Title
Walter Massey Phillips Oral Histories

Dates
1974-1980

Collection ID
SCRC 128

Creator
Phillips, Walter Massey, 1912-1985

Quantity
8 linear feet (15 boxes) + 25 GB

Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Language
Materials in English.

Biographical Note 

Walter M. Phillips, Sr. (1912-1985), was active in Philadelphia civic affairs for more than thirty years. A graduate of Episcopal Academy, Princeton, and Harvard Law School, he was an organizer of the City Policy Committee, President of the Citizens’ Council on City Planning, Board Member of the Greater Philadelphia Movement, President of the Philadelphia Housing Association, Board Member of the Committee of Seventy, and was a consultant to Penjerdel. He managed Joseph Clark's successful race for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1951, and served in Clark's cabinet as City Representative and Director of Commerce through 1955. From 1952 to 1962, Phillips was Executive Secretary with the Delaware River Basin Advisory Committee, later the Delaware River Basin Commission. Phillips was active in a variety of public and private agencies and was Chairman of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action and a Trustee of Lincoln University. He was the reform candidate against Mayor Tate in the 1963 Democratic primary election. In the 1970s Phillips was Director of the Honey Hollow Watershed Association. After retiring in 1974, Phillips initiated this oral history project, during which he interviewed many of the local government leaders with whom he had worked.

Description of Collection 

This collection contains oral history interviews conducted by Phillips between 1974 and 1980 with approximately 160 Philadelphia civic and political leaders on approximately 277 cassette tapes. Phillips was assisted in the project by Barbara Fraser and Helen McMahon, as well as by his wife, Mary B. Phillips. Topics covered include subjects related to Philadelphia city government and history between the late 1930s and the 1970s. Also included in the collection are printed transcripts for many of the interviews, some of which have also been digitized, as well as newspaper clippings, biographical information, and other materials related to the interviewees. Many of the transcripts contain extensive notes, corrections, and annotations.  A portion of the transcripts have been digitized and are available in the Oral History Repository.

Organization and Arrangement 

The collection is arranged into 1 series, Oral histories, 1974-1980. Physically, the collection is divided into 3 sections: interview cassette tapes, transcripts, and background information files. In the inventory below, materials appear together under the name of the person interviewed, with an indication of in which box the tapes, transcripts, and files are stored.      

Other Finding Aids and Indices

Please see also the Index of Oral Histories by Personal Name. 

Alternate Form Available

A number of transcripts of oral histories from this collection have been digitized and are available online on the SCRC Oral Histories Repository.

Catalog Record 

A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog:
https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991030125609703811 

Research Access

Collection is open for research. Some interviews are closed to research until a specified date.

Collections Stored Off-Site

This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.

Technical Access

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.

Publication and Copyright Information 

The Walter Massey Phillips Oral Histories are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong in some cases to Temple University Libraries, and in other cases 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.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Walter Massey Phillips Oral Histories, SCRC 128, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Related Material

Walter Massey Phillips Papers. Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Walter Massey Phillips donated the oral history tapes, transcripts, and background information in 1977.

Processing Information 

Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in April 2015 by Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services.

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:

Personal/Family Names:
Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, 1898-1989
Dilworth, Richardson, 1898-1974
Phillips, Walter Massey, 1912-1985

Subjects:
City planning -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Municipal charter -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Municipal government -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Municipal officials and employees -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Social reformers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Politicians -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Urban policy -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Urban renewal -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Civic improvement -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

Places:
Philadelphia (Pa.)

Material Types: 
Audiocassettes
Clippings
Correspondence
Oral histories
Photocopies
Photographs
Sound recordings

Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, 1898-1989

Sadie Alexander was a Philadelphia lawyer and civil rights advocate.  She was the first African American woman to earn a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and also the first to earn a PhD in economics and to practice law in Philadelphia. Alexander was appointed to the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission in 1952, when it was created by Mayor Joseph Clark.  She helped write the home rule charter that governs the commission.  She became chairman of the commission in 1962, when she began a campaign to integrate labor unions and to open housing and jobs to minorities. She was appointed in 1960 to the Board of Examiners of Philadelphia County and for seven years was an assistant city solicitor. She was married to the late Common Pleas Court Judge Raymond Pace Alexander, a Harvard Law School graduate, civil rights leader, and former member of Philadelphia City Council.

1          Album 1          Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, 1 interview cassette tape          October 12, 1977
1          Album 1          Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, 1 interview cassette tape          October 20, 1976
4          1          Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, transcript          October 20, 1976, October 12, 1977
11          1          Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, background information file          1974, 1978

Amsterdam, Gustave G.

Gustave Amsterdam joined Bankers Securities Corporation, the real-estate and retailing company built by the late Albert M. Greenfield, in 1939.  When Greenfield stepped down in 1959, Amsterdam became Chairman of Bankers Securities. Amsterdam served as Chairman of the Redevelopment Authority from 1958 to 1969.  He was one of the early proponents of Market Street East, and was a member of the board of the Bicentennial Corporation.

1          Album 1          Amsterdam, Gustave G., 2 interview cassette tapes          December 20, 1975
4          2          Amsterdam, Gustave G., transcript          December 20, 1975
11          2          Amsterdam, Gustave G., background information file          1977

Bacon, Edmund N.

Edmund Bacon was Managing Director of the Philadelphia Housing Association from 1940 to 1943, and from 1946 to 1949 he was a senior land planner with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.  In 1949, he became Executive Director of that agency, and he continued in that position until 1970, when he retired as Philadelphia's planning director.

1          Album 1          Bacon, Edmund N., 2 interview cassette tapes          September 13, 1974
1          Album 1          Bacon, Edmund N., 1 interview cassette tape          January 9, 1975
4          3          Bacon, Edmund N., transcript          November 13, 1974, January 9, 1975

Bailey, John 

John Bailey was Deputy Streets Commissioner in Philadelphia from 1954 to1955.  He was Deputy Managing Director concerned with transportation under Mayor Richardson Dilworth.  He served as Executive Director of the Urban Traffic and Transportation Board and was Initial Chief Administrative Officer of SEPTA from 1964 to 1967.

1          Album 1          Bailey, John, 3 interview cassette tapes          June 23, 1976
4          4          Bailey, John, transcript          June 23, 1976
11          3          Bailey, John, background information file          1942-1976

Barnard, Boyd

Boyd Barnard was an industrial and commercial realtor in Philadelphia for more than sixty years, including with the Jackson-Cross Company in Center City.  In his interview he comments on the changes that he observed in Philadelphia and its economy.

1          Album 1          Barnard, Boyd, 1 interview cassette tape          April 10, 1979
4          5          Barnard, Boyd, transcript          April 10, 1979
11          4          Barnard, Boyd, background information file          1976

Bauer, Edward G.

Edward G. Bauer was City Solicitor during the Tate administration. Prior to becoming City Solicitor, Bauer was legal counsel for the Committee of 70. In his interview, Bauer discusses the various legal issues and events during the Tate years, including the organization of SEPTA, the Port Corporation, and the home rule charter supplement which set up the Board of Education.

1          Album 1          Bauer, Edward G., 1 interview cassette tape          November 28, 1978
4          6          Bauer, Edward G., transcript          November 28, 1978
11          5          Bauer, Edward G., background information file          undated

Baxter, Samuel S.

Samuel Baxter was Commissioner and Chief Engineer, Philadelphia Water Department, from 1952 to 1971.  Prior to that position, Baxter held several posts in the Philadelphia Department of Public Work, and served as Emergency and Disaster Coordinator for the city from 1952 to 1971.  He retired from public service in 1971 to do consulting work.

1          Album 2          Baxter, Samuel S., 1 interview cassette tape          April 3, 1975
1          Album 2          Baxter, Samuel S., 2 interview cassette tapes          April 21, 1975
4          7          Baxter, Samuel S., transcript          April 3, 1975, April 21, 1975
11          6          Baxter, Samuel S., background information file          1971

Beerits, Henry C.

Henry Beerits, a Philadelphia lawyer, formed the Lawyer's Council on Civic Affairs in 1940, a group of about 15 young lawyers who met to discuss city problems. It later merged with the City Policy Committee and the Junior Board of Commerce to become the Joint Committee on City Planning.  This group eventually was responsible for the ordinance that created the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.

1          Album 2          Beerits, Henry C., 1 interview cassette tape          January 14, 1976
4          8          Beerits, Henry C., transcript          January 14, 1976
11          7          Beerits, Henry C., background information file          undated

Berger, David 

David Berger was city Solicitor under Richardson Dilworth, succeeding Abe Freedman in that post.  Prior to his appointment, Berger was head of the tax review board. In his interview Berger recounts his adventures as a naval officer in World War II, and his chance meeting with Richardson Dilworth on a remote South Pacific island, during which they pledged that if they survived the war they would return to "clean up" Philadelphia and rescue it from corruption. Berger was a great admirer of Dilworth and actively campaigned for him in all of his political races.  In this interview, he provides glimpses of Dilworth's handling of critical issues.

1          Album 2          Berger, David, 2 interview cassette tapes          June 11, 1979
4          9          Berger, David, transcript          June 11, 1979
11          10          Berger, David, background information file          undated

Berson, Lenora E.

Lenora Berson and her husband, Norman, were active in the formation of the Central City Reform Democrats, a group which operated outside of the Democratic City Committee. They were successful in organizing an independent ward in Center City which was consistently able to win elections for the candidates they endorsed.  Berson was also been active in Americans for Democratic Action and served as the President of the Philadelphia chapter.

1          Album 2          Berson, Lenora E., 1 interview cassette tape          November 16, 1978
4          10          Berson, Lenora E., transcript          November 16, 1978
11          8          Berson, Lenora E., background information file          1966

Berson, Norman 

Norman Berson was one of the founders of the Central Philadelphia Reform Democrats in 1963. 

1          Album 2          Berson, Norman, 1 interview cassette tape          February 8, 1979
4          11          Berson, Norman, transcript          February 8, 1979
11          9          Berson, Norman, background information file          undated

Binzen, Peter 

A Yale graduate, Peter Binzen later studied at Harvard where he was a Niemann Fellow researched problems in American education.  He worked at the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in the early 1950s, having previously worked as a freelance feature story writer in Europe.  At the Bulletin he was educa­tion reporter, urban affairs editor, business column writer, metropolitan editor, and wrote a business column. He published a book titled Whitetown, U.S.A., and collaborated with Joseph Daughen on The Wreck of the Penn Central and The Cop Who Would Be King, the lat­ter describing Mayor Rizzo's rise to power.

1          Album 2          Binzen, Peter, 2 interview cassette tapes          November 27, 1979
4          12          Binzen, Peter, transcript          November 27, 1979
11          11          Binzen, Peter, background information file          undated

Blatt, Genevieve 

Genevieve Blatt was a judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania from 1972 until her retirement.  Judge Blatt held a number of posts in state government, serving under Governors Leader and Lawrence.  She was Executive Director of the State Treasury Department and Secretary of Internal Affairs.  She was a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 1964. 

2          Album 21          Blatt, Genevieve, 2 interview cassette tapes          May 17, 1980
2          Album 21          Blatt, Genevieve debate with Meehan and Dilworth, 1 interview cassette tape          undated
4          13          Blatt, Genevieve, 1913-1996, transcript          May 17, 1980
11          12          Blatt, Genevieve, background information file          undated

Block, Harry 

Harry Block was active in the Philadelphia labor movement beginning in 1933.  He held various offices of the AFL, Pennsylvania CIO Council, and AFL-CIO. 

