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Nessa Forman 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
Nessa Forman, born in Atlantic City, N. J., and received both her bachelor's and master's degrees at University of Pennsylvania, in English and Art History, respectively. By 1970, she started at The Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia, Pa., as a copy editor and worked there until it closed in 1982, when Nessa was the Arts and Leisure Editor. By 1983, she landed a job at WHYY, Philadelphia's public media station, as director of communications, and soon became editor of the monthly magazine Applause. During her long career at WHYY, she helped advance multiple promotional campaigns for Home Time, Liberty Kids, and others. By the time she resigned in 2007, she was Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at WHYY.
The papers of this prominent Philadelphia editor primarily consists of correspondence and photographs during her time at WHYY with a large collection of her own articles, primarily for The Evening Bulletin, and a few from The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The collection is arranged into 7 series as follows:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1966-2009, undated
Series 2: Photographs, 1968-2007
Series 3: Education/Professional, 1968-1997
Series 4: Publications, 1968-1985
Series 5: Original Artwork and Posters, 1968-2007, undated
Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1964-2007
Series 7: Objects, 1980, undated
Series 2: Photographs, 1968-2007
Series 3: Education/Professional, 1968-1997
Series 4: Publications, 1968-1985
Series 5: Original Artwork and Posters, 1968-2007, undated
Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1964-2007
Series 7: Objects, 1980, undated
Donated by Nessa Forman, September 2009.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared in September 2020 by Holly Beth Wilson, Part-time Processing Archivist.
WHYY publications not specific to Forman's work were removed and cataloged separately. WHYY premiums and other materials were also removed.
People
Organization
- Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- WHYY (Radio station : Philadelphia, Pa.)
- WHYY (Television station : Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subject
- Public broadcasting -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Public radio -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Public television -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
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 2024
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
The Nessa Forman Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The donor assigned her 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
Scope and Contents
Correspondence contains primarily correspondence between Nessa Forman and the public, through 'Letters to the Editor.' There is also correspondence with friends and family. It is arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor', 1971-1973.
Box 1
Folder 1
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor', 1974.
Box 1
Folder 2
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor', 1975.
Box 1
Folder 3
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor, ' folder 1, 1976.
Box 1
Folder 4
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor, ', 1976.
Box 1
Folder 5
Physical Description
folder 2
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor, ', 1977.
Box 1
Folder 6
Physical Description
folder 1
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor, ', 1977.
Box 1
Folder 7
Physical Description
folder 2
Correspondence, 'Letter to the Editor', 1978.
Box 1
Folder 8
Correspondence, personal, 1966-1967.
Box 1
Folder 9
Correspondence, personal, 1970-1974.
Box 1
Folder 10
Correspondence, personal, 1975-1976.
Box 1
Folder 11
Correspondence, personal, 1977-1979.
Box 1
Folder 12
Correspondence, personal, 2001-2009.
Box 1
Folder 13
Correspondence, personal, Charles Lee, 1971-1977.
Box 1
Folder 14
Correspondence, personal, Thank you notes to Nessa on her retirement, circa 2000.
Box 1
Folder 15
Correspondence, personal, undated.
Box 1
Folder 16
Correspondence, personal/business emails, 1999-2007.
Box 1
Folder 17
Scope and Contents
Photographs contains photos from various WHYY events and personal photographs.
Scope and Contents
It is arranged chronologically.
Photographs, 'On Assignment', 1968-1977.
Box 1
Folder 18
Photographs, 'On Assignment' photo album, 1969-1972.
Box 2
Folder 19
Photographs, WHYY Events at the Philadelphia Art Museum, 1968-1980.
Box 1
Folder 20
Photographs, WHYY events, 1976-1989.
Box 1
Folder 21
Photographs, WHYY events, 1990-2007.
Box 1
Folder 22
Photographs, WHYY events, photo album, 1983-1991.
Box 1
Folder 23
Photographs, WHYY events, photo album "A", circa 2000-2002.
Box 1
Folder 24
Photographs, WHYY events, photo album "B", circa 2000-2002.
Box 1
Folder 25
Photographs, WHYY events, photo album "Ritz Camera Notebook", circa 2000.
Box 1
Folder 26
Photographs, head shots, circa 1985.
Box 1
Folder 27
Photographs, personal, 1974-circa 1985.
Box 1
Folder 28
Photographs, oversize, photograph of various Philadelphia Liberty Bell items, 1976.
Box 9
Folder 1
Scope and Contents
Education/Professional contains materials from different times during her education including her master's thesis from University of Pennsylvania.
Education, Atlantic City High School, reunion booklets, 1986; 1996.
Box 1
Folder 29
Education, University of Pennsylvania, programs, directories, reunion booklets, 1990-1997.
Box 1
Folder 30
Education, University of Pennsylvania, Master's thesis, notes, 1968.
Box 1
Folder 31
Education, University of Pennsylvania, Master's thesis, final draft, 1968.
Box 1
Folder 32
Education, University of Pennsylvania, Master's Degree Diploma, May 1968.
Box 2
Folder 1
Professional, job descriptions, 1984-1997.
