Category Archives: History News

Digital Forensics

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Examples of 5.25” and 3.5” floppy disks from SCRC collections.

Readers of our blog and web site are well aware that the Special Collections Research Center contains many varied types of historical materials. We are proud stewards of published books, letters, administrative records, photographs, film, audio recordings, artists’ books, fanzines, and many other formats. We also actively collect materials in digital form: word processed documents, digital photos and videos, spreadsheets, etc. As archivists and librarians responsible for preserving the historic record, we are well aware that for the past few decades the historic record has increasingly been created via computer.

The SCRC has started testing use of the KryoFlux, a small device that attaches to floppy disk drives to read disks in almost any data format.

Computer technology evolves quickly, and while it is one (still challenging) thing to download recently created files and preserve them, it’s another to be confronted with a box of obsolete disks last used ten or twenty years ago. Paper documents hundreds of years old can still be read if you understand the language, but computer disks require compatible hardware and software to render their contents readable. What’s an archivist to do?

FTK Imager displaying information from disk images of two 3.5” floppy disks.

The answer has emerged from unlikely sources. Computer forensics is used by police and other law enforcement officials to gather and preserve computer files which may be used as evidence in a court of law. Like archivists, law enforcement officials must be sure to preserve documents without altering or damaging them–in the case of law enforcement, for evidential use, and, for archivists, to preserve the historic record. Officials involved in computer forensics have created software that enables that to happen. Meanwhile, classic video game fans have created hardware that allows them to read, copy, and play games created on much older computer systems–and often stored on floppy disks.

The SCRC–and many other special collections and archives departments–has begun to create best practices using this hardware and software to care for digital materials in our collections. At Temple, we have used the FC5025 by Device Side Data to read and copy the contents of 5.25” floppy disks, and we have started testing the Kryoflux, developed by the Software Preservation Society, with 3.5” floppy disks. In both cases, this forensic hardware has been able to read disks that other drives were unable to read. We have also used FTK Imager by AccessData to extract access copies of files for use by our patrons in our reading room, just as they would use our paper collections. Digital forensics is a growing area of archival work, and an exciting new area of exploration. We look forward to sharing our old disks with you.

–Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services, SCRC

Walter Massey Phillips, Philadelphia Renaissance Man

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Page from a notebook kept by Walter Massey Phillips recording tugboats seen on the Delaware River, 1920s. Walter Massey Phillips Papers, SCRC 136, Special Collections Research Center.

Walter M. Phillips, Sr. (1912-1985) was active in Philadelphia civic affairs for more than thirty years, particularly during the period of the 1940s-1960s, which was known as the “Philadelphia Renaissance.” During this time, political organizers worked for reform of what was seen as an immensely corrupt city government. While Phillips was an enormous political presence behind the scenes, he never held a political office, and by all accounts his reticent personality kept his significant role in the Philadelphia reform movement from wider renown. However, noted architect and city planner Edmund Bacon once called Phillips “the greatest single figure in the renaissance.”

A graduate of Episcopal Academy, Princeton, and Harvard Law School, Phillips was a chief organizer of the City Policy Committee, President of the Citizens’ Council on City Planning, Board Member of the Greater Philadelphia Movement, President of the Philadelphia Housing Association, Executive Secretary with the Delaware River Basin Advisory Committee, Trustee of Lincoln University, Director of the Honey Hollow Watershed Association, and Board Member of the Committee of Seventy. He managed Joseph Clark’s successful race for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1951, served in Clark’s cabinet as City Representative and Director of Commerce through 1955, and was the (unsuccessful) reform candidate against Mayor James Tate in the 1963 Democratic primary election.

Walter Massey Phillips during the 1963 mayoral race, May 1963. Walter Massey Phillips Papers, SCRC 136, Special Collections Research Center

After retiring, Phillips initiated an oral history project, and, between 1974 and 1980, interviewed approximately 160 of the local civic and government leaders with whom he had worked. The interviews generally discuss Philadelphia city government and history between the late 1930s and the 1970s.