1          Album 2          Block, Harry, 2 interview cassette tapes          May 15, 1978
4          14          Block, Harry, transcript          May 15, 1978
11          13          Block, Harry, background information file          undated


Boardman, John 

John Boardman became an employee of INCODEL (Interstate Commission on the Delaware River) when it was first organized in 1936 by the legislative commissions on interstate cooperation of the Delaware River Basin states. In his interview he discusses water use, supply, pollution, and other issues.

1          Album 3          Boardman, John, 2 interview cassette tapes          March 13, 1979
4          15          Boardman, John, transcript          March 13, 1979
11          14          Boardman, John, background information file          undated

Bodine, John W.

John Bodine was a lawyer, and served as second President of the City Policy Committee in the late 1930s.  He was active on the Citizen's Council on City Planning and became the President of that group in the 1950s.  He was a member of the Urban Traffic and Transportation Board, responsible for the formation of SEPTA, in the 1950s. Bodine was also an organizer of Penjerdel in the mid-1950s. 

1          Album 3          Bodine, John W., 2 interview cassette tapes          October 20, 1977
4          16          Bodine, John W., transcript          October 20, 1977
11          15          Bodine, John W., background information file          undated

Bodine, William W. (William Warden)

William Bodine was president of Arthur C. Kaufmann and Associates, of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and of Jefferson Medical College and Medical Center. His career also included banking and insurance an in­vestment house experience.  After serving with distinc­tion in World War II, where he eventually became an aide to General Eisenhower, Bodine became a registered representative at Montgom­ery, Scott & Co.  He left that position to become assis­tant treasurer of Tradesmens National Bank & Trust Co. (now Provident National Bank), and later served as finan­cial secretary at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. 

2          Album 21          Bodine, William W. (William Warden), 1 interview cassette tape          December 6, 1979
4          17          Bodine, William W. (William Warden), transcript          December 6, 1979
11          16          Bodine, William W. (William Warden), background information file          1978-1979

Bok, Nellie Lee Holt, 1901-1985

Nellie Bok served on boards supporting mothers' assistance, blind relief, and old age relief, as well as the Race Relations Commission.  She was the widow of Judge Curtis Bok, and in her interview she describes her husband’s interest in improving Philadelphia government, his concern about prisoners, and his work with Jack Kelly, Matthew McCloskey, Gerald Flood, and Joe Clark in helping to revital­ize the Democratic Party. She also describes the founding of the Curtis Pub­lishing Company and Ladies Home Journal.

1          Album 3          Bok, Nellie Lee Holt, 2 interview cassette tapes          December 12, 1979
4          18          Bok, Nellie Lee Holt, transcript          December 12, 1979

Bond, Richard C.

Richard Bond was President of John Wanamaker retail stores in Philadelphia from 1952 to 1969, when he retired and became Chairman of the Board. He was Chairman of the United Fund in 1955, and served as President of the Chamber of Commerce.  He was an organizer of the Black Coalition in the 1960s, which later became the Urban Coalition.  He was a trustee of the Penn Central railroad during its reorganization after its bankruptcy and he served as President of the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years.

3          Album 22          Bond, Richard C., 1 interview cassette tape          June 2, 1978
4          19          Bond, Richard C., transcript          June 2, 1978
11          18          Bond, Richard C., background information file          undated

1          Album 3          Bond, William, interview tape (tape missing)          June 20, 1975

Bradley, Michael 

Michael Bradley was a U.S. Congressman from Philadelphia in the 1940s.  He was very active in local Democratic politics and was the Chairman of the Democratic City Committee from 1945 to 1947.  He organized the "street corner rallies" for Richardson Dilworth when he ran for Mayor in 1947.

4          20          Bradley, Michael, transcript          February 28, 1974
11          17          Bradley, Michael, background information file          1979

Brenner, Clifford 

Clifford Brenner had a long association with Richardson Dilworth, serving as a public relations aide during his 1955 campaign, after which he served as one of Dilworth's top aides. He worked in Dilworth’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 1962, and then continued as an advisor and aide to Dilworth during the first two years of Dilworth's presidency of the School Board of Philadelphia.

1          Album 3          Brenner, Clifford, 2 interview cassette tapes          March 20, 1976
4          21          Brenner, Clifford, transcript          March 20, 1976
11          19          Brenner, Clifford, background information file          1970

Bryne, Michael J.

4          26          Bryne, Michael J., transcript          October 8, 1974

Buckley, Romanus J. 

Romanus Buckley was Assistant Chief of Elections in the State Department in Harrisburg from 1931 to 1937.  He worked for the Committee of 70 in Philadelphia from 1937 to 1941. He practiced law until 1952 when he became Deputy Revenue Commissioner in the Clark administration.  He continued in that position for  twelve years until he became Revenue Commissioner in 1968, and then Finance Director in 1970.

1          Album 3          Buckley, Romanus J., 2 interview cassette tapes          January 27, 1977
4          22          Buckley, Romanus J., transcript          January 27, 1977
11          20          Buckley, Romanus J., background information file          undated

Bunting, John R. 

John Bunting joined the Federal Reserve Bank as an economist in 1950, after having served in the Army, and receiving Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Temple University.  In 1964, Bunting joined the First Pennsylvania Bank. Four years later, he became chief executive and remained at that post until 1979.

1          Album 3          Bunting, John R., 1 interview cassette tape          September 20, 1979
4          23          Bunting, John R., transcript          September 20, 1979
11          21          Bunting, John R., background information file          undated

Burke, Joseph F. 

Joseph Burke began his career as a sheet metal worker in Philadelphia and became active in the labor movement in the early 1930s.  Burke was also active as a member of many boards and commissions in Philadelphia.  He was appointed to the original City Planning Commission in 1942 and served for twenty-one years.  He was a member of the Charter Commission of 1951, and of many  boards, including Blue Cross, Greater Philadelphia Movement, Food Distribution Center, State Board of Education, Bureau of Municipal Research, World Affairs Council.

1          Album 4          Burke, Joseph F., 2 interview cassette tapes          March 15, 1979
4          24          Burke, Joseph F., transcript          March 15, 1979
11          22          Burke, Joseph F., background information file          1951, 1957

Burns, William 

William Burns joined the Bureau of Aeronautics of the City of Philadelphia in 1945 and spent his entire career with the Philadelphia airports, becoming Director of Aviation in 1966.  He served in that position until he retired in 1977.

1          Album 4          Burns, William, 2 interview cassette tapes          April 12, 1977
4          25          Burns, William, transcript          April 12, 1977
11          23          Burns, William, background information file          undated

Byrne, Michael J.
 
Michael Byrne was active in the Democratic Party in Philadelphia, starting as a committeeman in 1930.  He became Joseph Clark’s deputy when Clark was mayor, serving as one of Clark's closest advisors. 

1          Album 4          Byrne, Michael J., 2 interview cassette tapes          October 8, 1974
1          Album 4          Byrne, Michael J., 2 interview cassette tapes          June 6, 1978
4          26          Byrne, Michael J., transcript          1974, 1978
11          24          Byrne, Michael J., background information file          undated

Caffigan, Joseph 

1          Album 8          Caffigan, Joseph, 1 interview cassette tape          January 10, 1979

Callaghan, Robert J.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Penn­sylvania and its School of Law, Callaghan became a member of the City Charter Commission in 1951.   He was also a member of the Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis law firm.

1          Album 4          Callaghan, Robert J., 1 interview cassette tape          November 15, 1979
4          27          Callaghan, Robert J., transcript          November 15, 1979
11          25          Callaghan, Robert J., background information file          1951

Calpin, John P.

John Calpin was a Philadelphia newspaperman for forty-four years, first with the Record and then with the Bulletin.  As a reporter he covered City Hall, and this interview details his observations of politics during his time with the two papers.

1          Album 4          Calpin, John P., 3 interview cassette tapes          July 31, 1975
4          28          Calpin, John P., transcript          August 5, 1976
11          26          Calpin, John P., background information file          undated

Camiel, Peter J.

Peter Camiel became active in Philadelphia politics in the Democratic Party in 1935 when Jack Kelly ran for mayor.  Camiel was ward leader of the 11th ward, and became a state senator in 1952.  He was active in the internal affairs of the Democratic City Committee, becoming Chairman in 1970 until he was ousted by Frank Rizzo in 1976.

1          Album 5          Camiel, Peter J., 3 interview cassette tapes          April 28, 1977
4          29          Camiel, Peter, transcript          April 28, 1977, August 9, 1977
11          28          Camiel, Peter, background information file          1977

Chait, Frederick 

Frederick Chait served as company counsel for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1948 to 1959.  He also became general manager at the end of the 1950s.  When Knight-Ridder bought the Inquirer, Chait was asked to become president.  He later became vice-president of Knight Newspapers, Inc. (later Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.).

1          Album 5          Chait, Frederick, 1 interview cassette tape          February 19, 1980
4          30          Chait, Frederick, transcript          February 19, 1980
11          27          Chait, Frederick, background information file          undated

Chapman, Richard 

Richard Chapman was Executive Director of the Philadelphia chapter of Americans for Democratic Action during the 1970s.  Chapman was one of the organizers of the 1976 attempt to use the recall provision of the 1951 city charter to remove Frank Rizzo from the office of mayor. In this interview, Chapman describes that effort and analyzes the results.

1          Album 5          Chapman, Richard and Shelly Yanoff, 1 interview cassette tape          December 6, 1976
4          31          Chapman, Richard and Shelly Yanoff, transcript          December 6, 1976

Clark, Dennis J.

Dennis Clark worked with the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission, and, during the 1950s, was head of the Housing Division of the Commission on Human Relations in Philadelphia. Clark was the author of several books, including Cities in Crisis and The Ghetto Game. In his interview, he discusses racial conflicts, patterns of discrimination, police problems, and the construction of low-income housing developments.

1          Album 5          Clark, Dennis J., 1 interview cassette tape          December 7, 1976
4          32          Clark, Dennis J., transcript          December 7, 1976
11          29          Clark, Dennis J., background information file          1950s

Clark, Joseph S.

Joseph Clark was Mayor of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1956. He was the first Democratic mayor after sixty-seven years of Republican administrations in Philadelphia. He also served as a United States senator from 1956 to 1968.

1          Album 5          Clark, Joseph S., 1 interview cassette tape          March 20, 1975
4          33          Clark, Joseph S., transcript          March 18, 1975
11          30          Clark, Joseph S., background information file           1973-1978

Comey, Dennis J.

Father Dennis Comey served as an arbitrator for labor disputes along Philadelphia's waterfront during the 1950s. He founded the Institute of Industrial Relations at St. Joseph's College, a tuition-free, adult evening education program that became a blueprint for labor management relations across the country. In this interview, Father Comey talks about his experiences as Philadelphia's "Waterfront Priest" and describes many of the issues that he helped to settle.

1          Album 5          Comey, Dennis J., 1896-, 3 interview cassette tapes          January 29, 1979
5          2          Comey, Dennis J., 1896-, transcript          January 29, 1979
12          1          Comey, Dennis J., 1896-, background information file          1979

Cooke, M. Todd 

Todd Cooke joined the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society in 1966 as assistant to the president.  He advanced through the ranks, becoming President in 1971 and Chairman in 1979. He was very involved in civic affairs and has an active interest in city planning.  In this interview, he discusses city planning, the relationship of business and civic agencies, and the power structure of the city.