Box 2
Folder 2
Professional, press passes, business cards, 1975-2008.
Box 2
Folder 3
Professional, awards, color photocopies of awards, 1985-2007.
Box 2
Folder 4
Scope and Contents
Publications contains primarily newspaper clippings of articles written by Nessa Forman between the years 1968-1985. She started with the Atlantic City Press in 1968 and left The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin around the time it went out of business in 1982. It also includes a few articles written about Forman, and some published keepsakes and ephemera.
It is arranged chronologically.
Keepsakes, pamphlets, ephemera, 1967-1980.
Box 2
Folder 5
Clippings written about Nessa Forman, 2002-2005.
Box 2
Folder 6
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, April 23, 1963.
Box 6
Folder 1
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, September 16, 1963.
Box 6
Folder 2
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, October 15-28, 1963.
Box 6
Folder 3
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, November 19, 1963.
Box 6
Folder 4
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, April 28, 1964.
Box 6
Folder 5
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, American Eagle, April 1, 1964.
Box 6
Folder 6
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, July 19, 1964.
Box 6
Folder 7
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, September 15-18, 1964.
Box 6
Folder 8
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, October 12-30, 1964.
Box 6
Folder 9
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, November 16, 1964.
Box 6
Folder 10
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, February 24, 1965.
Box 6
Folder 11
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian, March 3-5, 1965.
Box 6
Folder 12
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, March-June, 1968.
Box 7
Folder 1
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, September 13, 1973.
Box 7
Folder 2
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1975.
Box 7
Folder 3
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1975.
Box 7
Folder 4
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1975.
Box 7
Folder 5
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1975.
Box 7
Folder 6
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1976.
Box 7
Folder 7
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1976.
Box 7
Folder 8
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1976.
Box 7
Folder 9
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1976.
Box 7
Folder 10
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1977.
Box 7
Folder 11
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1977.
Box 7
Folder 12
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1977.
Box 7
Folder 13
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1977.
Box 7
Folder 14
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1978.
Box 8
Folder 1
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1978.
Box 8
Folder 2
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1978.
Box 8
Folder 3
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1978.
Box 8
Folder 4
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1979.
Box 8
Folder 5
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1979.
Box 8
Folder 5
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1979.
Box 8
Folder 6
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1979.
Box 8
Folder 7
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1980.
Box 8
Folder 8
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1980.
Box 8
Folder 9
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1980.
Box 8
Folder 10
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1980.
Box 8
Folder 11
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January-March, 1981.
Box 8
Folder 12
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, April-June, 1981.
Box 8
Folder 13
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, July-September, 1981.
Box 8
Folder 14
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, October-December, 1981.
Box 8
Folder 15
Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin, January, 1982.
Box 8
Folder 16
Scope and Contents
Artwork contains original artwork given to Forman by various artists, some related to stories she was working on. Also includes various posters.
Bolles (sp?), undated.
Box 2
Folder 7
Bordin, Charles, 1986-1988.
Box 2
Folder 8
Guberman, Sidney T., 1970.
Box 2
Folder 9
Lang, J.T., 1976.
Box 2
Folder 10
Mangione, Patricia, 1972.
Box 2
Folder 11
Miller, Gerry, undated.
Box 2
Folder 12
Sherikel (sp?), 1971.
Box 2
Folder 13
Sorgini, Antonio, undated.
Box 2
Folder 14
Stange, Woody, 1979.
Box 2
Folder 15
Wasserman, Burton, 1970-1982.
Box 2
Folder 16
Unidentified, 1972; undated.
Box 2
Folder 17
Photographs, negatives of artwork, 1967-1984.
Box 2
Folder 18
Drawings of the Pigeon from the Leisure section of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, undated.
Box 2
Folder 19
Color studies for Franklin Institute article illustration, 1975.
Box 2
Folder 20
Hand colored sketches for proposed mural, undated.
Box 2
Folder 21
Booraem, Elizabeth Vacher, 1962.
Box 9
Folder 2
Gliewe, Unada G., undated.
Box 9
Folder 3
Lazorko, Anthony, 1962.
Box 9
Folder 4
Schlegel, Ralph, undated.
Box 9
Folder 5
Wanamaker, John, ad art, 1977.
Box 9
Folder 6
Yarling, Caryn, 2000.
Box 9
Folder 7
Claude Lovat Fraser poster of "The Beggar's Opera", 1920.
Box 9
Folder 8
John Sloan and His Friends poster, Delaware Art Museum, circa 1978.
Box 9
Folder 9
Sovak Graphics Retrospective, Print Club, poster, signed by Pravoslav Sovak, February 1970.
Box 9
Folder 10
Hayley Lever poster, Delaware Art Museum, 1978.
Box 9
Folder 11
Unidentified, 1985, undated.
Box 9
Folder 12
"Philadelphia Festival," Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance for the Bicentennial Festival, poster, 1973.
Box 9a
Folder 1
"Nineteenth Century Photography in Philadelphia," Library Company of Philadelphia, poster, March 17 - July 11, 1980.