The Special Collections Research Center holds  Phillips’ personal papers as well as cassette tapes, transcripts (many of which are now available online), and background information from his oral history project. His papers document his life, career, and the nature of civic decision making at the policy level in mid-twentieth century Philadelphia. In addition to records from and related to the many Philadelphia organizations and networks in which Phillips was involved, there are also personal items, such as family photos and a diary of Phillips’ 1936 trip to the Yukon.

–Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services, SCRC

Franklin H. Littell Papers open for research

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The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) at Temple University Libraries is pleased to announce that the Franklin H. Littell collection is open and available for research.

View the finding aid on the Libraries’ website, along with portions of the papers which have been digitized.  Dr. Littell’s extensive library is cataloged and is available for use along with the papers in the SCRC reading room on the Ground Floor of Paley Library.

Franklin Littell (1917-2009), emeritus professor of religion at Temple University, led a distinguished career that spanned more than seventy years. He was a pacifist and activist, proponent of the Christian Laity and an advocate for new religious movements, an historian, political commentator and supporter of the State of Israel. He devoted ten years to work with the Protestant Churches and Laity in US-occupied Germany and more than fifty years to the study and remembrance of the Holocaust and German Church Struggle. He career is marked by strong beliefs in interfaith understanding and religious liberty.

The Littell and Sachs families donated Dr. Littell’s papers and library to Temple in 2010, where they were the focus of a three-year cataloging and processing project. Processing of the collection was funded through a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc., and generous support from Norman Braman.

Reading Orphan Train

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This year’s One Book, One Philadelphia book is Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train, which traces the story of an Irish immigrant girl who lands in New York City, loses her family in a tenement fire in 1929, and is sent west on an orphan train. It “connects us with the importance of heritage and memories in shaping who we are, the value of intergenerational relationships, and the fundamental power of family.”

The Temple Libraries Book Club will discuss the book tomorrow, February 18, 2015, at noon in Paley Lecture Hall. All are welcome.

The novel could just as easily have told the story of immigrants arriving in Philadelphia, and that range of experience is featured in the spring exhibit, found on the ground, first, and mezzanine floors of Paley Library. Drawn from the archival and rare book collections in the Special Collections Research Center, the exhibit looks at themes from Orphan Train through the lens of Philadelphia history.

From the Philadelphia Jewish Archives: the Leo L. Honor Papers

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The Leo L. Honor Papers, a recently processed collection now open for research, is one of a few collections in the SCRC that document the growth of Jewish education in Philadelphia in the twentieth century. Dr. Leo Lazarus Honor was an educator who for much of his career taught Jewish teachers how to teach, and, in the process, mentored a generation of Jewish educators. Dr. Honor was an advocate for religious education and believed that an engaging curriculum of Jewish studies would encourage young people to identify with their heritage from an early age. Honor was well known for emphasizing religious education based on unity, rather than uniformity. His dedication to the Jewish teaching profession and his inclusive approach to religious education made Honor a leading and well-respected Jewish educator.

For more information about the Leo L. Honor Papers, view the online finding aid 

-Jenna Marrone Olszak, Project Archivist and Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist, Special Collections Research Center

Science Fiction Manuscripts in the Libraries: Three Examples

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“The Planet of Doubt” by Stanley G. Weinbaum, published in Astounding Stories, October 1935.

Recently, a reference request came in through the Special Collections Research Center general email, asking for information about three of our science fiction manuscript collections: the Stanley G. Weinbaum Papers, the Lloyd Arthur Eshbach Papers and Fantasy Press Archives, and the Arthur Leo Zagat Manuscripts. While the Weinbaum papers already had a finding aid on our web site, it needed revision.  The Eshbach and Zagat collections had finding aids in electronic format, but they had not yet made it onto our web site.

Photograph of Stanley G. Weinbaum, undated.

We call these “legacy finding aids” – finding aids written some years ago, that likely do not meet current archival structures and standards, and which require some revision before we can make them available online. Working through these finding aids and posting them to our web site is an often lengthy process, but a satisfying one in that it greatly increases awareness of the collections in question.