1          Album 5          Cooke, M. Todd, 1 interview cassette tape          March 30, 1978
1          Album 6          Cooke, M. Todd, 1 interview cassette tape          March 30, 1978
5          1          Cooke, M. Todd, transcript          March 30, 1978
12          2          Cooke, M. Todd, background information file          1977, 1979

Coughlin, Robert E.

Robert Coughlin was vice-president, treasurer, and secretary of the Regional Science Research Institute. He parti­cipated in numerous studies of both the city and the region involving environmental problems, economic and industrial factors, hospital systems, park lands, etc. . Coughlin was also guild master of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Guild of Change Ringers and was instrumental in the Chestnut Hill parish obtaining a set of bells. 

1          Album 6          Coughlin, Robert E., 2 interview cassette tapes          February 4, 1980
5          3          Coughlin, Robert E., transcript          February 4, 1980
12          3          Coughlin, Robert E., background information file          1978, 1980

Coxe, Spencer 

Spencer Coxe was Executive Director of the Philadelphia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1952 to 1979. In his interview, he discusses the changes in accessibility to the government offices at City Hall, the City Solicitor's office, and particularly the police department, between the reform administrations of Clark and Dilworth, and the succeeding administrations of Tate and Rizzo. He describes the latter as maintaining a closed door policy towards the ACLU.  He discusses the ACLU's involvement with problems of police abuse of citizens, and describes the rise of Frank Rizzo and Rizzo’s attitudes and strategy against radical groups in Philadelphia as SNCC, CORE, Black Panthers, and RAM (Revolutionary Action Movement).

1          Album 6          Coxe, Spencer, 2 interview cassette tapes          April 26, 1979
1          Album 6          Coxe, Spencer, 2 interview cassette tapes          May 17, 1979
5          4          Coxe, Spencer, transcript          April 26, 1979
12          4          Coxe, Spencer, background information file          1979

Crawford, Robert 

Robert Crawford was Commissioner of the Department of Recreation in the City of Philadelphia. He had previously been Superintendent of Recreation in Oakland, California.

1          Album 6          Crawford, Robert, 1 interview cassette tape          July 17, 1976
5          5          Crawford, Robert, transcript          July 17, 1976
12          5          Crawford, Robert, background information file          1976

Croley, Paul F.

In 1933, when zoning was introduced in Philadelphia, Paul Croley worked on the original zoning ordinance as a member of the coning division. Croley became Executive Vice-President of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Council (PIDC), and later served as consultant to the City Council on planning, capital programming and budgeting

1          Album 6          Croley, Paul F., 1 interview cassette tape          June 11, 1979
6          1          Croley, Paul F., transcript          June 11, 1979
12          6          Croley, Paul F, background information file          undated

D'Alessio, Walter

Walter D'Alessio was a city planner who came to Philadelphia in 1960 as Coordinator for Center City projects for the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. He later became Executive Director of that agency.  In 1972 he left the Redevelopment Authority to become Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.

1          Album 6          D'Alessio, Walter, 1 interview cassette tape          June 7, 1977
6          2          D'Alessio, Walter, transcript          June 7, 1977
12          7          D'Alessio, Walter, background information file          1975

Dallas, Constance H.

Constance Dallas was the first woman elected to City Council in Philadelphia and the first woman to hold any elective public office in the city.  She was a member of City Council from 1952 to 1956.  In addition to her service in City Council she was a commissioner of the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission, a commissioner of Valley Forge Park, and a board member of the Menninger Foundation, Philadelphia City Policy Committee, Committee of 70, Council for International Visitors, Marriage Council, and Pennsylvania Roadside Council.

1          Album 6          Dallas, Constance H., 1902-, 1 interview cassette tape          November 5, 1979
6          3          Dallas, Constance H., transcript          November 5, 1979
12          9          Dallas, Constance H., background information file          1979

Dilworth, Jr., Richardson 

The youngest of Mayor Dilworth’s eight children, in this interview Dilworth describes his memories of campaigning with his father throughout his various candidacies, starting with the mayoral campaign of 1947, when Dilworth was defeated by Barney Samuel.  He describes the campaign for District Attorney in 1951, and explains why his father, as mayor of the city, re-elected for a second term, announced his intention to resign as mayor and enter the race for governor.

1          Album 6          Dilworth, Richardson, 1 interview cassette tape          February 6, 1979
1          Album 7          Dilworth, Richardson, 1 interview cassette tape          February 6, 1979
6          4          Dilworth, Richardson, transcript          February 6, 1979
12          8          Dilworth, Richardson, background information file          undated

Dolbeare, Cushing N.
Dolbeare, Louis

Dolbeare originally joined the Philadelphia Housing Association as a metropolitan consultant in 1956 when Dorothy Montgomery was the executive director. 

3          Album 23          Dolbeare, Cushing N., 2 interview cassette tapes          September 28, 1980
3          Album 23          Dolbeare, Cushing N., 2 interview cassette tapes          June 5, 1980
3          Album 23          Dolbeare, Louis, 1 interview cassette tape          September 29, 1980
6          5          Dolbeare, Cushing N. and Louis Dolbeare, transcript          June 5, 1980, September 28, 1980, September 29, 1980
12          10          Dolbeare, Cushing N., background information file          undated

Doran, Richard 

Richard Doran worked as an assistant for Milton Shapp before Shapp’s election as Governor of Pennsylvania.  From 1965 to 1970, Doran was administrative assistant for Congressman William J. Green. In 1971, Doran became Executive Assistant for Governor Shapp, a post that he held until 1976, when he resigned to take on the position of Managing Partner of the Greater Philadelphia Partnership. When William J. Green was elected Mayor of Philadelphia in 1980, Doran was appointed his City Representative and Director of Commerce.

1          Album 7          Doran, Richard, 2 interview cassette tapes          April 17, 1979
6          6          Doran, Richard, transcript          April 17, 1979
12          11          Doran, Richard, background information file          1978

D'Ortona, Paul 

D’Ortona was a member of Philadelphia City Council from 1951 to1971.  He was elected as Councilman-at-large and later became President of City Council when Tate became mayor.  He was President for ten years, until he resigned from Council in 1971.

1          Album 7          D'Ortona, Paul, 1 interview cassette tape          May 17, 1977
6          7          D'Ortona, Paul, transcript          May 17, 1977
12          12          D'Ortona, Paul, background information file          undated

Dressler, Frank 

Frank Dressier was executive of the Water Resources Association of Delaware River Basin.  In his interview he describes the problems involved in the regional aspects of cooperation regarding the Delaware River Basin.

1          Album 7          Dressler, Frank, 1 interview cassette tape          December 11, 1979
6          8          Dressler, Frank, transcript          December 11, 1979, December 20, 1978
12          13          Dressler, Frank, background information file          1980s

Duane, Morris 

Morris Duane was a Philadelphia lawyer and long-time close friend of Joseph Clark. He served as Chairman of the Air Pollution Control Board in the Clark administration, and on the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Medical Care and the Hospital Survey Committee.

6          9          Duane, Morris, transcript          December 1, 1978
12          14          Duane, Morris, background information file          1958

Eastburn, David 

David Eastburn was associated with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia starting in  the Research Department. He became president of the bank in 1970.  He also served as chairman of the board of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and was a member of the board of Greater Philadelphia Movement, United Way, International House, and the Citizen's Council.

1          Album 7          Eastburn, David, 1 interview cassette tape          June 22, 1979
6          10          Eastburn, David, transcript          June 22, 1979
12          15          Eastburn, David, background information file          1980

Fagan, Maurice B.

Maurice Fagan was a founder of the Fellowship Commission in 1941 and was its Executive Director for decades.  The Fellowship Commission was a private human rights-intergroup relations agency and played a key role in drafting of the 1951 city charter.  It joined forces with many civic agencies in the city over the years.

1          Album 7          Fagan, Maurice B., 2 interview cassette tapes          October 6, 1975
6          11          Fagan, Maurice B., transcript          October 6, 1975
12          16          Fagan, Maurice B., background information file          undated

Finney, Graham 

Graham Finney was the Assistant Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission from 1961to 1965.  Finney was active in the formation of the Philadelphia Partnership and was Managing Partner from 1975 to 1976.

1          Album 7          Finney, Graham, 2 interview cassette tapes          January 11, 1978
6          12          Finney, Graham, transcript          January 11, 1978
12          17          Finney, Graham, background information file          1976

Foglietta, Thomas M. (Thomas Michael), 1928-2004

Thomas Foglietta was the youngest person ever elected to Philadelphia City Council when he was elected at age 26 in 1956.  He served on City Council for nineteen years, until he resigned to run as the Republican candidate for Mayor in 1975.  He was defeated by Frank Rizzo.

3          Album 24          Foglietta, Thomas M. (Thomas Michael), 1 interview cassette tape          June 24, 1980
6          14          Foglietta, Thomas M. (Thomas Michael), transcript          June 24, 1980
12          18          Foglietta, Thomas M. (Thomas Michael), background information file          undated

Folwell, Robert 

Robert Folwell was the first executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Philadelphia, in 1951/52.  During the 1950s, he was an active ADA mem­ber and a Democratic committeeman in West Philadelphia, the 24th Ward, as well as an active leader in the Powelton Village Renewal Movement. He worked as public information officer for Penjerdel, and from 1965 to 1979 he was the communi­cations director for the Delaware Regional Planning Commis­sion.  He also organized a citizen group called the Delaware Valley Citizen League.

3          Album 24          Folwell, Robert, 2 interview cassette tapes          February 5, 1980
1          Album 7          Folwell, Robert, 2 interview cassette tapes (missing)          undated
6          13          Folwell, Robert, transcript          February 5, 1980
12          19          Folwell, Robert, background information file          undated

Forde, George S.

George Forde was Deputy Controller for Joseph Clark when Clark was City Controller.  When Clark became mayor, Forde was appointed his Revenue Commissioner. In his interview, Forde describes his time in City Hall.  In a separate written statement in the background information file he gives his memories of Richardson Dilworth.

1          Album 8          Forde, George S., 1 interview cassette tape          December 13, 1977
1          Album 8          Forde, George S., 1 interview cassette tape          undated  
6          15          Forde, George S., transcript          December 13, 1977
12          20          Forde, George S., background information file          1978

Frazier, Charles H.

Charles Frazier was Commissioner of Procurement for the city of Philadelphia during Mayor Clark's administration.  He was also Chairman of the Urban Traffic and Transportation Board, and Chairman of the Philadelphia Hospital Board from 1961 to 1967.

1          Album 8          Frazier, Charles H., 1 interview cassette tape          July 12, 1976
6          16          Frazier, Charles H., transcript          July 12, 1976
12          21          Frazier, Charles H., background information file          1978

Freedman, Robert L.

Robert L. Freedman was a lawyer at Dechert, Price, and Rhoads in Philadelphia.  He is the son of Abraham Freedman, who was City Solicitor during the Clark administration.  Robert Freedman is joined in this interview by Robert Landis, who was Abe Freedman's first Deputy City Solicitor. They discuss their memories of Abraham Freedman.

6          17          Freedman, Robert L. and Robert Landis, transcript          September 18, 1978
12          22          Freedman, Robert L., background information file          undated

Freeman, Andrew 

Andrew Freeman was Executive Director of the Urban League in Philadelphia from 1962 to 1977.  In his interview, Freeman describes the racial tensions and problems in the city and ways in which the city government has related to these issues.

