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Temple University Ambler Campus 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
Located in Ambler, Pennsylvania, Temple University Ambler Campus began as the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women (PSHW) in 1910. In 1958, PSHW merged with Temple University, first as Temple University Ambler Junior College, and then in 1961 as Temple University Ambler Campus. The school continued its emphasis on horticulture and landscape design and, according to their website, still focuses on "sustainability and environmental education [which] filter throughout the curriculum."
This collection documents the history of the Temple University Ambler campus. Administrative records, correspondence, financial records demonstrate the school's organization and philosophy. Photographs, yearbooks, and student activities provide insight into the students' accomplishments, activities, and viewpoints. Student records, which include correspondence, grades, and a few photographs, are also included.
The collection is arranged into 11 series as follows:
- Series 1: Administration and organization, 1959-2011
- Series 2: Student records, 1954-1982 (RESTRICTED)
- Series 3: Correspondence, 1959-2008
- Series 4: Clubs and activities, 1958-2019
- Series 5: Publications by TUAC, 1958-2019
- Series 6: Publications about TUAC, 1958-2008, bulk 1981-1994
- Series 7: Photographs, 1958-2010
- Series 8: Financial records, 1958-2008
- Series 9: Architectural and landscape drawings and blueprints, 1770-1991
- Series 10: Objects, circa 1898-2006
- Series 11: Accession 2020-40 , 1958-2004
- Subseries 11.1: Administration and organization,1958-2004
- Subseries 11.2: Correspondence, 1958-1997
Transferred by university offices to the University Archives. Boxes 10-16 were transferred by Bonnie Frumer. Photograph boxes 131-133 were transferred by Wanda Lewis-Campbell from the Office of Student Life. Ambler Map Case Drawings were transferred by the LA/Hort Department. Accession 2020-40 was found in 2020 and added as the last series.
Yearbooks have been digitized and are available online.
https://us.preservica.com/explorer/explorer.html#prop:4&9946ca0d-5b5e-4ea3-a059-56df6b2a2cf8
https://templeuni.access.preservica.com/archive/sdb%3Acollection|9946ca0d-5b5e-4ea3-a059-56df6b2a2cf8/
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. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information. The audographs in Series 10 have not been reformatted for access. Researchers must pay for creation of a use copy, and material will have to be sent to an outside vendor for preparation and transfer.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared in October 2018 by Holly Beth Wilson, Processing Archivist. Accession 2020-40 was processed and added to the finding aid in January 2024 by Holly Beth Wilson.
Temple materials that were not specific to Ambler Campus were transferred to other University Archives record groups.
People
Organization
Subject
- Agriculture--Pennsylvania
- Gardening--Pennsylvania
- Greenhouses--Pennsylvania
- Horticulture--Pennsylvania
- Universities and colleges--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History
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
- June 2025
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research. Student records are closed to research use for 75 years from date of creation/student graduation; or the life span of the student.
- Use Restrictions
-
The Temple University Ambler Campus Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The University retains the rights to materials created by its offices and staff. 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
Administration and organization, contains items related to the organization of the school, student and faculty materials, departmental and building materials, and materials related to the Advisory Services Department, which provided outreach to high schools. Board of Directors and Board of Trustees meeting minutes and reports are included.
folder 1
folder 2
folder 1
folder 2
folder 1
folder 2
Student records, contains applications, correspondence, scholarship information, photographs, grades, and medical forms. The records are primarily from the 1960s.
Series 3: Correspondence, contains correspondence between the school and various organizations, alumni, community members, and publications. Community members often wrote to the school asking for horticulture and agriculture information. This series is organized alphabetically by correspondent name.
Clubs and activities, contains materials relating to the various clubs and activities in which the students participated. It also includes the many lectures given at the school, and materials from the annual Plant Sale which was open to the community and generally had very high attendance. This series is organized chronologically by name of activity or club. Photographs relating to the various clubs, social activities, and the plant sale are located in the Photographs series.
Publications by TUAC, contains publications produced by and about TUAC. Pen and Trowel, the alumni newsletter, spans the years 1958-2002. The Prospectus/Guides, course guides and course schedules start in 1958 and continue through 2019 and indicate not just the classes offered at that time, but rules and regulations and the various clubs offered. Yearbooks have been digitized and are available online. The school also produced advertising and promotional materials, and published Viewbooks–booklets describing the school and its' activities–periodically from 1958 to 2017.
