Title
Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks Records, 1931-2006

Dates
1931-2006     

Collection ID
SCRC 312

Creator
Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks

Quantity
80 linear feet (83 boxes)

Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Language
Materials in English.  

Historical Note
Frances Ann Wister founded the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks (Landmarks) in 1931 to save the Samuel Powel House, an eighteenth century Georgian residence in Philadelphia’s Old City that was in danger of demolition. Since then, Landmarks played an active role in the preservation of numerous historic structures in Philadelphia, including the Old Franklin Institute, United States Customs House, and Elfreth’s Alley. It has also worked to cultivate both public and government interest in historic preservation generally. Between 1940 and 1980, Landmarks acquired three additional historic houses in Philadelphia and Chester County, which it has worked to restore, interpret and manage as house museums: Grumblethorpe in Germantown, the Hill-Physick House in Society Hill, and Waynesborough, in Chester County. In the 1990s, Landmarks also coordinated an Elderhostel touring program (currently known as Road Scholar).
           
Description of Collection
The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks Records contains a variety of administrative records dating from its founding in 1931 to 2017. More specifically, there are board minutes and committee records; annual meetings; annual reports; documentation of general site management and collection management, including CAP (Conservation Assessment Program), MAP (Museum Assessment Program) and other reports; long range planning; capital projects; and membership records. There are numerous financial records for Landmarks generally, as well as its Elderhostel tourism program. The collection also includes records more specifically dealing with the history of each of its four house museums, their site management, restoration, and interpretation.

This collection includes preserved versions of the organization’s website, available through Archive-It.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is arranged into 5 series as follows:

Series 1. General administrative records, 1947-2006
Series 2. Financial records, 1931-1998
Series 3. Elderhostel records, 1992-2000
Series 4. Building records, 1932-circa 2000
Series 5. Website versions in Archive-It, 2002-2017

Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991036903708003811

Research Access
Collection is open for research. Glass negatives in box 60 are restricted due to preservation concerns. Personnel records in box 28 are restricted for 50 years from date of creation.

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.

Accruals
Additions to this collection are expected. Websites are captured using Archive-It periodically, and the latest additions may not yet be included in this finding aid. For information on material–physical and digital, including captured websites–that may have been added since the last finding aid update, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.

Publication and Copyright Information
The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks Records is the in custody of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong 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], Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, SCRC 312, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Acquisition Information
Placed on deposit by the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks via Jonathan Burton, Executive Director in October 2016.

Processing Information
Collection has been arranged at series level; boxes within each series are in original order.
All original boxes have been replaced; only folders in poor condition have been replaced. Collection is listed at box level. Finding aid prepared in November 2017 by Courtney Smerz, Collections Management Archivist.
           

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

Personal/Family Names:
Wister, Frances Ann, 1874-1956

Subjects:
Historic preservation
Historic house museums
Tourism
Elderhostel, Inc.

Places:
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Easttown (Pa.: Township)
Chester County (Pa.)

Material Types:
Administrative records
Architectural drawings
Born digital
Clippings
Correspondence
Ephemera
Financial records
Floppy disks
Glass negatives
Histories
Landscape architecture drawings
Ledgers (account books)
Mailing lists
Membership lists
Minutes
Negatives
Newsletters
Pamphlets
Photocopies
Photographs
Press releases
Publications
Reports
Slides
Web sites