1          Album 8          Freeman, Andrew, 2 interview cassette tapes          April 13, 1978
6          18          Freeman, Andrew, transcript          April 13, 1978
12          23          Freeman, Andrew, background information file          undated

Gaffigan, Joseph J.

Joseph Gaffigan worked for Governor George Leader in Harrisburg after his graduation from law school in 1954. He was deputy to Mayor Dilworth from 1956to 1962, when Dilworth left office to run for governor. Gaffigan continued to work with the Tate administration.

6          19          Gaffigan, Joseph J., transcript          January 10, 1979
12          24          Gaffigan, Joseph J., background information file          undated

Gibbon, Maly 

Maly Gibbon (later Mrs. Lovell Thompson) was the wife and close research associate of Dr. John Gibbon, inventor of the heart-lung machine and winner of the Bok Award in Philadelphia. Dr. Gibbon performed the first successful operation using the heart-lung machine in Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. In her interview, Mrs. Gibbon describes politically liberal organizations in Philadelphia prior to World War II, the work on development of the heart-lung machine, and the outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia in 1976.

1          Album 8          Gibbon, Maly, 2 interview cassette tapes          October 2, 1978
6          20          Gibbon, Maly, transcript          October 2, 1978
12          25          Gibbon, Maly, background information file          undated

Gladfelter, Millard E.

Dr. Millard Gladfelter was president of Temple University from 1959 until his retirement in 1967.  He then became chancellor of the university.  It was during the administration of Dr. Gladfelter that Temple became a state-related school, and tuition for Pennsylvania residents was significantly reduced due to state financial aid.

1          Album 8          Gladfelter, Millard E., 1900-, 1 interview cassette tape          October 16, 1978
6          21          Gladfelter, Millard E., 1900-, transcript          October 16, 1978      
12          26          Gladfelter, Millard E., 1900-, background information file          1967

Green, Raymond S. (Raymond Silvernail), 1915-

Raymond Green was President of WFLN, Philadelphia’s classical music radio station, beginning in 1949. He was also President and Chairman of the Board of the Philadelphia Art Alliance. In his interview, he describes the cultural scene in Philadelphia and relates the effect of the Clark-Dilworth administrations on the cultural life of Philadelphia.

1          Album 8          Green, Raymond S. (Raymond Silvernail), 2 interview cassette tapes          March 4, 1975
6          22          Green, Raymond S. (Raymond Silvernail), 1915-, transcript          March 4, 1975
12          27          Green, Raymond S. (Raymond Silvernail), 1915-, background information file          undated

Green, William J. (William Joseph), 1938-

William Green’s father had been a U.S. Congressman and was a leader of the Philadelphia Democratic Party.  When he died in 1963, his son was elected to take his place in Congress, at the age of 25.  He resigned from the House of Representatives in 1976 to run for U.S. Senate. He was chairman of the Democratic City Committee in Philadelphia from 1967 to 1969, and served as Mayor of Philadelphia from 1980 to -1984. 

1          Album 9          Green, William J. (William Joseph), 2 interview cassette tapes          June 9, 1978
1          Album 9          Green, William J. (William Joseph), interview tape (missing)          undated
6          23          Green, William J. (William Joseph), transcript          June 9, 1978
12          28          Green, William J. (William Joseph), background information file          undated

Gregorian, Vartan 

Born in Tabriz, Iran, Vartan Gregorian graduated from the College Armenien in 1955.  He came to the U. S. and received a doctorate at Stanford University. After teaching history at UCLA and University of Texas, he became Tarzian Professor of Armenian and Caucasian History at the University of Pennsylvania. He became Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 1974 and was named Provost in the late 1970s.  He was author of The Emergence of Modern Afghani­stan.

1          Album 9          Gregorian, Vartan, 1 interview cassette tape          December 18, 1979
6          24          Gregorian, Vartan, transcript          December 18, 1979
12          29          Gregorian, Vartan, background information file          1978, 1980

Greifer, Julian L.

Julian Greifer was a sociologist and professor, and served as Director of the Institute for Crime Prevention, Temple University.  He was Executive Director of the Neighborhood Centers of Philadelphia, a cluster of settlement houses located in various neighborhoods, from 1942 to -1965.  He was a member of the Citizens Council on City Planning as well as a member of the Philadelphia City Policy Committee.

1          Album 9          Greifer, Julian L., 2 interview cassette tapes          May 12, 1978
6          25          Greifer, Julian L., transcript          May 12, 1978
12          30          Greifer, Julian L., background information file          undated

Halloran, Harry 

Harry Halloran was an engineer and contractor, and President and Chairman of the Board of the Conduit & Foundation Corporation in Philadelphia.  His company built many of the bridges and a substantial part of the area’s highway system, and he was active in a number of civic and charitable associations in Philadelphia.

1          Album 9          Halloran, Harry, 1 interview cassette tape          December 7, 1978
7          1          Halloran, Harry, transcript          December 7, 1978
13          1          Halloran, Harry, background information          1979, 1980

Harnwell, G. P. (Gaylord Probasco), 1903-1982

Dr. Harnwell was President of the University of Pennsylvania from 1953 to 1970.  A nationally recognized physicist, he first became associated with the University in 1938 when he was appointed professor of physics and director of the Randal Morgan Laboratory of Physics.

3          Album 24          Harnwell, G. P. (Gaylord Probasco), 1 interview cassette tape          October 22, 1977
7          2          Harnwell, G. P. (Gaylord Probasco), transcript          October 22, 1977
13          2          Harnwell, G. P. (Gaylord Probasco), background information          undated

Harral, Henry 

Henry Harral worked at the Fels Institute for Local and State Government at the University of Penn­sylvania, conducting a program of courses for in-service people in the city administration, and subsequently served deputy streets commissioner in charge of sani­tation for the Clark administration. He was then appointed Commissioner of Streets, and was later designated Secretary of Highways during the Scranton administration.

1          Album 9          Harral, Henry, 1 interview cassette tape          November 2, 1979
7          3          Harral, Henry, transcript          November 2, 1979

Heckert, Robert 

Robert Heckert was a radio commentator in Philadelphia for many years.  In this interview he records his impressions and recollections of the city, particularly relating to politics and the cultural life of the city, as far back as fifty years ago.

1          Album 9          Heckert, Robert, 1 interview cassette tape          December 28, 1977
1          Album 9          Heckert, Robert, 1 interview cassette tape          September 14, 1978
7          4          Heckert, Robert, transcript          September 14, 1978, December 28, 1977

Hendrick, Edward J.

Ed Hendrick was named Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Public Welfare by Randolph Wise, when Joe Clark became mayor. He also served as Superintendent of Prisons during the Clark, Dilworth, and Tate administrations, leaving that position upon the arrival of Mayor Rizzo in 1972.

1          Album 9          Hendrick, Edward J., 2 interview cassette tapes          January 30, 1979
7          5          Hendrick, Edward J., transcript          January 30, 1979
13          3          Hendrick, Edward J., background information          undated

Higginbotham, A. Leon, Jr., 1928-1998

Leon Higginbotham was a circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, President of the NAACP from 1959-1962, and a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. He was also the author of a book In the Matter of Color: Race and the American Legal Process. In his interview he gives his observations about Philadelphia’s judicial system, the political atmosphere, and the African American community.

3          Album 22          Higginbotham, A. Leon, Jr., 1 interview cassette tape          March 5, 1979
1          Album 10          Higginbotham, A. Leon, Jr., interview tape (missing)          undated
7          6          Higginbotham, A. Leon, Jr., transcript          March 5, 1979
13          4          Higginbotham, A. Leon, Jr., background information          1978

Hoeber, Johannes U., 1904-1977

Johannes Hoeber was a German economist and political scientist who came to Philadelphia in 1938, fleeing the Nazis.  He met Walter Phillips and subsequently joined the staff of the Citizen’s Charter Committee.  He served on the Philadelphia Housing Authority, United War Chest, was active in Americans for Democratic Action, and was Deputy Welfare Commissioner of the city of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1963.

1          Album 10          Hoeber, Johannes U., 1 interview cassette tape          May 4, 1976

Ingersoll, C. Jared 

C. Jared Ingersoll served on the City Planning Commission. During the early rejuvenation of the Society Hill neighborhood, the Ingersolls were active in the restoration of the area. In his interview, Ingersoll describes origin of the Greater Philadelphia Movement. He also mentions briefly his late brother, Sturgis Ingersoll, a Philadelphia lawyer, art collector, and at one time president of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

1          Album 10          Ingersoll, C. Jared, 1 interview cassette tape          June 28, 1977
7          7          Ingersoll, C. Jared, transcript          June 28, 1977
13          5          Ingersoll, C. Jared, background information          undated

Ingraham, Norman R. (Norman Reeh), 1909- 

Norman Ingraham was Deputy Health Commissioner beginning in 1952, and became Acting Health Commissioner in 1959. In 1963 Mayor Tate named him Health Commissioner, and he continued in that post until 1972.

1          Album 10          Ingraham, Norman R. (Norman Reeh), 5 interview cassette tapes          June 19, 1978
7          8          Ingraham, Norman R. (Norman Reeh), transcript          June 19, 1978

Johnson, Walter 

Walter Johnson was the Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission from 1967 to 1980.  During that time he was the chief planner for the nine-county, two-state region (Delaware and Pennsylvania).  In this interview he discusses planning from a regional point of view.

1          Album 10          Johnson, Walter, 2 interview cassette tapes          September 11, 1978
7          9          Johnson, Walter, transcript          September 11, 1978
13          6          Johnson, Walter, background information          1965-1980

Jones, Emily Ehle 

In this interview Jones recalls the founding and early activities of the Philadelphia chapter of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), of which she was an active member.

7          10          Jones, Emily Ehle, transcript         

Kaufmann, Arthur C.

Arthur Kaufmann was the Executive Head of Gimbels, Philadelphia, from 1934 to 1958.  He was involved in the “Better Philadelphia Exhibition” which was displayed at Gimbels in 1947, and was the beginning of the city planning movement in Philadelphia.

7          11          Kaufmann, Arthur C., transcript          November 13, 1975
13          7          Kaufmann, Arthur C., background information          1975

Kelly, John B., 1927-

John B. Kelly, Jr. was a councilman-at-large in City Council.  His father, John B. Kelly, Sr., was a Democratic political leader and head of the largest bricklaying firm in the country.  Kelly, Sr.  ran for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1935, but lost to S. Davis Wilson by a very narrow margin.  He was chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party from 1936 to 1940. In this interview Kelly Jr. talks about his father's interest in politics and also describes his own political activities.

1          Album 10          Kelly, John B., 1 interview cassette tape          August 5, 1977
7          12          Kelly, John B., transcript          August 5, 1977
13          8          Kelly, John B., background information          1960

Klein, Philip 

Active in his own advertising and public relations business, Philip Klein was asked by Mayor Dilworth to serve as Com­missioner of Public Property, a post he held for a short time.  He was also vice-chairman of the City Planning Com­mission and national director of Civil Defense, at the re­quest of President Eisenhower. He also served on the board of WHYY, as president of the board at Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, and as chairman of the executive committee of United Seamen's Services.  He played an important part in the restoration of the Walnut Street Theater, and was involved with the Philadelphia Orchestra, International House, and the Pennsylvania Historical Society.

