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Philadelphia School Closings Photograph Collection
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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
The Philadelphia School Closings Photo Collective began as a private Facebook group in June 2013, serving as an organizing and information sharing body for amateur and professional photographers to create a "public archive" in response to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission's (SRC) decision to close 24 public schools. Photo Collective members and contributing photographers included Amy Bach, Laurie Beck, Catherine Brinkley, Pilar Berguido, Kate Devlin, Harvey Finkle, Colleen Grelis, Melissa Holman, Steve Minicola, Katrina Ohstrom, Jill Saull, Elaine Simon, Annette Smith, Tieshka Smith, Matt Stanley, Zoe Strauss, and Lori Waselchuk.
The collection consists of digital photographs in .jpg and .png file formats taken primarily in 2013 by members of the Philadelphia School Closings Photo Collective. The photographs document 19 of the 24 Philadelphia district-run schools permanently closed at the end of the 2012-2013 academic year. Images show interiors and exteriors of the school buildings, as well as staff and students during the final days the schools were in operation. Nearly one-third of the collection is digital photographs along with three short video clips in .m4v format of University City High School, the bulk of which documents the school's demolition in 2015. Also included, are images of five schools (Spring Garden, de Burgos, Drew, Fitzsimons, Harrison) closed in 1986, 2002, and 2012. The photographs were initially posted on the Collective's website and Tumblr page and members' individual social media accounts including Facebook and Flickr. Creation dates for the image files are based on the dates photographs were taken. Last modified dates of the image files are also included.
- Alexander Wilson Elementary School
- Anna B. Pratt Elementary School
- Charles R. Drew Elementary School
- Communications Technology High School
- Edward W. Bok Technical High School
- Fairhill Elementary School
- George Wharton Pepper Middle School
- Germantown High School
- John F. Reynolds Elementary School
- John G. Whittier Elementary School
- John L. Kinsey Elementary School
- Joseph C. Ferguson Elementary School
- Joseph Leidy Elementary School
- Julia de Burgos Middle School
- Leslie P. Hill Elementary School
- M. Hall Stanton Elementary School
- Robert E. Lamberton High School
- Robert Fulton Elementary School
- Roberts Vaux High School
- Spring Garden School No. 1
- Thomas Fitzsimons High School
- University City High School
- Walter G. Smith Elementary School
- William H. Harrison Elementary School
File directory is arranged by name of school.
Donated by Amy Bach, Julie McWilliams, and Elaine Simon in 2017 and 2021.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared in March 2022 by Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist. All original filenames retained. Some folder names revised for accuracy and clarity. Hidden system files deleted.
Organization
- Philadelphia Public Schools
- School District of Philadelphia, Pa.
- University City High School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subject
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist
- Finding Aid Date
- March 2022
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research. All records in this collection have been migrated to a library server and digital use copies can only be accessed onsite in the SCRC reading room. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
- Use Restrictions
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The Philadelphia School Closings Photograph Collection is the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creators/donors have assigned their 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
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