The Paskow Science Fiction Collection within the SCRC is perhaps best known for its extensive holdings of science fiction and fantasy books. In addition to multiple editions of primarily 20th century books, the collection contains pulp magazines, general and Star Trek/Klingon-related fanzines, posters, fliers, and convention ephemera.

Less well known is the fact that the science fiction collection also contains manuscript materials.  The papers of Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, Tom Purdom, John Varley, Stanley G. Weinbaum, Felix Gotschalk, Arthur Leo Zagat, the Enterprising Women Fan Fiction Collection, and the Arthur Langley Searles Collection of H. P. Lovecraft Research Files are a few of the gems found in the collection.

Letter from Wonder Stories to Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, January 27, 1931.

The Weinbaum, Eshbach, and Zagat collections all contain a mix of manuscripts of published and unpublished short stories and novels, and correspondence with editors, agents, publishers, and authors. Much of the material is from the 1930s and 1940s, and provides a glimpse into that era of science fiction writing and publishing, particular in the pulp magazine area.

First page of a corrected typescript for Lloyd Arthur Eshbach’s story, “The Beast-Men.”

SCRC staff are working to verify existing inventories, update and standardize the format of finding aids, and prepare our collections for research use. The Weinbaum, Eshbach, and Zagat papers are three such collections that are now ready and waiting for interested researchers to visit the SCRC and discover their amazing content.

–Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services, SCRC

Occupy Philadelphia Archives

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In September 2011, Occupy Wall Street began its protest in New York’s City’s Zuccotti Park, and quickly gained widespread popular attention.  As a protest movement against economic and social inequality and corporate greed, the group touched a nerve with people worldwide affected by the economic crisis. By October of 2011, Occupy groups existed in over 80 countries, although the majority were located in the United States.

Best known for its extensive and elaborate camp at Dilworth Plaza, adjacent to City Hall, Occupy Philadelphia was largely composed of nonviolent protests, organized marches, and demonstrations.  In November 2011, Philadelphia city officials informed Occupy protesters of the impending renovations scheduled to begin at Dilworth Plaza later that the month and asked Occupy Philadelphia to relocate.  They refused, and Philadelphia Police evicted them on November 30, 2011.

Occupy members, archivists, and other interested groups have tried since 2011 to document the movement and collect historical evidence related to the many Occupy groups. Because of its decentralized and non-authoritarian nature, this has proved enormously difficult. The digital nature of many Occupy materials have also caused difficulties in preserving and making available records of the movement. Emory Libraries’ Digital Scholarship Commons has collected over ten million tweets from the Occupy Wall Street group for data analysis, and WBAI radio station in New York has preserved and made accessible audio files related to the group. A 2012 New York Times article detailed efforts to collect records associated with the Occupy Wall Street, while Harvard collected and created a finding aid for records of the Occupy Harvard group.

The Special Collections Research Center received materials in physical and digital form from the Occupy Philadelphia group. The Occupy Philadelphia Records  include organizational records, fliers and ephemera, song and chant lyrics, journals and newspapers, clippings, and digital materials including photographs and videos, documenting the Occupy Philadelphia movement as well as other Occupy and protest movements. Much of the material is graphically striking, and expresses the tone and message of the movement in artistic and eye-catching ways. Both the physical and the digital materials can be viewed in the SCRC reading room. An advance appointment is recommended for viewing digital files.

–Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services, SCRC

From the Philadelphia Jewish Archives: Pinchos J. Chazin Papers

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Rabbi Pinchos J. Chazin (1914-2006) was a well-known and much admired spiritual leader in Philadelphia’s Jewish community.  For forty-three years, he inspired and engaged the congregation of Temple Sholom with sermons and weekly lectures that connected scripture with contemporary culture in a way that was both meaningful and motivational.  Rabbi Chazin’s sermons were invariably positive, encouraging congregants to explore their spirituality and delve deeper into Jewish tradition.  He also displayed compassion for the foibles of human nature, an ability that impressed many people who heard Rabbi Chazin speak. 

