Collection Summary

 

Nessa Forman Papers

 

1964-2009

 

SCRC 254

 

Forman, Nessa, 1943-2011

 

7.15 linear feet (12 boxes)

 

Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

 

Materials in English.

 

Detailed Collection Information

 

Nessa Forman, born in Atlantic City, N. J., and received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at University of Pennsylvania, in English and Art History, respectively. By 1970, she started at The Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia, Pa.,as a copy editor and worked there until it closed in 1982, when Nessa was the Arts and Leisure Editor.  By 1983, she landed a job at WHYY, Philadelphia’s public media station, as director of communications, and soon became editor of the monthly magazine Applause.  During her long career at WHYY, she helped advance multiple promotional campaigns for Home Time, Liberty Kids, and others.  By the time she resigned in 2007, she was Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at WHYY.  

 

The papers of this prominent Philadelphia editor primarily consists of correspondence and photographs during her time at WHYY with a large collection of her own articles, primarily for The Evening Bulletin, and a few from The Daily Pennsylvanian.   

 

The collection is arranged into 7 series as follows:

 

Series 1: Correspondence, 1966-2009

Series 2: Photographs, 1968-2007

Series 3: Education/Professional, 1968-1997

Series 4: Publications, 1968-1985

Series 5: Artwork, 1968-2007

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1964-2007

Series 7: Objects, 1980, undated

 

Series 1 contains primarily correspondence between Nessa Forman and the public, through ‘Letters to the Editor.’ There is also correspondence with friends and family. It is arranged chronologically. 

 

Series 2 contains photos from various WHYY events and personal photographs.  It is arranged chronologically. 

 

Series 3 contains materials from different times during her education including her master’s thesis from University of Pennsylvania.

 

Series 4 contains primarily newspaper clippings of articles written by Nessa Forman between the years 1968-1985. She started with the Atlantic City Press in 1968 and left The Evening Bulletin around the time it went out of business in 1982.  It also includes a few articles written about Forman, and some published keepsakes and ephemera.  It is arranged chronologically.

 

Series 5 contains original artwork given to Forman by various artists, some related to stories she was working on.

 

Series 6 contains multiple scrapbooks of newspaper articles written by Forman.

 

Series 7 contains metal engravings from Nessa’s headshot and from an unidentified story on mansions and two political stuffed animals.

Patron Information

A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991037731609803811

 

Collection is open for research.

 

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.

 

The Nessa Forman Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The donor assigned her rights to Temple University Libraries.  Other creators’ intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated. 

 

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Nessa Forman Papers, SCRC 254, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Administrative Information

Donated by Nessa Forman, September 2009.

 

WHYY publications not specific to Forman’s work were removed and cataloged separately.  WHYY premiums and other materials were also removed. 

 

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in September 2020 by Holly Beth Wilson, Part-time Processing Archivist.  The creation of this finding aid was made possible through generous funding from the Nessa Forman Fund, Philadelphia  Foundation.

Index Terms

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

 

Personal/Family Names:

Forman, Nessa

 

Corporate Names:

Evening bulletin (Philadelphia, Pa.)

WHYY (Radio station: Philadelphia, Pa.)

WHYY (Television station: Philadelphia, Pa.)

 

Subjects:

Public broadcasting – Pennsylvania – Philadelphia

Public radio – Pennsylvania – Philadelphia

Public television – Pennsylvania – Philadelphia

 

Places:

Philadelphia (Pa.)

 

Material Types:

Clippings.

Correspondence.  

Diplomas.

Directories.

Drawings.

Ephemera.

Negatives.

Newsletters.

Objects.

Pamphlets.

Photographs.

Publications.

Scrapbooks.

Slides.

Souvenir programs.

Yearbooks.

Inventory

Correspondence contains primarily correspondence between Nessa Forman and the public, through ‘Letters to the Editor.’ There is also correspondence with friends and family. It is arranged chronologically.

 

1          1          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor’          1971-1973

1          2          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor’          1974

1          3          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor’          1975

1          4          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor,’ folder 1          1976

1          5          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor,’ folder 2          1976

1          6          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor,’ folder 1          1977

1          7          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor,’ folder 2          1977

1          8          Correspondence, ‘Letter to the Editor’          1978

1          9          Correspondence, personal          1966-1967

1          10          Correspondence, personal          1970-1974

1          11          Correspondence, personal          1975-1976

1          12          Correspondence, personal          1977-1979

1          13          Correspondence, personal          2001-2009

1          14          Correspondence, personal, Charles Lee          1971-1977

1          15          Correspondence, personal, Thank you notes to Nessa on her retirement          circa 2000

1          16          Correspondence, personal          undated

1          17          Correspondence, personal/business emails          1999-2007

Photographs contains photos from various WHYY events and personal photographs.  It is arranged chronologically.