1          Album 10          Klein, Philip, 1 interview cassette tape          February 26, 1980
7          13          Klein, Philip, transcript          February 26, 1980

Klenk, William G.

A 1958 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, William Klenk worked on the Alfred Luongo’s campaign when he ran for City Council in 1959.  After Luongo’s election, Klenk became his administrative assistant in Council.  He also worked in Dilworth's campaign for governor in 1962. Klenk was an assistant city solicitor in the Tate administra­tion and later became an assistant district attorney.  When Arlen Specter was elected district attorney, Klenk left his office and resumed the practice of law.  In 1977 he was elected city controller and remained in that position until resigning to seek the nomination for mayor of Phila­delphia in spring of 1979.  He was defeated in the primary by William Green.

1          Album 11          Klenk, William G., 2 interview cassette tapes          November 30, 1979
7          14          Klenk, William G., transcript          November 30, 1979
13          9          Klenk, William G., background information          1977

Kling, Vincent G. (Vincent George), 1916-2013

Vincent Kling was consulting architect on the Philadelphia Planning Commission during the execution of the Penn Center concept, as well as other projects.  He was the architect for the Philadelphia International Airport.  Mr. Kling also served on the Art Commission of the city for many years.

1          Album 11          Kling, Vincent G. (Vincent George), 1 interview cassette tape          February 13, 1979
7          15          Kling, Vincent G. (Vincent George), transcript          February 13, 1979
13          10          Kling, Vincent G. (Vincent George), background information          undated

Landis, Robert 

Robert Landis was a Philadelphia lawyer and Abe Freedman's first Deputy City Solicitor early in the Clark administration. In his first interview, he is joined by Robert Freedman, Abe Freedman's son, as they reminisce Abe Freedman’s work as City Solicitor in the Clark administration.
In the second interview, Landis recalls legal issues related to the city charter.

1          Album 11          Landis, Robert and Robert Freedman, 1 interview cassette tape          September 18, 1978
1          Album 11          Landis, Robert, 1 interview cassette tape          October 3, 1978
7          16          Landis, Robert, transcript          September 18, 1978, October 3, 1978
13          11          Landis, Robert, background information          1956, undated

Leader, George M., 1918-2013

George Leader was Governor of Pennsylvania from 1955 to 1959.  Prior to that he was a state senator from 1950 to 1954. In this interview he discusses his term as Governor and his perspective on the relationship of the state to the city of Philadelphia.

1          Album 11          Leader, George M., 2 interview cassette tapes          September 26, 1978
7          17          Leader, George M., transcript          September 11, 1978
13          12          Leader, George M., background information          undated

Lee, P. Blair 

Blair Lee was active in the founding of the Greater Philadelphia Movement in 1951.  He was President of the Western Savings Fund Society at the time.  In 1950 he was elected Chairman of the Philadelphia Housing Authority and served on the authority for ten years.

1          Album 11          Lee, P. Blair, 1 interview cassette tape          October 31, 1978
7          18          Lee, P. Blair, transcript          October 31, 1978
13          13          Lee, P. Blair, background information          1950

Lennox, William M.

William Lennox was Sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1971.  He served on City Council from 1950 to 1951.

2          Album 21          Lennox, William M., 2 interview cassette tapes          March 26, 1980
7          19          Lennox, William M., transcript          March 26, 1980

Longstreth, W. Thacher 

Thacher Longstreth was twice a Republican candidate for mayor in Philadelphia: defeated in 1955 by Dilworth and in 1971 by Frank Rizzo.  He was also President of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and served twice on Philadelphia City Council, from 1967 to1971 and 1983 to2003.

1          Album 11          Longstreth, W. Thacher, 3 interview cassette tapes          December 5, 1976
7          20          Longstreth, W. Thacher, transcript          December 5, 1976
13          14          Longstreth, W. Thacher, background information          undated

Macintosh, W. James 

James Macintosh was a lawyer with the firm of Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius in Philadelphia, a member of the City Contract Committee, chairman of the Executive Committee of the City Charter Committee, and was active in the formation of the Economy League in 1933. 

2          Album 12          Macintosh, W. James, 1 interview cassette tape          July 12, 1978
7          21          Macintosh, W. James, transcript          July 12, 1978
13          15          Macintosh, W. James, background information          undated

Mahoney, James J.

James Mahoney served in the Rizzo administration, first as deputy director of commerce and later as deputy development coordinator.  He resigned from city work when he was elected executive vice president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.  He worked with Ed Toohey on the AFL-CIO committee on Political Education (COPE), and was founder of MILRITE (Make Industry and Labor Right in Today's Economy). In this interview, he describes the founding of the labor movement in the United States and compares the growth of Philadelphia, socially and politically, with other large eastern cities.

2          Album 12          Mahoney, James J., 1 interview cassette tape          January 25, 1979
7          22          Mahoney, James J., transcript          January 25, 1979
13          16          Mahoney, James J., background information          1978

Martin, James 

In 1968, James Martin became was Executive Director of Old Philadelphia Development Corporation, a non-profit development organization which acts as consultant to the City of Philadelphia on matters of redevelopment policy and transportation.   In this interview he discusses the city from the standpoint of development.

2          Album 12          Martin, James, 1 interview cassette tape          March 16, 1977
7          23          Martin, James, transcript          March 16, 1977
13          17          Martin, James, background information          1975-1978

McCarey, James 

Early in his life, James McCarey was a union organi­zer in a wallpaper company in South Philadelphia. He left the company to join the Fire Department, rising through the ranks until he eventually was named commis­sioner. Upon the election of Frank Rizzo as mayor, McCarey resigned his post to work in the Chamber of Commerce.

2          Album 12          McCarey, James, 2 interview cassette tapes          January 14, 1980
7          24          McCarey, James, transcript          January 14, 1980
13          18          McCarey, James, background information          1971

McConnell, Richard J.

Richard McConnell was Deputy Director of Finance from 1953 to 1955, Acting Director of Finance from 1955 to 1956, and Director of Finance from 1956 to 1962.  After he left city government, he became Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.

2          Album 12          McConnell, Richard J., 2 interview cassette tapes           July 22, 1976
7          25          McConnell, Richard J., transcript          July 22, 1976
13          19          McConnell, Richard J., background information          undated

McCullough, John G.

John McCullough spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Bulletin, covering government and politics at the city, state, and national levels.  In his interview, he offers his insights into politics in Philadelphia, particularly during the Clark and Dilworth administrations.

2          Album 12          McCullough, John G., 1 interview cassette tape          November 20, 1974
7          26          McCullough, John G., transcript          November 20, 1974
13          20          McCullough, John G., background information          undated

McLaughlin, Joseph P.

Joe McLaughlin was a Philadelphia newspaperman and public relations consultant.  He worked as city editor for the Philadelphia Record.  His public relations agency managed the successful 1951 campaign for the adoption of Philadelphia's Home Rule Charter on behalf of the Citizen’s Charter Committee. He was campaign manager for James H. J. Tate when Tate won the 1967 mayoral election.

2          Album 12          McLaughlin, Joseph P., 2 interview cassette tapes          March 3, 1975
2          Album 12          McLaughlin, Joseph P., 1 interview cassette tape          March 17, 1975
7          27          McLaughlin, Joseph P., transcript          March 3, 1975, March 17, 1975
13          21          McLaughlin, Joseph P., background information          1977, undated

Meehan, William Austin 

William Meehan was a lawyer and a leader of the Philadelphia Republican Party. He was the son of Sheriff Austin Meehan, also a longtime leader of the Republican Party in Phila­delphia. 

2          Album 12          Meehan, William Austin, 1 interview cassette tape          March 23, 1977
7          28          Meehan, William Austin, transcript          March 23, 1977
13          22          Meehan, William Austin,          1977, 1979

Meek, William R.

William Meek was a social worker and professor, and active in the politics of the African American community in Philadelphia.  He was manager of Charles W. Bowser's campaign for mayor in 1975.  In his interviews, he outlines the history of and his insights into African American politics in Philadelphia.

2          Album 13          Meek, William R., 2 interview cassette tapes          May 22, 1979
2          Album 13          Meek, William R., 1 interview cassette tape          June 27, 1979
7          29          Meek, William R., transcript          May 22, 1979, June 27, 1979
13          23          Meek, William R., background information          undated

Mesirov, Leon I.

Leon Mesirov was a lawyer who was active in the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee.  From 1939 to1952, he acted as legal advisor in election matters, was active in the city charter movement of 1938 and 1951, and he was a member of the Civil Service Commission.

2          Album 13          Mesirov, Leon I., 1 interview cassette tape          August 14, 1976
7          30          Mesirov, Leon I., transcript          August 14, 1976
13          24          Mesirov, Leon I., background information          undated

Meyerson, Martin 

Martin Meyerson was president of the University of Pennsylvania from 1970 to 1981, one of the youngest and also the first Jewish president of an Ivy League university. Meyerson was a Harvard-trained city planner and first came to Philadelphia to work with Robert Mitchell at the City Planning Commission.  He left Philadelphia to become acting chancellor of the University of California in Berkeley, and was also president of the State University of New York at Buffalo before returning to the University of Pennsylvania.

2          Album 13          Meyerson, Martin, 1 interview cassette tape          December 22, 1978
7          31          Meyerson, Martin, transcript          December 22, 1978
13          25          Meyerson, Martin, background information          undated

Michaels, Abraham 

Abraham Michaels worked as Chief Sanitation Engineer from 1954 to1960 and as Deputy Streets Commissioner from 1960 to 1966

2          Album 13          Michaels, Abraham, 1 interview cassette tape          April 7, 1977
7          32          Michaels, Abraham, transcript          April 7, 1977
13          26          Michaels, Abraham, background information          1977

Miller, Joseph H.

Joseph Miller worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1934 to 1972 as a political writer and editor. 

2          Album 13          Miller, Joseph H., 1 interview cassette tape          October 7, 1976
7          33          Miller, Joseph H., transcript          October 7, 1976
13          27          Miller, Joseph H., background information          undated

Miller, Walter P.

Walter Miller was active on the Committee of 70 and the Chamber of Commerce, and played a major role in developing the Philadelphia International Airport. In 1951, Miller ran unsuccessfully in the mayoral primary as a Republican candidate.

2          Album 13          Miller, Walter P., 1 interview cassette tape          February 3, 1976
2          Album 13          Miller, Walter P., 1 interview cassette tape          April 27, 1976
7          34          Miller, Walter P., transcript          April 27, 1976
13          28          Miller, Walter P., background information          1955, 1978

Mitchell, Robert B.

Robert Mitchell was Director of the City Planning Commission of Philadelphia from 1943 to 1948. He established the School of City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, and under Mayor Clark he completed transportation studies for the traffic and transportation board.

2          Album 13          Mitchell, Robert B., 2 interview cassette tapes          March 12, 1975
7          35          Mitchell, Robert B., transcript          March 5, 1975
13          29          Mitchell, Robert B., background information          undated

Moak, Lennox L. (Lennox Lee)

Lennox Moak was Director of Finance under mayors Joseph Clark and Frank Rizzo.  He also served as Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League, and as an advisor to the City Charter Commission. He helped write many sections of the Home Rule Charter, including the section establishing a Finance Department.

