William L. Rafsky Papers
Collection ID
Acc. 355
Related Subjects
Collecting Areas
Description
Collection Summary
Title
William L. Rafsky Papers
Dates
1952-1970
Collection ID
Acc. 355
Creator
Rafsky, William L.
Quantity
2 linear feet (2 boxes)
Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
Language
Materials in English.
Detailed Collection Information
Biographical Note
This collection contains material detailing the life of William L. Rafsky between 1952 and 1970. Rafsky held prominent posts both within the City of Philadelphia government and in the private sector during this time period, including positions on the Mayor’s cabinet and on both government and private redevelopment interests. Rafksy was influential in many forms of redevelopment occurring in Philadelphia during this time, including the development of low-income housing and the expansion of the City’s automobile-based transportation system, as well as the general redevelopment of Philadelphia’s downtown area.
•1952-1956 City of Philadelphia Housing Director
•1956 Executive Secretary to City of Philadelphia Mayor Joseph Clark
•1963 City of Philadelphia Development Coordinator
•1963 Director of City of Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority
•1963-1970 Executive Director of Old Philadelphia Development Corporation
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 6 series as follows:
Series 1: Personal, 1965-1967
Series 2: Organizations, 1963-1967
Series 3: Correspondence, 1963-1967
Series 4: Financial, 1963-1970
Series 5: Speaking Arrangements, 1953-1970
Series 6: Administration, 1952-1963
Series 1: Personal, 1965-1967, consists of biographical data concerning Rafsky’s personal life and career.
Series 2: Organizations, contains information regarding Mr. Rafsky’s time as a member of the Sunday Breakfast Club.
Series 3: Correspondence, 1963-1967, consists of both personal and general correspondence. Personal correspondence details some aspects of Mr. Rafsky’s private life between December 1967 and January 1963. General correspondence consists of letters regarding Mr. Rafsky’s interactions at work between December 1965 and January 1964.
Series 4: Financial, 1963-1970, regards Mr. Rafsky’s personal and business expenses and also contains receipts from various periods.
Series 5: Speaking Arrangements, 1953-1970, contains outlines of Mr. Rafsky’s speeches as well as correspondence regarding these speaking engagements.
Series 6: Administration, 1952-1963, consists of Mr. Rafsky’s daily summaries of work activities between April 1963 and June 1956, during which Mr. Rafsky was employed as the City of Philadelphia Development Coordinator, as well as between May 1956 and January 1956, when Mr. Rafsky was serving as the Director of the City of Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. Also contains the daily time records of Philadelphia Mayor Joseph Clark, during whose administration Mr. Rafsky served as the City of Philadelphia Housing Director (January 1952 – June 1956) and as the Mayor’s Executive Secretary (January 1954 – January 1956). These documents detail the daily work activities of Mr. Rafsky.
Patron Information
Research Access
Collection is open for research.
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.
Publication and Copyright Information
The William L. Rafsky Papers are the physical property 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], William L. Rafsky Papers, Accession 355, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Donated by William Rafsky, September 1978
Separated Material
For photographs, see the Miscellaneous Photographs Collection (PC-49), Box 9, Folder 6.
Processing Information
Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.
Index Terms
The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:
Personal/Family Names:
Rafsky, William L.
Subjects:
Citizens' associations -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
City planning -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Public housing -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Regional planning -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Places:
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Material Types:
Administrative records
Correspondence
Financial records
Inventory
Series 1: Personal, 1965-1967
Series 1 consists of biographical data concerning Rafsky’s personal life and career.
1 1 Biographical Data December 1967-January 1965
1 2 Biographical Data Undated
Series 2: Organizations, 1963-1967
Series 2 contains information regarding Mr. Rafsky’s time as a member of the Sunday Breakfast Club.
1 3 Sunday Breakfast Club 1963-1967
Series 3: Correspondence, 1963-1967
Series 3 consists of both personal and general correspondence. Personal correspondence details some aspects of Mr. Rafsky’s private life between December 1967 and January 1963. General correspondence consists of letters regarding Mr. Rafsky’s interactions at work between December 1965 and January 1964.
1 4 Personal December 1967-January 1963
1 5 General December 1965-January 1965
1 6 General December 1964-January 1964
Series 4: Financial, 1963-1970
Series 4 is in regards to Mr. Rafsky’s personal and business expenses and also contains receipts from various periods.
1 7 Expenses December 1970-January 1968
1 8 Expenses December 1967-January 1963
1 9 Miscellaneous Receipts Undated
Series 5: Speaking Engagements, 1953-1970
Series 5 contains outlines of Mr. Rafsky’s speeches as well as correspondence regarding these speaking engagements.
