989-1990.
Box 4 Folder 16
The Philadelphia Foundation, 1991-1993.
Box 4 Folder 17
William Penn Foundation, 1992.
Box 4 Folder 18
National Consumer Center for Legal Services, undated.
Box 4 Folder 19

Scope and Contents

Series 12: Miscellaneous, 1968-1991, includes personal information, address books, a Drexel University blue book, brochures, and general cash receipts.

General, 1968-1993.
Box 4 Folder 20
Personal, 1969-1993.
Box 4 Folder 21
Groups, 1976-1991.
Box 4 Folder 22
Brochures, undated.
Box 4 Folder 23

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