2          Album 14          Moak, Lennox L. (Lennox Lee), 1912-1982, 2 interview cassette tapes          February 9, 1978
8          1          Moak, Lennox L. (Lennox Lee), transcript          February 9, 1978
14          1          Moak, Lennox L. (Lennox Lee), 1912-1982, background information file          undated

Montgomery, Dorothy Schoell

Dorothy Montgomery was active in the organization of the Philadelphia Housing Association in 1937.  She remained with the Housing Association through the 1950s and served as its Executive Director. She also served on the Redevelopment Authority.

8          2          Montgomery, Dorothy, transcript          October 4, 1976, May 16, 1978
13          30          Montgomery, Dorothy, background information          1980

Niebuhr, Herman 

Herman Niebuhr was Vice President and Assistant to the President for planning co-ordination and urban affairs, as well as director of the Center for Community Studies at Temple Univer­sity. 

2          Album 21          Niebuhr, Herman, 2 interview cassette tapes          March 31, 1980
8          3          Niebuhr, Herman, transcript          March 31, 1980
14          2          Niebuhr, Herman, background information file          1979

Northrup, Vernon P.

Vernon Northrup served as Director of Finance and Managing Director of the city of Philadelphia in the 1950s. He also served as President of the Food Distribution Center and was a member of the Delaware River Basin Commission. In lieu of a taped interview, Northrup provided written answers to questions that Walter Phillips sent to him.

8          4          Northrup, Vernon P., transcript (answers to questions)          undated
14          3          Northrup, Vernon P., background information file          undated

Obermayer, Leon J.

Leon Obermayer was a Philadelphia lawyer and close associate of Rudolph Blankenberg, Mayor from 1911-1916. Obermayer was active in the City Party, which was organized in 1905 as a reform party. 

2          Album 14          Obermayer, Leon J., 1 interview cassette tape          May 4, 1978
8          5          Obermayer, Leon J., transcript          May 4, 1978
14          4          Obermayer, Leon J., background information file          undated

Olmsted, Allen S. (Allen Seymour), 1888-1977

Allen Olmsted was a lawyer active with the Philadelphia Committee for Public Affairs, which merged with the City Policy Committee in 1950. He served as Chairman of the City Policy Committee during Mayor Clark’s term.  In his interview, Olmsted talks about politics in Philadelphia from the 1920s onward.

2          Album 14          Olmsted, Allen S. (Allen Seymour), 1 interview cassette tape          March 11, 1975
8          6          Olmsted, Allen S. (Allen Seymour), transcript          March 11, 1975
14          5          Olmsted, Allen S. (Allen Seymour), background information file          undated

Perkins, G. Holmes (George Holmes)

Holmes Perkins was Dean of the School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania.  His interests were mainly urban design and planning. He founded the City Planning Department at the university, and served as Chairman of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission from 1958 to 1968.

2          Album 14          Perkins, G. Holmes (George Holmes), 2 interview cassette tapes          September 20, 1976
8          7          Perkins, G. Holmes (George Holmes), transcript          September 20, 1976
14          6          Perkins, G. Holmes (George Holmes), background information file          undated

Petrella, Marie 

Marie Petrella was secretary to Jim Finnegan, who was Chairman of the Democratic City Committee from 1947 to 1952, and President of City Council from 1952 to 1956.  He was the manager of Adlai Stevenson’s presidential campaign. Petrella discusses her memories of Finnegan and his work.

2          Album 14          Petrella, Marie, 1 interview cassette tape          January 19, 1976
8          8          Petrella, Marie, transcript          January 19, 1976
14          7          Petrella, Marie, background information file          undated

Phillips, Walter Massey, 1912-1985

Walter Phillips organized many of the civic agencies that paved the way for the organization of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.  In 1940 he organized the City Policy Committee, and from that committee came the Joint Committee on City Planning, the Citizen’s Council on City Planning, and finally, the City Planning Commission. Phillips was also active in the charter campaigns of 1938 and 1951. He managed Joseph Clark’s mayoral campaign in 1951 and served under Clark as City Representative and Director of Commerce. After the Clark administration, he served in various organizations related to the Delaware River Basin, culminating in the signing of the Delaware River Basin Compact by President Kennedy and the Governors of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. In 1964 he was a candidate for mayor in the primary. These interviews were conducted by Phillips’ daughter, Anna Sofaer.

2          Album 14          Phillips, Walter Massey, 1 interview cassette tape          June 7, 1975
2          Album 14          Phillips, Walter Massey, 1 interview cassette tape          June 9, 1975
2          Album 14          Phillips, Walter Massey, 1 interview cassette tape          April 1, 1976

Phillips, Walter M., died 2015

Walter M. Phillips, Jr., son of Walter Massey Phillips, was an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia from 1966 to 1968.  After working in New York City as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Narcotics Unit, he returned to Philadelphia to become Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania and Special Prosecutor for Official and Police Corruption from 1974 to 1976.

2          Album 14          Phillips, Walter M., 1 interview cassette tape          January 9, 1977
8          9          Phillips, Walter M., transcript          January 9, 1977
14          8          Phillips, Walter M., background information file          1977

Potts, Frederick A.

Frederick Potts joined the staff of the Philadelphia National Bank in the early 1940s and within a year and a half was elected Vice President.  He became President of the bank when he was 43 years old, the youngest bank president in the country at the time. While President of PNB, Potts joined with other Philadelphia business and civic leaders in the formation of the Greater Philadelphia Movement, organized to improve the business climate in Philadelphia and to work closely with City Hall for the general improvement of the area. Potts also was active in the formation of the Port Corporation of Philadelphia in 1967, and served as its President.

2          Album 14          Potts, Frederick A., 1 interview cassette tape          November 2, 1978
8          10          Potts, Frederick A., transcript          November 2, 1978
14          10          Potts, Frederic A., background information file          undated

Price, Phillip 

Phillip Price’s family has was involved in Philadelphia public affairs for generations.  In this interview Price talks about his ancestors and their interest in Fairmount Park, the development of the park, and the city-county consolidation of 1857. 

2          Album 15          Price, Phillip, 1 interview cassette tape          August 15, 1978
8          11          Price, Phillip, transcript          August 15, 1978
14          9          Price, Phillip, background information file          undated

Rafsky, William L.

William Rafsky served as Executive Secretary to Mayor Clark from 1952 to 1954, Housing Coordinator from 1954 to 1956, Director of the Redevelopment Authority from 1958 to 63, Executive Vice President of the Old Philadelphia Development Corporation from 1963 to 1971, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Movement from 1971to 1973 Executive Director of Philadelphia '76, Inc., and on the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

2          Album 15          Rafsky, William L., 1 interview cassette tape          November 10, 1976
8          12          Rafsky, William L., transcript          November 10, 1976

Randall, David V.

Dave Randall was a lawyer who served as Secretary to Governor George Leader from 1955 to 1958. In this interview he gives his insights into the politics of the Leader administration.

2          Album 15          Randall, David V., 2 interview cassette tapes          October 17, 1975
8          13          Randall, David V., transcript          October 17, 1975
14          11          Randall, David V., background information file          1975

Rauch, R. Stewart 

Stewart Rauch joined the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society in 1949, becoming president in 1955, and chairman in 1971.  Mr. Rauch was active in civic affairs and received the Philadelphia award, the city’s highest honor, in 1978.

2          Album 15          Rauch, R. Stewart, 1 interview cassette tape          undated
8          14          Rauch, R. Stewart, transcript          May 22, 1978
14          12          Rauch, R. Stewart, background information file          1978, 1979

Robin, John P., 1912-2000

John Robin held several posts in Pittsburgh, including Executive Secretary to Mayor David L. Lawrence, from 1946 to 1948.  He was appointed Secretary of Commerce of Pennsylvania by Governor George M. Leader in 1955, and also served as Executive Vice President of the Old Philadelphia Development Corporation from 1957 to 1963.

2          Album 15          Robin, John P., 2 interview cassette tapes          February 11, 1978
8          15          Robin, John P., transcript          February 11, 1978
14          13          Robin, John P., background information file          undated

Rock, Eli 

Eli Rock served as the labor relations consultant for the Clark and Dilworth administrations, from 1952 to 1962. In these two interviews Rock provides an in-depth account of the labor union activities in Philadelphia during the 1950s and early 1960s.

2          Album 15          Rock, Eli, 4 interview cassette tapes          June 14, 1975
2          Album 15          Rock, Eli, 1 interview cassette tape          June 23, 1977
8          16          Rock, Eli, transcript          June 14-18, 1975, undated
14          14          Rock, Eli, background information file          undated

Rosen, Abe S.

Abe Rosen was a newspaper reporter and public relations executive, and served as Philadelphia City Representative and Director of Commerce from 1966 to 1968.

2          Album 16          Rosen, Abe S., 2 interview cassette tapes          January 10, 1980
8          17          Rosen, Abe S., transcript          January 10, 1980
14          15          Rosen, Abe S., background information file          undated

Roser, Foster 

Foster Roser was Personnel Director for the City of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1974, serving under mayors Clark, Dilworth, Tate, and Rizzo. In lieu of a taped interview, Roser provided written answers to questions submitted to him by Walter Phillips.

8          18          Roser, Foster, transcript (answers to questions)          January 1976
14          16          Roser, Foster, background information file          1952-1972

Ross, William, 1899-

William Ross was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union for forty-three 43 years, and came to Philadelphia in 1952 to head the local ILGWU.  As a labor union official, he served on the Police Advisory Board and for many years served on the Philadelphia Board of Education. He became President of the Board of Education during the Rizzo administration.

2          Album 16          Ross, William, 1 interview cassette tape          May 20, 1980
2          Album 21          Ross, William, 1 interview cassette tape          May 20, 1980
8          19          Ross, William, transcript          May 20, 1980
14          17          Ross, William, background information file          undated

Rothman, Edwin 

Edwin Rothman was Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League (Eastern Division), a private organization which prepares in-depth reports and commentary on developments in local and state governments.  It works with local and state governments to seek to find ways to control expenditures and improve public administration.

3          Album 22          Rothman, Edwin, 1 interview cassette tape          February 14, 1977
8          20          Rothman, Edwin, transcript          February 15, 1977
14          18          Rothman, Edwin, background information file          1976

Rubel, Donald 

Donald Rubel served in City Council during the Clark administration, and was also active in the Committee of 70 and other civic agencies.

2          Album 16          Rubel, Donald, 1 interview cassette tape          June 25, 1979
8          21          Rubel, Donald, transcript          June 25, 1979
14          19          Rubel, Donald, background information file          1980

Sawyer, Henry W. 

Henry W. Sawyer III was a Philadelphia lawyer who served as president of the ACLU, Philadelphia Chapter, and as chairman of Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action. From 1955 to 1959 he was a Democratic Councilman-at-large in Philadelphia City Council. In this interview he describes the inner workings of Council and city politics.

2          Album 16          Sawyer, Henry W., 2 interview cassette tapes          October 19, 1976
8          22          Sawyer, Henry W., transcript          October 19, 1976
14          21          Sawyer, Henry W., background information file          undated

Saxe, Natalie 

Natalie Saxe volunteered in Mayor Dilworth’s 1947 campaign, and eventually became one of his closest advisors.  In these interviews, Saxe provides a detailed account of her memories of Dilworth.