“Your work as the spiritual guide of Temple Sholom must be a taxing one,” wrote one correspondent in 1950, “but one can’t help feeling your sincerity of purpose….It did a lot to create and instill the desire to delve deeper into the beauties of Judaism, and what it stands for.”  In 1970, another correspondent noted, “You are unquestionably the finest rabbi in terms of learning and expression and humanity that I have ever known, and one of the finest human beings I have ever known, as well.”  And in 1979, a congregant succinctly wrote, “For the many years that you have acted as Rabbi in Temple Sholom you have opened the doors to ourselves and our children to the true meaning of Judaism and warm friendship.”

Chazin’s personal papers including his weekly sermons, book review lectures, eulogies, cantatas and related materials are now open for research in the Special Collections Research Center. To learn more about this collection, review the online finding aid http://library.temple.edu/scrc/pinchos-j-chazin-papers

Jenna Marrone, Project Archivist

Notes from the Littell Project: Opponent of Political Extremism and Totalitarianism

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In the 1960s, Franklin H. Littell took a public stand against political extremist groups in America. He created The Freedom Institute at Iowa Wesleyan College; developed an Early Warning System to prevent genocide; and exposed radical radio preachers and the John Birch Society with the support of the Institute for American Democracy.  All these activities supported Littell’s work to educate about and guard against the development of totalitarian regimes.

Ideological programs dominated segments of the American radio industry in the 1950s and 1960s. The Institute for American Democracy (IAD) and Littell worked against radical radio preachers such as Billy James Hargis and Carl McIntire. Along with the Anti-Defamation League and the National Council of Churches, the IAD utilized the FCC’s Fairness Doctrine as a means to expose and rally against extremist speech.     In an effort to comply with the FCC Fairness Doctrine, Hargis offered Littell equal airtime on his weekly radio broadcast to rebut statements Hargis made against him. Hargis cites his Christian principles “as a minister of God” as reason for extending the opportunity to Littell, but labeled Littell “one of the most dangerous men in United States.”

Courtney Smerz, Project Archivist

Please join us in celebrating the opening of the Littell Collection, April 9, 2:00 pm, Paley Library Lecture Hall. For more information visit http://library.temple.edu/scrc/conwellana-templana-collection/franklin-littell

From the Philadelphia Jewish Archives: Robert B. Wolf and Morris Wolf Papers

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The dynamic Morris and Robert B. Wolf were a father and son known for their dedication to the law and human services. In 1903, Morris Wolf co-founded Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, a law firm well-known for hiring Jewish lawyers in spite of city-wide discrimination. Robert, a partner in his father’s firm, was likewise committed to creating positive change in Philadelphia, particularly in the field of juvenile justice.

Their papers are now open and available for research in the Special Collections Research Center.    Although this collection includes Morris’ personal papers, much of it is a testament to Robert’s juvenile justice advocacy efforts. From the 1970s to the 1990, he served as Director and Vice President of the Citizens Crime Commission of Philadelphia and as chairman of Philadelphia’s Youth Services Coordinating Commission, and was appointed to the Juvenile Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Robert helped draft criminal justice legislation and served on a number of Pennsylvania state juvenile justice committees and task forces. Most notably, perhaps, Wolf was appointed as a master by the United States District Court to oversee the city’s Youth Study Center following allegations of abuse and overcrowding.

Robert B. Wolf (far left) at a meeting to establish the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), circa 1970s

In addition to juvenile justice, Robert Wolf’s interests also included local government reform and mid-century urban housing issues. In the early 1950s, he was a draftsman on the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, and served as the chairman of the city’s Coordinated Housing Improvement Program (CHIP). He also taught urban studies courses at Haverford College and Temple University.

The finding aid for the Robert B. Wolf and Morris Wolf Papers can be found at http://library.temple.edu/scrc/robert-b-wolf-and-morris-wolf  .

Jenna Marrone, Project Archivist