1 10 Outlines and Correspondence December 1970-January 1969
1 11 Outlines and Correspondence October 1968-July1968
1 12 Outlines and Correspondence June 1968-May 1968
1 13 Outlines and Correspondence April 1968
1 14 Outlines and Correspondence March 1968
1 15 Outlines and Correspondence December 1967- July 1967
1 16 Outlines and Correspondence June 1967-January 1967
1 17 Outlines and Correspondence November 1966-July 1966
1 18 Outlines and Correspondence June 1966- May 1966
1 19 Outlines and Correspondence April 1966-January 1966
1 20 Outlines and Correspondence December 1965-January 1965
1 21 Outlines and Correspondence December 1963-January 1963
1 22 Outlines and Correspondence December 1962-January 1961
1 23 Outlines and Correspondence December 1960-January 1958
1 24 Outlines and Correspondence December 1957-January 1953
1 25 Outlines and Correspondence Undated
1 26 Outlines and Correspondence Undated
Series 6: Administration, 1952-1963
Series 6 consists of Mr. Rafsky’s daily summaries of work activities between April 1963 and June 1956, during which Mr. Rafsky was employed as the City of Philadelphia Development Coordinator, as well as between May 1956 and January 1956, when Mr. Rafsky was serving as the Director of the City of Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. Also contains the daily time records of Philadelphia Mayor Joseph Clark, during whose administration Mr. Rafsky served as the City of Philadelphia Housing Director (January 1952 – June 1956) and as the Mayor’s Executive Secretary (January 1954 – January 1956). These documents detail the daily work activities of Mr. Rafsky.
1 27 Summary of Activities April 1963-January 1963
1 28 Summary of Activities December 1962-November 1962
1 29 Summary of Activities October 1962-September 1962
1 30 Summary of Activities August 1962-July 1962
1 31 Summary of Activities June 1962-May 1962
1 32 Summary of Activities April 1962-March 1962
1 33 Summary of Activities February 1962-January 1962
1 34 Summary of Activities December 1961-November 1961
1 35 Summary of Activities October 1961-September 1961
2 1 Summary of Activities August 1961-April 1961
2 2 Summary of Activities March 1961
2 3 Summary of Activities February 1961-January 1961
2 4 Summary of Activities December 1960-November 1960
2 5 Summary of Activities October 1960-September 1960
2 6 Summary of Activities August 1960-July 1960
2 7 Summary of Activities June 1960- May 1960
2 8 Summary of Activities April 1960-March 1960
2 9 Summary of Activities February 1960
2 10 Summary of Activities January 1960
2 11 Summary of Activities December 1959-November 1959
2 12 Summary of Activities October 1959-August 1959
2 13 Summary of Activities July 1959-June 1959
2 14 Summary of Activities May 1959
2 15 Summary of Activities April 1959
2 16 Summary of Activities March 1959
2 17 Summary of Activities February 1959-January 1959
2 18 Summary of Activities December 1958-November 1958
2 19 Summary of Activities October 1958
2 20 Summary of Activities September 1958-August 1958
2 21 Summary of Activities July 1958
2 22 Summary of Activities June 1958-May 1958
2 23 Summary of Activities April 1958-Mar 1958
2 24 Summary of Activities February 1958-January 1958
2 25 Summary of Activities December 1957-November 1957
2 26 Summary of Activities October 1957-September 1957
2 27 Summary of Activities August 1957-July 1957
2 28 Summary of Activities June 1957-May 1957
2 29 Summary of Activities April 1957-March 1957
2 30 Summary of Activities February 1957-January 1957
2 31 Summary of Activities December 1956
2 32 Summary of Activities November 1956-October 1956
2 33 Summary of Activities September 1956-August 1956
2 34 Summary of Activities July 1956
2 35 Summary of Activities June 1956-May 1956
2 36 Summary of Activities April 1956-March 1956
2 37 Summary of Activities February 1956-January 1956
2 38 Time Records (J. Clark) December 1955-September 1955
2 39 Time Records (J. Clark) August 1955-June 1955
2 40 Time Records (J. Clark) May 1955-March 1955
2 41 Time Records (J. Clark) February 1955-January 1955
2 42 Time Records (J. Clark) December 1954-October 1954
2 43 Time Records (J. Clark) September 1954-July 1954
2 44 Time Records (J. Clark) June 1954-April 1954
2 45 Time Records (J. Clark) March 1954-January 1954
2 46 Time Records (J. Clark) December 1953-October 1953
2 47 Time Records (J. Clark) September 1953-July 1953
2 48 Time Records (J. Clark) May 1953-April 1953
2 49 Time Records (J. Clark) March 1953-January 1953
2 50 Time Records (J. Clark) December 1952-October 1952
2 51 Time Records (J. Clark) September 1952-July 1952
2 52 Time Records (J. Clark) June 1952-April 1952
2 53 Time Records (J. Clark) March 1952-January 1952
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