2          Album 16          Saxe, Natalie, 1 interview cassette tape          August 14, 1974
2          Album 16          Saxe, Natalie, 1 interview cassette tape          September 18, 1974
2          Album 16          Saxe, Natalie, 1 interview cassette tape          January 15, 1975
2          Album 16          Saxe, Natalie, 1 interview cassette tape          January 23, 1975
2          Album 16          Saxe, Natalie, 1 interview cassette tape          February 20, 1975
8          23          Saxe, Natalie, transcript          July 23, July 30, August 1, August 14, September 18, 1974, January 15 1975
14          20          Saxe, Natalie, background information file          1977

Schauffler, Peter 

Peter Schauffler was an Assistant to Mayor Clark from1954-1955, Deputy Director of Commerce for Mayor Dilworth from 1956 to 1960, and Deputy Director of Commerce for the Port from 1960 to 1967.

2          Album 17          Schauffler, Peter, 1 interview cassette tape          May 3, 1976
9          1          Schauffler, Peter, transcript          May 3, 1976
14          22          Schauffler, Peter, background information file          undated

Schermer, George, 1910-1989

George Schermer was the Executive Director of Philadelphia’s Human Relations Commission from 1953 to1963.

2          Album 17          Schermer, George, 1 interview cassette tape          May 2, 1976
9          2          Schermer, George, transcript          May 2, 1976
14          23          Schermer, George, background information file          1959

Schneidman, Harold

Harold Schneidman was Chief of the Bureau of Public Information for the City of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1956. Previously, he had served as a staff director for the Greater Philadelphia Movement. In this interview he discusses his role in public relations during the Clark administration.

2          Album 17          Schneidman, Harold, 1 interview cassette tape          May 4, 1976
9          3          Schneidman, Harold, transcript          May 3, 1976
14          24          Schneidman, Harold, background information file          1973

Schwartz, George X.

A graduate of Temple University Law School, Schwartz was elected as a Democratic committeeman around 1940. In 1952 he was elected to the state legislature. In 1960, Schwartz was elected to the City Council, and became majority leader in 1962.  He became president of the Council in 1972.

2          Album 17          Schwartz, George X., 2 interview cassette tapes          September 18, 1979
9          4          Schwartz, George X., transcript          September 18, 1979
14          25          Schwartz, George X., background information file          1980

Scott, Hugh, 1900-1994

Hugh Scott began his law practice in Philadelphia in 1922.  He was Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia County, from 1926 to1941.  He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives, and served from 1941 to 1945 and 1947 to1959, and became a United States Senator, serving from 1958 to 1977. This interview was conducted by the United States Capitol Historical Society, and details Scott’s activities in and behalf of Philadelphia and at the federal level.

2          Album 21          Scott, Hugh, 1 interview cassette tape          June 5, 1980
9          5          Scott, Hugh, transcript          June 5, 1980
14          26          Scott, Hugh, background information file          undated

Shaltz, Simon 

Simon Shaltz was a newspaperman with The Record for several years.  He also worked with the Democratic City Committee on various publicity matters.

2          Album 17          Shaltz, Simon, 1 interview cassette tape          October 26, 1976
9          6          Shaltz, Simon, transcript          October 26, 1976
14          27          Shaltz, Simon, background information file          undated

Shapp, Milton J.

Milton Shapp was Governor of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979. Previously, Shapp had founded Jerrold Electronics Corporation, and later served as an advisor to the Peace Corps as well as consultant to the Secretary of Commerce under President Kennedy.

2          Album 17          Shapp, Milton J., 3 interview cassette tapes          April 19, 1979
2          Album 17          Shapp, Milton J., 1912-1994, 2 interview cassette tapes          May 1, 1979
9          7          Shapp, Milton J., transcript          April 19, 1979
15          1          Shapp, Milton J., background information file          undated

Sharfsin, Joseph 

Joseph Sharfsin served as assistant and legal advisor to Mayor Samuel Davis Wilson. Wilson named Sharfsin as his city solicitor, and Sharfsin was the architect of a plan to save the city from financial disaster by offering the city-owned gas works as collateral for a loan from the government-aided Reconstruction Finance Corp (RFC).

2          Album 17          Sharfsin, Joseph, 1 interview cassette tape          November 29, 1977
2          Album 19          Sharfsin, Joseph, 1 interview cassette tape          November 29, 1977
9          8          Sharfsin, Joseph, transcript          November 29, 1977
15          2          Sharfsin, Joseph, background information file          1980

Shestack, Jerome J.

Jerry Shestack was Deputy City Solicitor under Abe Freedman during the administration of Joseph Clark.  In that position he assisted with the codification of all the laws of the city of Philadelphia, a requirement of the new city charter of 1951. In this interview Shestack shares of his memories of Abe Freedman and William Schnader.

2          Album 19          Shestack, Jerome J., 1 interview cassette tape          January 16, 1979
9          9          Shestack, Jerome J., transcript          January 16, 1979
15          3          Shestack, Jerome J., background information file          1980

Shull, Leon 

Leon Shull joined the Philadelphia chapter of Americans for Democratic Action in the 1940s, became Executive Director of the Philadelphia chapter in 1951, and later served as National Director. He was also active in the political campaigns of Clark and Dilworth.

2          Album 19          Shull, Leon, 1 interview cassette tape          May 4, 1976
9          10          Shull, Leon, transcript          May 4, 1976
15          4          Shull, Leon, background information file          undated

Shusterman, Murray H.

Murray Shusterman served for eleven years on the City Solicitor’s staff, four years with Abe Freedman, six years with David Berger, and one year with Ed Bauer. He had previously worked with the Bureau of Municipal Research from 1936 to 1942.  He was active in the city charter movement of 1937 and was one of the authors of that city charter.

2          Album 19          Shusterman, Murray H., 2 interview cassette tapes          November 4, 1976
9          11          Shusterman, Murray H., transcript          November 4, 1976
15          5          Shusterman, Murray H., background information file          undated

Simpson, Charles G., 1905-

Charles G. Simpson was Vice President of the United Gas Improvement Corporation and General Manager of the Philadelphia Gas Works from 1925-1970. Simpson was also active in civic affairs and concerned with social issues.

2          Album 18          Simpson, Charles G., 1905-, 1 interview cassette tape          February 4, 1976
10          1          Simpson, Charles G., transcript          February 4, 1976
15          6          Simpson, Charles G., background information file          1973

Smith, Lawrence M. C. (Lawrence Meredith Clemson), 1902-1975

L. M. C. Smith (known as “Sam” or “Alphabet Smith”) was the founder of the classical music radio station WFLN.  He was a member of the Human Relations Commission and served as national treasurer and Philadelphia chapter president of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA).  He was chairman of the Board of Trade and Conventions in Philadelphia for eight years, and was a well-known conservationist who founded and funded the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center.

2          Album 18          Smith, Lawrence M. C. (Lawrence Meredith Clemson), 2 interview cassette tapes          April 25, 1975
10          2          Smith, Lawrence M. C. (Lawrence Meredith Clemson), transcript          April 25, 1975
15          7          Smith, Lawrence M. C. (Lawrence Meredith Clemson), background information file          1975

Sofaer, Anna B.

Anna B. Sofaer is the daughter of Walter Massey Phillips.

10          3          Sofaer, Anna B., transcript          April 1976, April 1975, October 18, 1975, August 13, 1975

Specter, Arlen 

Arlen Specter was elected District Attorney of Philadelphia in 1965. In 1967, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor against James Tate. He was elected United States Senator in 1980, and served for thirty years.

2          Album 18          Specter, Arlen, 1 interview cassette tape          November 6, 1978
10          4          Specter, Arlen, transcript          August 10, 1977, November 6, 1978
15          8          Specter, Arlen, background information file          1977

Stratos, Joseph 

Joe Stratos was a Philadelphia lawyer and close friend of Richardson Dilworth.  He was active in Dilworth’s political campaigns and after Dilworth was mayor, Stratos worked in the City Solicitor's office.  He also served as the liaison between Dilworth’s administration and Bill Green, Sr., the head of the Democratic City Committee.

2          Album 18          Stratos, Joseph, 1 interview cassette tape          January 24, 1979
10          5          Stratos, Joseph, transcript          January 24, 1979
15          9          Stratos, Joseph, background information file          undated

Straus, J. Pennington 

J. Pennington Straus was a lawyer with the Philadelphia firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal, and Lewis.  He was interviewed about his memories of William Schnader, who was State Attorney General in the administrations of Governors Fisher and Pinchot, author of the State Administration Code, and Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1934.

2          Album 18          Straus, J. Pennington, 1 interview cassette tape          October 23, 1978
10          6          Straus, J. Pennington, transcript          October 23, 1978
15          10          Straus, J. Pennington, background information file          1978

Strawbridge, G. Stockton (George Stockton), 1913-1997

Stockton Strawbridge was President of Strawbridge & Clothier.  He was a member of various boards and commissions, including the Old Philadelphia Development Corporation.  In this interview he discusses his business, civic activities, and the Market Street East project.

2          Album 18          Strawbridge, G. Stockton (George Stockton), 1 interview cassette tape          July 17, 1978
10          7          Strawbridge, G. Stockton (George Stockton), transcript          July 17, 1978
15          11          Strawbridge, G. Stockton (George Stockton), background information file          1977

Sunstein, Emily 

Emily Sunstein was active in organization for the reform of Democratic politics, both in Montgomery County as a committeeman, and within the city.  She was also an active Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) member.

3          Album 22          Sunstein, Emily          3 interview tapes          May 8, 1980
10          8          Sunstein, Emily, transcript          May 8, 1980
15          12          Sunstein, Emily, background information file          undated

Sweeney, Stephen B. (Stephen Binnington)

A professor of insurance at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Stephen Sweeney also worked in the state government on reforms in the workers compensation field during the 1930s under Governor Pinchot.  He later be­came Executive Director of the Fels Institute for Local and State Government, the early foundation of which is discussed in this interview.

2          Album 110          Sweeney, Stephen B. (Stephen Binnington), 1 interview cassette tape          August 16, 1974
2          Album 110          Sweeney, Stephen B. (Stephen Binnington), 1 interview cassette tape          September 26, 1974
10          9          Sweeney, Stephen B. (Stephen Binnington), transcript          August 16, 1974, September 26, 1974
15          13          Sweeney, Stephen B. (Stephen Binnington), background information file          1973

Tate, James H. J. (James Hugh Joseph), 1910-

James Tate was member of City Council from 1952 to1962.  He was President of City Council from 1954, and became Mayor of Philadelphia when Richardson Dilworth resigned to run for Governor in 1962. He served until 1972. Tate requested that his interviews not be tape recorded.  After each interview notes from the interview were written and submitted to Tate for his approval.  He revised the notes for use as his oral history.

10          10          Tate, James H. J. (James Hugh Joseph), 1910-, transcript          October 13, 1976, November 9, 1976, October 13, 1976, December 1, 1976,
15          14          Tate, James H. J. (James Hugh Joseph, background information file          1972-1976

Tate, Mercer D.

Mercer Tate was a lawyer and a Democratic leader of the Ninth Ward.  He became a ward leader in 1974, and served on the Democratic City Committee. He was a member of the Police Advisory Board from 1961 to1969, and its chairman from 1965 to 1969.  He was also a member and longtime President of the Fellowship Commission.

3          Album 22          Tate, Mercer D., 2 interview cassette tapes          May 7, 1980
10          11          Tate, Mercer D., transcript          May 7, 1980
15          15          Tate, Mercer D, background information file          1980

Taylor, Robert E. Lee 

Robert Taylor began working at the Philadelphia Bulletin while he was a student at Princeton. With the exception of four years in the Navy during World War II, he was associated with the Bulletin until 1975.  His uncle, Robert McLean, had taken over from the elder William McLean, and in the first ten years of his ownership, the Bulletin rose from thirteen in circulation out of thirteen Philadelphia newspapers to first. He later became assistant to the business manager, and thereafter, treasurer and business manager and general manager.  In 1958, Robert McLean named Taylor president, and in 1963, publisher.