Vol.1 Nos. 1-4
Vol.2 Nos.1, 2, 4-9
Vol.3 Nos.1-2
Vol.4 Nos.1-2
Vol.1 No.1, Vol. 2 No. 1
Vol.1 Nos. 1-5
Vol.1 Nos. 1-3
Vols. 1-10
Vol.1 No.1, 3, 5-6, 8-9, 11, 14
Vol.2 No.1-6
Vol.3 No.1-3
Vol. 1 No.1
Vol. 3-4
Vol. 1 No.1
Volume 1 Issue 2
Volume 2 Issue 3-6
Volume 3
Volume 4 Issue 2, 3
Volume 5 Issues 1,2,5,6
Volume 6 Issues 1-3, 5-17, 19-21, 23-24
Volume 7 Issues 1-9, 12, 14-16 and Summer/Fall Orientation Issue
Volume 8 Issues 1-20 and Special Orientation Issue
Volume 9 Issues 1-21
Volume 10 Issues 2-20
Volume 11 Issues 1, 3-16, 18, 20
Volume 12 Issues 1-11, 14-16
Volume 13 Issues 1-13
Volume 14 Issues 1-3, 5-14
Volume 15 Issues 1-12
Volume 16 Issues 1-12
Volume 17 Issues 1-2, 4-11, 14-26
Volumes 1-6, microfilm
Volumes 7-13, microfilm
Volume 1 Issues 1-12
Volume 2 Issues 1-13
Volume 3 Issues 1-3, 7-8, 10
Volume 4 Issues 1-5, 7-9
Volume 5 Issues 1-7
Volume 6 Issues 1-7
Volume 7 Issues 1-7
Volume 8 Issues 1-5, 7-8
Volume 9 Issues 1, 3, 4, 6, 7
Volume 10 Issues 1-4
Volume 11 Issue 3
Volume 1 Issues 1-3
Volume 2 Issues 1-7
Volume 3 Issues 1-7
Volume 4 Issue 1-5
Volume 5 Issue 1-7
Volume 6 Issues 1-7
Volume 7 Issues 1-12
Volume 8 Issues 1-9
Volume 9 Issues 1-7
Volume 10 Issues 1-6
Volume 11 Issues 1-6
Volume 12 Issues 1-6
Volume 13 Issues 1-7
Volume 14 Issues 1, 3-6
Volume 15 Issues 1-7
Volume 16 Issues 2-6
Volume 17 Issues 1,3,4
Volume 17 (second run of Vol. 17) Issues 1-6 (plus special edition
Volume 18 Issues 1-6
Volume 19 Issues 4-13
Volume 20 Issues 1-5, 7-9
Volume 21 Issues 1-4
Volume 22 Issues 1-4
Volume 23 Issues 1-10
Volume 24 Issues 1-5
Volume 25 Issues 4-5
Volume 26 Issue 1
Volume 28 Issue 2
Volume 29 Issues 1-4
Volume 30 Issue 1
Volume 31 Issues 1-3
Volume 48
Volume 53
Volume 54
Volume 55
Volume 56
Volume 57
Volume 60
Volume 61
Volume 63
Volume 68
Volume 71
Volume 73
Volume 74
Volume 75
Volume 76
Volume 78
Volume 79
Volume 81
Volume 82
Volume 83
Volume 84
Volume 85
Volume 86
Volume 87
Volume 88
Volume 89
Volume 90
Volume 91
This series contains primarily newspaper clippings about Temple University Ambler Campus from 1958-2016, bulk dates are 1981-1994. This is organized chronologically.
Photographs, contains photographs, negatives, and slides documenting the school's activities. Included are various images of the campus buildings, as well as aerial images of the campus.
Financial records, contains scholarship materials, financial records, annual giving, audits, annual reports, budget reports, and committee meeting reports. Several scholarships were set up through the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women and continued through the merger.
This series includes architectural and landscape drawings and blueprints and contains a few drawings by James Bush-Brown. Also included is student work.
Artifacts and audiovisual materials contains a few library signs and stamps, and various DVDs, CD's, VHS and a floppy disk. Also included are audograph dictations, thin plastic recording discs used for dictation. These contain deans' meetings and other administrative meetings from 1960-1965.
discs 1 and 2
discs 3 and 4
missing 1 CD
This subseries contains items related to the organization of the school, student and faculty materials, and departmental materials.
folder 1
folder 2
folder 1
folder 2
This subseries contains correspondence between the school and various organizations, alumni, community members, and publications. This series is organized alphabetically by correspondent name.