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Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services Records

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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

Call Number:
971
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
3 linear feet (9 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services Records, Accession 971, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1958-2002 (inclusive)
Creator:
Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services
Form:
Administrative records, Correspondence, Financial records, Ledgers (account books), Legal documents, Membership lists, Minutes (administrative records), Photographs, Property records, Publications (documents), and Reports
Abstract:

In 1968, a resident-led campaign for better housing began in Pittsburgh, PA. This grass roots movement garnered support and became the Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) in Pittsburgh. The Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLB) became involved with the local Pittsburgh effort in 1970 and expanded the local effort into a national one. These evolved over time into the NeighborWorks organization.

The Philadelphia Neighborhood Housings Services, Inc. (PNHS) was incorporated in June 1975 and was chartered as a non-profit Pennsylvania corporation. The PNHS became operational in 1976. The mission of the PNHS was to combine the resources of Philadelphia financial institutions and philanthropic organizations with those of community residents toward the goal of halting the process of disinvestments and deterioration that threatened to destroy many of Philadelphia's older residential neighborhoods. The PNHS tried to improve the flow of information and communication between community residents and city, state, and federal offices.

A Central board of directors governed the PNHS. Operating under the Central board were four branch offices: Allegheny West, East Frankford, Southwest, and Belfield. The branch offices of Allegheny West, East Frankford, and Southwest were in place by 1982. The Belfield branch office was established in 1983.

From its inception the PNHS was involved with various city offices and philanthropic organizations. Important ones among these included the William Penn Foundation and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC). The foundation provided funding for rehabilitation efforts. The PCPC provided guidance for city revitalization efforts. The NHS also worked closely with the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to locate sites for rehabilitation and funding.

Neighborhood offices under PNHS undertook a variety of initiatives. One was the Apartment Improvement Program (AIP) in the Mt. Airy Section of the city. This was designed to help residents modernize and improve apartments at low cost. The South West Weatherization program, begun in 1982, showed community residents how to weather proof their residences. In 1983, the Comly Rich house in East Frankford was rehabilitated successfully using grants provided by Philadelphia charitable organizations. Site improvements like these were made by the NHS in many areas around Philadelphia with the help of the City of Philadelphia.

In June 1987 the PHNS was disbanded. Financial and administrative difficulties precipitated the demise of the local Philadelphia organization.

This collection contains Board minutes and meetings, Branch Office records, material on special programs and activities dealing with housing-related issues sponsored by the PNHS, news clippings, magazine articles, and copies of articles related to PNHS programs and housing issues, maps, publications, and other materials.

The collection is arranged into 8 series as follows:

Series 1: Administration, 1975-1987, undated (Portions restricted)
Series 2: Publications, 1983
Series 3: Initiatives, 1958-2002
Series 4: Southwest Branch Office, 1980-1987 (Portions restricted)
Series 5: Other Organizations: Publications, 1957-1993
Series 6: Un-filed Materials, 1977-1986
Series 7: Clippings, 1976-1990
Series 8: Maps, 1981-1985

Donated by David Lenapton, January 2003.

Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.

Subject

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 2024
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Executive Director Search and Staff folders in Series 1, and the Personnel folder in Series 4, are restricted. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Use Restrictions

The Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services Records 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 other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Series 1: Administration, includes information about the structure and function of the Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Types of materials include minutes, handwritten notes, agendas, memoranda, reports, correspondence, contracts, forms and manuals.

Advertising, 1984.
Box 1 Folder 1
Annual Reports, 1982-1984.
Box 1 Folder 2
Annual Meetings, 1983-1986.
Box 1 Folder 3
Articles of Incorporation, 1975.
Box 1 Folder 4
Board Nominating Committee, 1984-1985.
Box 1 Folder 5
By-Laws, 1984.
Box 1 Folder 6
By-Laws: Drafts and Revisions, 1982-1984.
Box 1 Folder 7
Central Board Meetings, 1982-1983.
Box 1 Folder 8
Central Board Meetings, 1984.
Box 1 Folder 9
Central Board Meetings, 1984.
Box 1 Folder 10
Central Board Meetings, 1985.
Box 1 Folder 11
Central Board Meetings, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 1
Central Board Meetings, 1986.
Box 2 Folder 2
Central Board Meetings, 1987.
Box 2 Folder 3
Central Board Meetings, 1987.
Box 2 Folder 4
Central Board Meetings, 1987.
Box 2 Folder 5
Central Board Minutes, 1982-1983.
Box 2 Folder 6
Central Board Minutes, 1984.
Box 2 Folder 7
Central Board Minutes, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 8
Central Board Minutes, 1986-1987.
Box 2 Folder 9
Conferences, 1982.
Box 3 Folder 1
Conferences, 1983.
Box 3 Folder 2
Conferences, 1983.
Box 3 Folder 3
Contracts with Individuals, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 4
Contracts with Corporations, 1984-1985.
Box 3 Folder 5
Ethics Policies, undated.
Box 3 Folder 6
Executive Committee Meetings, 1984.
Box 3 Folder 7
Executive Committee Meetings, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 8
Executive Committee Minutes, 1984-1986.
Box 3 Folder 9
Financial, 1983-1986.
Box 3 Folder 10
Letterhead, undated.
Box 3 Folder 11
Personnel: Executive Director Search (RESTRICTED), 1985.
Box 4 Folder 1
Personnel: Job Descriptions, 1984-1986.
Box 4 Folder 2
Personnel: Policies, 1984-1987.
Box 4 Folder 3
Personnel: Staff (RESTRICTED), 1983-1986.
Box 4 Folder 4
Personnel: Miscellaneous, 1982-1985.
Box 4 Folder 5

Scope and Contents

Series 2: Publications, includes the publications NHS Update, a quarterly newsletter of the activities of the PNHS, and feasibility studies of the Overbrook and Morris Park neighborhoods.