10          12          Taylor, Robert E. Lee, transcript          October 29, 1979
15          16          Taylor, Robert E. Lee, background information file          undated

Temin, Annette 

Annette Temin was the founder of the Citizens’ Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia and served as President and Executive Director.  She started a volunteer program in the public schools, and worked to develop a program to teach students about child development. She was awarded the John Patterson Award in 1977.

3          Album 22          Temin, Annette, 2 interview cassette tapes          April 16, 1980
10          13          Temin, Annette, transcript          April 16, 1980
15          17          Temin, Annette, background information file          undated

Toohey, Edward 

Edward Toohey was a labor leader in Philadelphia.  He began in 1925 as an official of the Plasterer’s Union, served in various posts in the labor movement, and was President of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council from 1965 to1992.  

2          Album 110          Toohey, Edward, 1 interview cassette tape          January 17, 1979
10          14          Toohey, Edward, transcript          January 17, 1979
15          18          Toohey, Edward, background information file          undated

Van Dusen, Francis L.

A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, Francis Van Dusen was appointed Judge of the U. S. District Court by President Eisenhower in 1954. While in the law firm of Dechert, Smith and Clark, Van Dusen was also a Republican committeeman in Wynnewood.  In 1967 he gained a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and achieved senior status in 1977.

3          Album 22          Van Dusen, Francis L., 1 interview cassette tape          March 10, 1980
3          25          Van Dusen, Francis L., 1 interview cassette tape          March 10, 1980
10          16          Van Dusen, Francis L., transcript          March 10, 1980
15          19          Van Dusen, Francis L., background information file          1954

Van Dusen, Lewis H.

Lewis H. Van Dusen was a lawyer at Drinker, Biddle & Reath, a lieutenant colonel in the army, and assistant deputy to the U.S. representative to NATO. He was on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Movement and the Academy of Natural Sciences; a trustee of Princeton University and Episcopal Academy; and a member of the American Philosophical Society. He served as chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association; special counsel for SEPTA; president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association; and on the standing committees on professional ethics of the American Bar Association and of the Philadelphia County Board of Law Examiners.

3          Album 24          Van Dusen, Lewis H., 2 interview cassette tapes          July 2, 1980
10          15          Van Dusen, Lewis H., transcript          July 2, 1980
15          20          Van Dusen, Lewis H., background information file          1979-1980

Von Moschzisker, Michael 

Michael von Moschzisker was a lawyer and close friend of Richardson Dilworth.  He served as Dilworth’s First Assistant District Attorney from 1952 to 1954.  He was appointed chairman of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, serving from 1956 to -1962.  In this interview he discusses the district attorney’s office under Dilworth as well as issues within the Redevelopment Authority.

3          Album 23          Von Moschzisker, Michael, 1 interview cassette tape          November 3, 1975
10          17          Von Moschzisker, Michael, transcript          November 3, 1975
15          21          Von Moschzisker, Michael, background information file          1962, 1976

Wachman, Marvin 

Marvin Wachman was president of Temple University from 1973 to 1983.  He had previously served as Vice-President for academic affairs and professor of history at Temple for more than three years.  Prior to that he had been president of Lincoln University. Wachman was associated with the Thomas Jefferson University board of directors, Urban Coalition, Greater Philadelphia Movement, Philadelphia Orchestra, the Academy of Music board, Philadelphia Award, Philadelphia Saving Fund, Society board, Bell Telephone board, the board of the Philadelphia Contributionship, and the Bicentennial celebration.

2          Album 110          Wachman, Marvin, 2 interview cassette tapes          February 24, 1979
10          18          Wachman, Marvin, 1917-2007, transcript          February 24, 1979
15          22          Wachman, Marvin, background information file          undated

Walther, Frank O.

Frank Walther was an attorney in Haverford, Pennsylvania. In his interview he recalls the organization of the City Planning Commission in Philadelphia.

2          Album 110          Walther, Frank O., 1 interview cassette tape          January 9, 1979
10          19          Walther, Frank O., transcript          January 9, 1979
15          23          Walther, Frank O., background information file          1963

Weintraub, Tina V.

Tina Weintraub was Deputy Managing Director, City of Philadelphia, from 1952 to 1971.  Ten service departments were supervised by the Managing Director's office: police, fire, streets, water, health, public property, welfare, licenses and inspections, recreation, and records.
From 1971 to 1976, she was Executive Director of Philadelphia General Hospital.

3          Album 22          Weintraub, Tina V., 1 interview cassette tape          August 4, 1976
10          20          Weintraub, Tina V., transcript          August 4, 1976
15          24          Weintraub, Tina V., background information file          1976

Wetherill, Elkins 

Elkins Wetherill was first full-time President of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, serving from 1965 to 1981. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia. He was chairman of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission after having served as president of the Montgomery County Commissioners and as Montgomery County Treasurer. He entered state government in William Scranton’s administration as chairman of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission. In this interview, Wetherill describes the establishment of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC).

2          Album 110          Wetherill, Elkins, 1 interview cassette tape          January 15, 1979
10          21          Wetherill, Elkins, transcript          January 15, 1979
15          25          Wetherill, Elkins, background information file          undated

Whaley, Randall M.

Randall Whaley was President of the University City Science Center from 1970 to 1985, an urban research park owned jointly by its member institutions: twenty-nine universities, colleges, medical schools, and hospitals. 

2          Album 110          Whaley, Randall M., 2 interview cassette tapes          February 5, 1977
10          22          Whaley, Randall M., transcript          February 5, 1977
15          26          Whaley, Randall M., background information file          1975-1977

Whitall, W. Brinton 

Brinton “Buzz” Whitall came to Philadelphia in 1955 and worked with Walter Phillips to organize the Delaware River Basin Advisory Committee.  He later served as secretary of the commission.

2          Album 110          Whitall, W. Brinton, 2 interview cassette tapes          October 2, 1978
10          23          Whitall, W. Brinton, transcript          October 2, 1978
15          28          Whitall, W. Brinton, background information file          undated

Wilhelm, Paul A.

Paul Wilhelm was an architect and planner who worked as an Assistant Director for Industrial Land Development, Philadelphia Department of Commerce from 1955 to 1958.  He also served as Development Director of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation from 1958 to1961.

2          Album 20          Wilhelm, Paul A., 1 interview cassette tape          August 12, 1976
10          24          Wilhelm, Paul A., transcript          August 12, 1976
15          29          Wilhelm, Paul A., background information file          undated

Winnet, Nochem S.

Nochem Winnet was born in Russia in 1898 and came to the United States in 1905.  He attended school in Wilkes-Barre and received a Bachelor’s Degree and law degree from Harvard. In Philadelphia worked as a lawyer until Governor Arthur H. James appointed him to the Municipal Court of Philadelphia in 1940.  He was a founding member of the Crime Prevention Association of Philadelphia and served as its president from 1940 to 1960. Winnet chaired the Fair Rent Committee of the Philadelphia Defense Council from 1941 to 1942, co-chaired the Citizens Charter Committee in 1951, was president of the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia from 1962 to 1965 and the Samuel S. Fels Fun for nearly thirty years. Winnet was also active in the National Council of the American Joint Distribution Committee, Junior Achievement of Delaware Valley, Juvenile Aid Society, Committee of Seventy, Greater Philadelphia Movement and the Jewish Exponent. Winnet served as a trustee of the United Way, the University of Pennsylvania, and Beaver College, of which he was chair in 1976.

10          25          Winnet, Nochem S., 1898-1990, transcript          undated
15          27          Winnet, Nochem S., background information file          undated

Wise, Randolph E.

Randolph Wise was Commissioner of Welfare of the City of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1972. He also served as Executive Administrator of Professional Services for the Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

2          Album 20          Wise, Randolph E., 2 interview cassette tapes          January 12, 1978
10          26          Wise, Randolph E., transcript          January 12, 1978
15          30          Wise, Randolph E., background information file          undated

Wolf, Elias 

Elias Wolf was a Philadelphia businessman who retired at the age of 58 to devote himself to involvement in civic activities. In his interview he describes his earliest memories of Philadelphia, particularly in terms of civic and cultural activities.  He describes his memories of the changes that occurred in the city as a result of the Clark and Dilworth administrations.

2          Album 20          Wolf, Elias, 1 interview cassette tape          June 18, 1979
10          27          Wolf, Elias, transcript          June 18, 1979
15          31          Wolf, Elias, background information file          undated

Wolfgang, Marvin E. (Marvin Eugene), 1924-1998

Marvin Wolfgang was a professor of sociology and law and Director of the Center for Studies in Criminology and Criminal Law at the University of Pennsylvania. In his interview he describes the sociological factors that lead to crime in the city, and offers his views of the police department and prison system.

2          Album 20          Wolfgang, Marvin E. (Marvin Eugene), 2 interview cassette tapes          February 27, 1979
10          28          Wolfgang, Marvin E. (Marvin Eugene), transcript          February 27, 1979
15          32          Wolfgang, Marvin E. (Marvin Eugene), background information file          1978, 1980

Ylvisaker, Paul N.

In 1952, while Paul Ylvisaker was teaching government and economics at Swarthmore College, Mayor Clark hired him to assist with budgetary matters and speech writing. Ylvisaker also worked at the Ford Foundation, headed President Lyndon B. Johnson's Task Force on Cities and helped forge his model-cities program, served as New Jersey's first state Commissioner of Community Affairs, and also as Dean of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

2          Album 20          Ylvisaker, Paul N., 2 interview cassette tapes          November 14, 1977
10          29          Ylvisaker, Paul N., transcript          November 14, 1977
15          33          Ylvisaker, Paul N., background information file          undated

Young, Andrew B.

Andrew Young was president of the Chamber of Commerce when the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) was formed in 1958. In his interview he details the various attitudes towards PIDC from the different administrations in City Hall, how the industrial community has changed in Philadelphia, and the major aspects of the city’s economy.

2          Album 20          Young, Andrew B., 2 interview cassette tapes          October 12, 1978
10          30          Young, Andrew B., transcript          October 12, 1978
15          34          Young, Andrew B., background information file          undated

Zecca, Anthony 

From 1958 to 1960, Anthony Zecca was Public Information Chief in the Dilworth administration.  When Dilworth resigned and Tate became mayor, Zecca became Press Secretary.  He was Deputy Mayor throughout the Rizzo administration.

2          Album 20          Zecca, Anthony, 2 interview cassette tapes          February 13, 1979
10          31          Zecca, Anthony, transcript          March 6, 1980, February 13, 1979
15          35          Zecca, Anthony, background information file          undated

Zucker, William 

William Zucker was a professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Associate Director of the Entrepreneurial Center at Wharton. Zucker was involved in research regarding minority entrepreneurship in Pennsylvania. He served as President of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Economic Development Companies (SPECDO), which involved an integrated group of four companies, including the Development Fund, Development Corporation, SPDF Realty Corp., and the Job Loan Corp.

2          Album 21          Zucker, William, 2 interview cassette tapes          May 15, 1979
10          32          Zucker, William, transcript          May 15, 1979
15          36          Zucker, William, background information file          undated