The “Reference collection” grew in response to the evolving purpose of the Fairmount Park organization. Originally, materials were collected by the Park Historian’s Office for the purpose of maintaining an historical account of the Fairmount Park Commission’s activities, and to document the historical context in which the Fairmount Park System exists. With a major organizational restructuring of the Fairmount Park Commission between 1980 and 1985, the Park Historian’s Office, and the materials in its care, began to operate under the aegis of the [Office of Information]. This shift was part of a strategic plan to increase public awareness of the Park through heightened public relations efforts. [Later,] the Division of Planning, Preservation and Property Management became the stewards of the collection, as the information in this collection was deemed to be essential to the tasks of the Division.