NHS Publications, 1983.
Box 4 Folder 6

Scope and Contents

Series 3: Initiatives, contains memoranda, handwritten notes, correspondence, reports, drafts of reports and agreements, lists of lots and properties, survey forms, committee meeting notes and agendas, guidelines, and flyers relating to various initiatives of Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.

Street, 1988-1995.
Box 4 Folder 7
Abbott's Square, 1981-1989.
Box 4 Folder 8
Apartment Improvement Program, 1983-1986.
Box 4 Folder 9
Delaware River Waterfront, 1958-2002.
Box 4 Folder 10
Displacement, 1974-1980.
Box 4 Folder 11
Expansion, 1980-1986.
Box 4 Folder 12
Home Weatherization, 1982.
Box 5 Folder 1
Insurance Full Partnership, 1983.
Box 5 Folder 2
Loan Policy, 1983-1984.
Box 5 Folder 3
Mapping, 1983.
Box 5 Folder 4
NRC Program Review, 1982-1983.
Box 5 Folder 5
Neighborhood Impact Committee, 1982-1983.
Box 5 Folder 6
Neighborhood Self-Reliance, 1985-1986.
Box 5 Folder 7
New Directions Program, 1983-1984.
Box 5 Folder 8
Northern Liberties Land Use Study, 1976-1978.
Box 5 Folder 9
Northern Liberties Study, 1977-1979.
Box 5 Folder 10
Queen Village, 1988-1991.
Box 5 Folder 11
Site Improvement, 1983-1984.
Box 5 Folder 12
Urban Homesteading, 1982-1984.
Box 5 Folder 13

Scope and Contents

Series 4: Southwest Branch Office, includes information on the development, management and activities of the Southwest Branch office of the PNHS. Types of materials include minutes, agendas, reports, handwritten notes, census data and personnel forms.

Administration: Board Meetings, 1982-1983.
Box 6 Folder 1
Administration: Board Meetings, 1984.
Box 6 Folder 2
Administration: Board Meetings, 1985-1987.
Box 6 Folder 3
Administration: Board Minutes, 1982-1983.
Box 6 Folder 4
Administration: Board Minutes, 1984.
Box 6 Folder 5
Administration: Board Minutes, 1985-1986.
Box 6 Folder 6
Administration: Board Minutes, 1987.
Box 6 Folder 7
Administration: Board Miscellaneous, 1983-1986.
Box 6 Folder 8
Administration: Board Retreats, 1986.
Box 6 Folder 9
Administration: Community Relations Committee, 1982.
Box 6 Folder 10
Administration: Planning Committee, 1986-1987.
Box 6 Folder 11
Administration: Program Development, 1981-1984.
Box 6 Folder 12
Administration: Personnel (RESTRICTED), 1982, 1985.
Box 7 Folder 1
Initiatives: Data Collection, 1980, 1982, 1986.
Box 7 Folder 2
Initiatives: Urban Homesteading, 1984, 1986.
Box 7 Folder 3
Miscellaneous, 1983, 1986.
Box 7 Folder 4
Publications, 1984, 1986.
Box 7 Folder 5

Scope and Contents

Series 5: Other Organizations: Publications, contains publications from: Drexel Institute of Technology (1957; 1970), Exxon (1980), Foundation for Architecture (1987), Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (1985), Pennsylvania Governor's Energy Council (1982; undated), Philadelphia Electric Company (1977), Preservation Coalition of Philadelphia (1993), Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia (1964), Shell (undated), United States Department of Energy (1978), University City Science Center (1965).

Drexel Institute of Technology, 1970.
Box 7 Folder 6
Drexel Institute of Technology, 1957.
Box 7 Folder 7
Exxon, 1980.
Box 7 Folder 8
Foundation for Architecture, 1987.
Box 7 Folder 9
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, 1985.
Box 7 Folder 10
Pennsylvania Governor's Energy Council, 1982.
Box 7 Folder 11
Philadelphia Electric Company, 1977.
Box 7 Folder 12
Philadelphia City Planning Commission, 1966, 1983.
Box 7 Folder 13
Preservation Coalition of Philadelphia, 1993.
Box 7 Folder 14
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, 1964.
Box 7 Folder 15
Shell, undated.
Box 8 Folder 1
United States Department of Energy, 1978.
Box 8 Folder 2
University City Science Center, 1965.
Box 8 Folder 3

Scope and Contents

Series 6: Un-filed Materials, contains copies of legislation, forms, census information, lists of properties, program descriptions, and handwritten notes dating from 1977-1986.

Un-filed materials, 1977-1986.
Box 8 Folder 4

Scope and Contents

Series 7: Clippings, contains clippings and copies of clippings from newspapers and articles from magazines about issues directly and indirectly related to PNHS programs.

Clippings, 1976-1987.
Box 8 Folder 5
Clippings, 1978-1988.
Box 8 Folder 6
Clippings, 1988-1989.
Box 8 Folder 7
Clippings and Copies of Clippings, 1989-1990.
Box 9 Folder 1
Copies of Clippings, 1987-1988.
Box 9 Folder 2
Copies of Clippings, 1989.
Box 9 Folder 3

Scope and Contents

Series 8: Maps, contains maps of Philadelphia, neighborhoods, and site maps. Many of the maps are not dated. The dated maps span the years 1981-1985.

Maps, 1981-1985.
Box 9 Folder 4

Print, Suggest