Urban Archives (Temple University Libraries)

The Urban Archives is a repository dedicated to collecting material that documents the history of Philadelphia from the mid-19th century to the present. It includes the newspaper morgue from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, news footage from KYW and WPVI, books, pamphlets, manuscripts and much, much more! We're open to the public and do a limited amount of remote research. Get in touch!

http://library.temple.edu/collections/urbana

May 24, 2013 4:03pm

We’re back Tumblin’! This week would have been the 99th birthday of Herman ‘Sun Ra’ Blount, an enigmatic figure in the jazz world who spent decades in Philadelphia before leaving this earthly realm in 1993. The Sun Ra Arkestra remains a local fixture under the leadership of Marshall Allen who turns 89 tomorrow (!!!). The Arkestra celebrates both with an Ars Nova show at Johnny Brendas. 

http://arsnovaworkshop.org/events/sun-ra-arkestra-05-25-2013 

Here are two pictures of Sun Ra and his Arkestra performing on the roof of the International House from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection. The performance was part of the filming of Robert Mugge’s 1980 documentary Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise. 
Aug 31, 2012 4:57pm
Labor Day bonus Friday photo. Schoenhut Toy Company employee completes work on a toy baby grand piano, 1953

Labor Day bonus Friday photo.

Schoenhut Toy Company employee completes work on a toy baby grand piano, 1953
Jun 13, 2012 4:45pm

Hey there, long time no tumbl! The clipping cabinets for thePhiladelphia Evening Bulletinwere recently shifted around, giving us cool new vantages of them. They are the original cabinets from the library the Bulletinmaintained for reporters. We all work in a vast sea of these things. 
Jan 11, 2012 10:33am
Half-asleep at the Steenbeck. Cleaning up and watching tons and tons of footage for our February 5th screening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Have you RSVP’d yet? https://www.facebook.com/events/169292123171982/

Half-asleep at the Steenbeck. Cleaning up and watching tons and tons of footage for our February 5th screening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Have you RSVP’d yet? https://www.facebook.com/events/169292123171982/
Nov 18, 2011 9:18am
We actually get asked about this concert a lot. Read Temple’s post and the A.V. Club article about Coltrane’s TU concert. templeuniv: 45 years ago tonight, Philadelphians packed into Temple University’s Mitten Hall Memorial Auditorium for a jazz performance led by John Coltrane… Those who didn’t brave the cold November night may still have heard the performance, as the event was broadcast live from Temple’s campus by WRTI, but they most likely regretted staying in; Coltrane would die the following July, and this would be his final Philadelphia concert. By Elliot Sharp for AVClub.com Read more here.  By Elliott Sharp for A.V.club (dot)com 

We actually get asked about this concert a lot. Read Temple’s post and the A.V. Club article about Coltrane’s TU concert.

templeuniv:

45 years ago tonight, Philadelphians packed into Temple University’s Mitten Hall Memorial Auditorium for a jazz performance led by John Coltrane… Those who didn’t brave the cold November night may still have heard the performance, as the event was broadcast live from Temple’s campus by WRTI, but they most likely regretted staying in; Coltrane would die the following July, and this would be his final Philadelphia concert.

By Elliot Sharp for AVClub.com

Read more here. 

By Elliott Sharp for A.V.club (dot)com 

(via templeuniv-deactivated20121102)
Oct 21, 2011 3:29pm
A little Friday fun from our recent printing project.

A little Friday fun from our recent printing project.
Oct 14, 2011 11:36am
Printing continues on our Philadelphia Building project. This one was sitting out waiting to be shipped to a framer. Cute and well composed to boot!

Printing continues on our Philadelphia Building project. This one was sitting out waiting to be shipped to a framer. Cute and well composed to boot!
Sep 16, 2011 12:56pm
The Temple Owl and Nittany Lion is happier times. Templar, 1942. Temple vs. Penn State this weekend. Go Owls!

The Temple Owl and Nittany Lion is happier times. Templar, 1942. Temple vs. Penn State this weekend. Go Owls!
Aug 29, 2011 11:35am
Front and back of the flier for our “Philadelphia: Sound and Vision” screening. Spread the word and RSVP here!

Front and back of the flier for our “Philadelphia: Sound and Vision” screening. Spread the word and RSVP here!
Aug 23, 2011 3:34pm
“No Injury, Damage Reported. A six second earthquake rocked Greater Philadelphia at 3am today, shaking awake thousands of alarmed residents here as buildings trembled. No damage or injuries were reported, although the force of the tremor caused startled persons from Trenton to Baltimore to report what many thought was an explosion. A veritable Milky Way of switchboard lights flashed on at police stations. firehouses, city halls, newspapers and radio stations throughout the Philadelphia Area.” Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Feb. 28, 1973

“No Injury, Damage Reported. A six second earthquake rocked Greater Philadelphia at 3am today, shaking awake thousands of alarmed residents here as buildings trembled. No damage or injuries were reported, although the force of the tremor caused startled persons from Trenton to Baltimore to report what many thought was an explosion. A veritable Milky Way of switchboard lights flashed on at police stations. firehouses, city halls, newspapers and radio stations throughout the Philadelphia Area.” Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Feb. 28, 1973
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