1          Board records. Minutes          1990-2000
2          Board records, including history of board          1960s-1990s
2          Annual meetings          1990s
2          Annual reports          1990s
16          General administration. Assorted records, arranged chronologically          1947-1989
17          General administration. Assorted records, arranged chronologically, including strategic plan, long range plan, by-laws, house committee          1987-2003
17          General administration. Collection management records, including Collection and Building Management Policy (1992), Needs Assessment report (2002), General Conservation Survey (1989), Heritage Investment Program Assessment (2002), Collections policy (2002)          1989, 1992, 2002
18          General administration. Collection management records: Collections Committee, Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) (1997), Museum Assessment Program (MAP) (1998, 2000), National Trust for Historic Preservation Comprehensive Historical Assistance Program for Historic House Museums Final Report (undated), collection survey (1990)          1990-2000
18          General administration. Newsletter          circa 1988-2001
19          General administration. Young Members, events          1997
19          General administration. Assorted records, including membership, general correspondence, development, payroll, and personnel          1980s-1990s
20 to 23          General administration. Events, including annual meetings, galas, young members, fundraising, filming and screening film about George Washington          1960s-1990s
24          General administration. Friends of Powel House, Friends of Landmarks          1970s-1980s
25          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], including public relations, membership, collection committee, especially objects on loan from other institutions          1989-1993, bulk: 1990-1991
26          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], including development, membership, and annual giving, Elderhostel, site manager records, fundraising, especially regarding “Swenson's” consultancy          1989-1993, bulk: 1990-1991
27          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], including board records, budget,  finance, and membership committees, development, marketing, and tourism          1989-1993, bulk: 1990-1991
28          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], including long range planning, board, property and program committees, capital projects, and a site management study          1989-1993, bulk: 1990-1991
28          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], personnel records (RESTRICTED)          circa 1989-1993
29          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], "chronological file"          1989-1991
29          General Administration. [Margo Burnette Records, Executive Director], Patricia M. Nova, Executive Assistant, correspondence          1989-1991
30 to 33          General Administration. [Michael Lane Records, Executive Director], including site management, committees, financial records, especially grants, annual meeting, capital projects, interpretation, by-laws, strategic plan, and conservation assessment program (CAP)          circa 1990-2000
34          General administration. Assorted records, including site rental records, conservation, site manager reports, all especially relating to the Hill-Physick-Keith House          circa 2000-2010
82          "Memorabilia," assorted clippings, printed materials, calendar pages, photographs, and other records          1987-1988
82          Wall paper design proof, plans for repairs at Grumblethorpe and plans for garden restoration at Powel House          2003-2006

3          Financial records. Audit reports          1958-1997
3          Financial records. Tax returns; 990s; bureau of charitable organizations          1970s-1990s
4          Financial records. Cash receipts and disbursements          1935-1945
4          Financial records. General ledger          1954-1986
4          Financial records. Treasurer's reports and other records          1931-1991
4          Financial records. Bills, receipts, invoices          1931-1979
5 and 6          Financial records. General journal          1988-1996
5 and 6          Financial records. Reports          1995-1996
7          Financial records. Assorted, including finance committee (1982-1991)          1932-1994
8          Financial records. Payroll, taxes, audit, membership          1959-1982 (bulk: 1970s)
9          Financial records. Grants, budget, funds (capital and other), annual giving, corporate membership          1970s-1980s
10          Financial records. Payroll, office expenses         
10          Financial records. General journal          1992, 1996-1998
10          Financial records. Budgets          1997-1998
10          Financial records. Assorted, including capital plan and 990s          1990-1997
11          Financial records. Bank statements          1993, 1997, 1987-1989
11          Financial records. Bills, receipts, invoices          1993
11          Financial records. Investments(?)          1985
11          Financial records. Events          1996
12          Financial records. Assorted, including budgets, annual giving, audits, bank statements, treasurer's reports, catering contracts          1989-1992
13 and 14          Financial records. Bills, receipts, invoices          1996-1997
15          Financial records. Insurance, appraisals          1980s-1990s
80          Financial records. General ledger          1980-1986
81          Financial records. Grumblethorpe (ledger)          1960s
83          Financial records. General ledgers and cash disbursements          1977-1978, 1982-1986

35          Elderhostel          1992
36          Elderhostel          1993-1996
37          Elderhostel          1996-1997
38          Elderhostel          1997-2000