 

1          18          Photographs, ‘On Assignment’          1968-1977

2          19          Photographs, ‘On Assignment’ photo album          1969-1972

1          20          Photographs, WHYY Events at the Philadelphia Art Museum          1968-1980

1          21          Photographs, WHYY events          1976-1989

1          22          Photographs, WHYY events          1990-2007

1          23          Photographs, WHYY events, photo album          1983-1991

1          24          Photographs, WHYY events, photo album “A”          circa 2000 – 2002

1          25          Photographs, WHYY events, photo album “B”          circa 2000 – 2002

1          26          Photographs, WHYY events, photo album “Ritz Camera Notebook”          circa 2000

1          27          Photographs, head shots          circa 1985

1          28          Photographs, personal          1974 – circa 1985

9          1          Photographs, oversize, photograph of various Philadelphia Liberty Bell items          1976          

Education/Professional contains materials from different times during her education including her master’s thesis from University of Pennsylvania.          

 

1          29          Education, Atlantic City High School, reunion booklets          1986; 1996

1          30          Education, University of Pennsylvania, programs, directories, reunion booklets          1990-1997

1          31          Education, University of Pennsylvania, Master’s thesis, notes          1968

1          32          Education, University of Pennsylvania, Master’s thesis, final draft          1968

2          1          Education, University of Pennsylvania, Master’s Degree Diploma          May 1968

2          2          Professional, job descriptions          1984-1997

2          3          Professional, press passes, business cards          1975-2008

2          4          Professional, awards, color photocopies of awards          1985-2007

Publications contains primarily newspaper clippings of articles written by Nessa Forman between the years 1968-1985. She started with the Atlantic City Press in 1968 and left The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin around the time it went out of business in 1982.  It also includes a few articles written about Forman, and some published keepsakes and ephemera.  It is arranged chronologically.

 

2          5          Keepsakes, pamphlets, ephemera          1967-1980

2          6          Clippings written about Nessa Forman          2002-2005

6          1          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          April 23, 1963

6          2          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          September 16, 1963

6          3          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          October 15-28, 1963

6          4          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          November 19, 1963

6          5          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          April 28, 1964

6          6          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, American Eagle          April 1, 1964

6          7          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          July 19, 1964

6          8          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          September 15-18, 1964

6          9          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          October 12-30, 1964

6          10          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          November 16, 1964

6          11          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          February 24, 1965

6          12          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Daily Pennsylvanian          March 3-5, 1965

7          1          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          March-June, 1968

7          2          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          September 13, 1973

7          3          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1975

7          4          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1975

7          5          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1975

7          6          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 1975

7          7          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1976

7          8          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1976

7          9          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1976

7          10          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 1976

7          11          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1977

7          12          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1977

7          13          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1977

7          14          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 1977

8          1          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1978

8          2          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1978

8          3          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1978

8          4          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 1978

8          5          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1979

8          5          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1979

8          6          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1979

8          7          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 197

8          8          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1980

8          9          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1980

8          10          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1980

8          11          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 1980

8          12          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January-March, 1981

8          13          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          April-June, 1981

8          14          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          July-September, 1981

8          15          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          October-December, 1981

8          16          Clippings written by Nessa Forman, The Evening Bulletin          January, 1982

Artwork contains original artwork give to Forman by various artists, some related to stories she was working on

 

2          7          Bolles (sp?)          undated

2          8          Bordin, Charles          1986-1988

2          9          Guberman, Sidney T.          1970

2          10          Lang, J.T.          1976

2          11          Mangione, Patricia          1972

2          12          Miller, Gerry          undated

2          13          Sherikel (sp?)          1971

2          14          Sorgini, Antonio          undated

2          15          Stange, Woody          1979

2          16          Wasserman, Burton          1970-1982

2          17          Unidentified          1972; undated

2          18          Photographs, negatives of artwork          1967-1984

2          19          Drawings of the Pigeon from the Leisure section of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin          undated

2          20          Color studies for Franklin Institute article illustration          1975

2          21          Hand colored sketches for proposed mural          undated

9          2          Booraem, Elizabeth Vacher          1962

9          3          Gliewe, Unada G.          undated

9          4          Lazorko, Anthony          1962

9          5          Schlegel, Ralph          undated

9          6          Wanamaker, John, ad art          1977

9          7          Yarling, Caryn          2000

9          8          Claude Lovat Fraser poster of “The Beggar’s Opera”          1920

9          9          John Sloan and His Friends poster, Delaware Art Museum          circa 1978

9          10          Sovak Graphics Retrospective, Print Club, poster, signed by Pravoslav Sovak          February 1970

9          11          Hayley Lever poster, Delaware Art Museum          1978

9          12          Unidentified          1985, undated

 

Series 6 contains multiple scrapbooks of newspaper articles written by Forman.

 

3          1          Atlantic City Press, scrapbook          1964-1967

3          2          Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook          1968- November 12, 1972

4          1          Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook          November 19, 1972- September 8, 1975

4          2          Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook          October 12, 1975- October 6, 1978

5          1          Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, scrapbook          October 8, 1978- June 27, 1985

 

Series 7 contains metal engravings from Nessa’s headshot and from an unidentified story on mansions and two political stuffed animals.

 

10          1          Metal engraving of Nessa’s headshot for business cards, etc.          circa 1980

11          1          Metal engraving of a mansion for unidentified story          undated

12          1          “I’m Your Repiglican” stuffed animal ‘pig’          1992

12          2          “I’m Your Demoquack” stuffed animal ‘duck’          1992

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