Abstract This collection contains photographs, notes and interpretations of multiple aerial mapping projects conducted over the city of Philadelphia. The largest of the “Aerial maps” series (1981-1982) contains two linear feet of black and white photos which are the result of a major Fairmount Park Commission mapping project undertaken between 1981 and 1983. The survey was performed by Aerial Data Reproduction Associates, Incorporated. This series contains visual documentation of East and West...

Abstract In the early part of the nineteenth century, Philadelphia City Council took action to protect the purity of public water. This involved the acquisition of property on the banks of the Schuylkill River in order to eliminate polluting waste that had previously been generated by various industrial sites along the river. The City’s newly acquired property was dedicated to the health and enjoyment of the citizens of Philadelphia, and became known as Fairmount Park. The Fairmount Park Commission...

Scope and Contents note From the Collection: This collection contains various materials that document the history of the Fairmount Park, and subsequently the history of the activities of the Fairmount Park Commission. The collection also includes a good deal of contextual information, such as information on the early history of Philadelphia and its surrounding area. This collection demonstrates at once the autonomy of the Fairmount Park Commission and its integral role in the evolution of Philadelphia’s urban landscape. The...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Collection includes published park maps, trail guides, campaigns, event programs and brochures, park guidebooks, and other published materials.