75          Powel House. Early legal/financial papers and articles          1931-1940s         
76          Powel House. Sales and research for Philadelphia Georgian: The City House of Samuel Powel…, by George Tatum           
77          Powel House. Subject files. Appliances-Construction (mostly photocopies)          1930s-1960s         
78          Powel House. Subject files. Curators-Floors (mostly photocopies)          1930s-1960s
79          Powel House. Subject files. Ironwork-Pest Control (mostly photocopies)          1930s-1960s
39          Powel House. Assorted records, including Ladies Committee minutes and other records, gift shop, Historical Assistance Program (National Trust for Historic Preservation) (1986), original map of systems and building manual, site report          1940s-1990s
40          Powel House. Assorted records, including House Committee, admissions, and guide schedules          1987-1988
40          Powel House. Assorted records, including grant records, events, publicity          1990s
40          Powel House. Assorted records, including curator's reports, programming notes          1980-1981, 2006
41          Powel House. Assorted records, including financial, site rental, Ladies Committee, and other          1970s-1980s
42 and 43          Powel House. Financial records, mostly bills, receipts and invoices for utilities, house improvements and maintenance, and preservation          circa 1980-2000
43          Powel House. Reference materials         
63          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Purchase and Registration          1960s-1970s
64          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Subject files. Archaeological tests-Garden          1960s-1970s         
65          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Subject files. Household supplies-Window cleaning          1960s-1970s     
44          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Ladies, Restoration and Preservation Committees, House manual (1989), and other records          1960s-2000s
45 and 46          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Assorted reports regarding documentation and interpretation, including site manager reports, "resource notebook" with collection list (1988), furnishings plan (1988) and paint research reports (1995), publicity, brochures, and photographs          1960s-1990s
47          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Assorted records, including promotional materials, guiding and guides, and calendars          1990-2000
47 and 48          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Reinterpretation, Dr. Physick's office          1990s
48          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Assorted records, marketing and promotion, fundraising, events, and other records          1990s
49          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Financial records, mostly bills, receipts and invoices for utilities, house improvements and maintenance, and preservation; site rental records          1970s-1980s
50          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Financial records, mostly bills, receipts and invoices for utilities, house improvements and maintenance, and preservation          1980s-1990s
51          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Site rental records, research and reference materials          1980s-1990s
52          Hill-Physick-Keith House. Research and reference materials         
81          Hill-Physick-Keith. Visitor logs          1967-1976
53          Waynesborough. Acquisition of property, house committee minutes, site manager reports, plans and elevations, systems, "Architectural History and Management Plan", CHAP, and carriage house project          1979-1993
54          Waynesborough. Assorted records, including Carriage House project, grants, property management, financial, and house manual (1989)          circa 1989-1990
55 and 56          Waynesborough. Financial records, mostly bills, receipts and invoices for utilities, house improvements and maintenance, and preservation          1980s-1990s
66          Grumblethorpe. Early records, including Purchase Fund Committee, legal papers, and Redevelopment Authority (mostly photocopies)          circa 1938-1959         
67          Grumblethorpe. Early records, including property acquisition, mortgage, and other legal papers          1930s-1940s         
68          Grumblethorpe. Restoration records          1940s-1959
69          Grumblethorpe. Restoration records          1959-1976
70          Grumblethorpe. History, drawings, guest book          1938-1957
71          Grumblethorpe. Subject files. Archaeology-Electric (utilities)          1940s-1970s         
72          Grumblethorpe. Subject files. Electrical supplies-Household supplies          1940s-1970s
73          Grumblethorpe. Subject files. Insurance-Pest control          1940s-1970s         
74          Grumblethorpe. Subject files. Philadelphia Foundation grant-Window cleaning          1940s-1970s
56          Grumblethorpe. Assorted records, including constitution and by-laws, House and other committee records, and other          1932-2004
57          Grumblethorpe. Assorted records, including general correspondence, events, printed materials, and financial records          1939-1990s
58          Grumblethorpe. Assorted records, including reference materials, tour and educational programs (2000s), garden project (1963-1990), Sally Wister bedroom project, insurance appraisal, property information, and Archaeological Feasibility Study (1977), Material Culture Report (1999), and a conservation assessment (1997)          1960s-2000s
59          Grumblethorpe. Assorted financial records, including bills and receipts, development, reports, and site rentals          1949-1999
59          Grumblethorpe. Responses to the Wister's 50th Wedding Anniversary party          1951
60          Grumblethorpe. Glass negatives. RESTRICTED          undated
60          Slides of unidentified house interior and photo album of snapshots of food for catered event          undated
61 and 62          5 inch floppy discs          undated

Series 5 contains preserved versions of the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks’s website. To access these sites, see the Temple University Special Collections Archive-It web page: https://www.archive-it.org/collections/4487