Box 9a
Folder 2
"American Children: Photographs From the Collection of the Musuem of Modern Art," poster, January 8-March 29, 1981.
Box 9a
Folder 3
"Particulars: Selections from the Miller-Plummer Collection of Photography," Philadelphia Museum of Art, poster, October 1 - November 27, 1983.
Box 9a
Folder 4
"A New Decade," Austin City Limits, poster, 1985.
Box 9a
Folder 5
"Philadelphia Antiques Show," a benefit for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, poster, April 6 - 10, 1991.
Box 9a
Folder 6
"The World of Peter Rabbit: The Art & Science of Beatrix Potter," Academy of Natural Sciences, poster, September 26, 1992 - January 10, 1993.
Box 9a
Folder 7
"Cezanne: Imagination, Passion, Discovery, Vision," Philadelphia Museum of Art, poster, May 30 - September 1, 1996.
Box 9a
Folder 8
"The Brain," television series for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, poster, October 10, no year.
Box 9a
Folder 9
"The Woodwrights Shop with Roy Undersell," television series for University of North Carolina Public Broadcasting, poster, undated.
Box 9a
Folder 10
"Wonderworks," television show for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, 3 signed posters, undated.
Box 9a
Folder 11
"Congress: We the People," television series for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, poster, undated.
Box 9a
Folder 12
"The Constitution: That Delicate Balance," television series for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, poster, undated.
Box 9a
Folder 13
Rittenhouse Square Art Annual, poster, June 1-3, 8-10, no year.
Box 9a
Folder 14
"Discovering Dinosaurs," The Academy of Natural Sciences, poster, undated.
Box 9a
Folder 15
Smithsonian World, television series, poster, 1984.
Box 9b
Folder 1
WGBH Boston, "Nova: Science Adventures for Curious Grownups," poster, circa 1975.
Box 9a
Folder 2
Museum of Modern Art, "Sesame Street: The First Generation," poster, November 11 - December 31, 1989.
Box 9a
Folder 3
WPSX-TV/ University Park for PPTN "Outdoor Pennsylvania," poster, undated.
Box 9b
Folder 4
National Public Radio "10th Anniversary of 'All Things Considered,'" poster, 1981.
Box 9b
Folder 5
WNED/Buffalo "Mark Russell Comedy Specials," poster, 1986-1987.
Box 9b
Folder 6
BBC in America "Shakespeare and the Stars," poster, 1987.
Box 9b
Folder 7
Bravissimo - Luciano Pavarotti: The Verdi Requiem," poster (2 copies), June 11 no year.
Box 9b
Folder 8
Museum of Modern Art "Ansel Adams and the West," poster (2 copies), August 8 - October 28, 1979.
Box 9b
Folder 9
Pennsylvania Academy of Find Arts, "Jamie Wyeth," signed poster, September 19 - December 14, 1980.
Box 9b
Folder 10
Brandywine River Museum, "Opening Show: N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, James Wyeth," poster, June 19, 1971.
Box 9b
Folder 11
Brandywine River Museum, "N.C. Wyeth," poster, May 20 - October 15, 1972.
Box 9b
Folder 12
Mobil Masterpiece Theater Mystery, "The Heat of the Day," poster, September 30, 1990.
Box 9c
Folder 1
Mobil Masterpiece Theater Mystery, "A Dressmaker," poster, April 15, 1990.
Box 9c
Folder 2
Mobil Masterpiece Theater Mystery, "A Taste for Death," poster, March 27, 1990.
Box 9c
Folder 3
Mobil Masterpiece Theater Mystery, October calendar illustrated by Edward Grey, poster, October 1985.
Box 9c
Folder 4
Philadelphia Museum of Art, "Dali: To Gaze is To Think," poster, February 16 - May 15, 2005.
Box 9c
Folder 5
Philadelphia Museum of Art, "Three Centuries of American Art," poster of Thomas Eakins, April 11 - October 10, 1976.
Box 9c
Folder 6
Eric Makler Gallery, Philadelphia "Richard Cramer," poster, March 9-28, 1981.
Box 9c
Folder 7
Scope and Contents
Series 6 contains multiple scrapbooks of newspaper articles written by Forman.
Atlantic City Press, scrapbook, 1964-1967.
Box 3
Folder 1
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook, 1968- November 12, 1972.
Box 3
Folder 2
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook, November 19, 1972- September 8, 1975.
Box 4
Folder 1
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook, October 12, 1975- October 6, 1978.
Box 4
Folder 2
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook, October 8, 1978- June 27, 1985.
Box 5
Folder 1
Scope and Contents
Series 7 contains metal engravings from Nessa's headshot and from an unidentified story on mansions and two political stuffed animals.
Metal engraving of Nessa's headshot for business cards, etc., circa 1980.
Box 10
Folder 1
Metal engraving of a mansion for unidentified story, undated.
Box 11
Folder 1
"I'm Your Repiglican" stuffed animal 'pig', 1992.
Box 12
Folder 1
"I'm Your Demoquack" stuffed animal 'duck', 1992.
Box 12
Folder 2