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Fairmount Park Commission
[Record Group 149]
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- 149.1 Board of Commissioners. Minutes
- 1867-1984
24 volumes, index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.2 Board of Commissioners. Appendix to Minutes
- 1869-1903
13 volumes, no index
Entries are supplementary correspondence and reports, statements of audits and contract proposals referred to in the minutes of the Board.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.2a Board of Commissioners. Stenographic Transcripts of Meetings
- November 1967 - December 1987
14 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.3 Annual Report
- 1868-1871, 1877, 1899, 1912-1917, 1937-1969, 1972-1975, 1977-1978, 1987-1989
53 volumes, index
Report for 1877 covers the years 1872-1877 and improvements made during the first four months of 1878; Reports not published 1878-1898, 1975-1986; Report for 1899 covers improvements made 1877-1899.
For other Annual Reports between 1869-1926, see Office of the Mayor Annual Reports.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.4 Board of Commissioners. Correspondence and Papers
- 1870-1916, 1929, 1946-1967, 1983
3 cu.ft.
General correspondence much of which to and from public concerning, chiefly, policies and improvements in regard to parks; also included are a petition from George Catlin regarding his Indian collection; authorization for the Green and Coates Street Passenger Railway Company to enter the park, 1870; office pay roll, January 1877; details of the Perot Lardner legacy, 1882; correspondence relating to automobile traffic in the park, 1914-1916; "Directors for the Planting and Care of Street Trees", 1913, 1914; programs of concerts given in parks, 1929; lists of presidents of the Board and members appointed by courts and ex-officio members with dates and terms; and four stereopticon views of scenes in Fairmount Park including "Approaches to Reservoir", "From North Laurel Hill", "Wissahickon at the Mouth", and "Fairmount Water Works".
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.5 Board of Commissioners. Excerpted Resolutions, Correspondence
- 1868-1876
6 volumes, index vols. 1870, 1871 only
Bound copies of resolutions adopted at Board meetings, notes of Commissioners' appointments and committee actions, copies of correspondence chiefly expressing instructions to officers or employees, some incoming correspondence.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.6 Title Papers, Fairmount Park Property
- 1867-ca. 1954
20 cu.ft., index by grantor
Folders for each property acquired for Park include deeds, briefs of title, sheriff's deeds, correspondence, maps, etc.; these often predate creation of Park Commission as many properties acquired by City as park lands prior to that date; some folders contain instruments as early as late 17th century. 2 cubic feet relate to the purchase of the Lansdowne Estate in mid-1860s; 1 cubic foot relates to the purchase of an addition to the Parkway between 21st & 22nd Streets, Winter to Vine Streets.
For similar records see Record Series 63.5 and 63.7
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.7 Park Solicitor, Files
- 1871-1935
1 cu.ft.
Files include published and manuscript materials relating to court cases in which the Fairmount Park Commission is involved directly or indirectly. Some of these court cases relate to property acquisitions, others to particular decisions made by the Commission. Included is material relating to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Reading Railroad right-of-ways through Fairmount Park and to the location of gasoline stations along Roosevelt Boulevard. Also included is the "Report of the House of Representatives' Investigation into the Fairmount Park Commission", 1935.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.8 Fairmount Park, Wissahickon Valley, Plans and Descriptions
- 1873-1925
2 volumes, 1 map
Includes "Descriptions of Wissahickon Properties", ca. 1873-1925 - entries list detailed metes and bounds, and grantors' names, of properties acquired for the Wissahickon Creek branch of Fairmount Park; "Plans and Descriptions of Properties Embraced in Revision of Park Boundary Line along Wissahickon Creek", 1896 -entries for each property affected list its owner, metes and bounds, and is accompanied by a plan; "Plan of Wissahickon Valley", July 1896 - this plan, prepared by Russell Thayer, Chief Engineer and Superintendent, and approved by the Committee on Land Purchases, shows properties contiguous to Fairmount Park, and the boundaries thereof and provides an overall view of the properties detailed in the "Plans and Descriptions" above.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.9 Fort Washington Extension of Fairmount Park
- 1915-1932
1 cu.ft.
Under an Act of Assembly approved 18 June 1915, the Commissioners of Fairmount Park were empowered to purchase Fort Hill and Militia Hill which were the site of Fort Washington in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, and land to connect these hills to Fairmount Park along the Wissahickon Creek. Records include correspondence and title papers to many parcels within the present Fort Washington State Park. Also included is the disbursal journal for the appropriations of 1915, 1917 and 1927.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.10 Ordinances and Acts of Assembly Relating to Fairmount Park
- 1868, 1912, 1917, 1933
4 volumes, indexed
Digests of all laws in force at date of publication concerning Fairmount Park and all other public parks under Commission's control; vols. 1917 and 1933 also add Commission's rules and regulations.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.11 Reports and Publications
- 1855-1986
27 volumes
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Shelf list is available.
- 149.12 Committee on Superintendence and Police. Minutes
- 1872-1914
12 volumes, no index
The Committee on Superintendence and Police was continued as the Committee of Superintendence, see next.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.13 Committee of Superintendence. Minutes
- 1914 - 1930
2 volumes, no index
The Committee of Superintendence replaced the Committee on Superintendence and Police and was, in turn, replaced by the Committee of Superintendence and Property. See next.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.14 Committee of Superintendence and Police. Minutes
- 1930-1936
3 volumes, no index
The Committee of Superintendence and Police replaced the Committee of Superintendence in 1930 and was in turn superceded by the Executive Committee in 1936. See next.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.15 Executive Committee. Minutes
- 1936 - 1949
3 volumes, no index
The Executive Committee is the last in a continuing unbroken line of committees of the Fairmount Park Commissioners beginning with the Committee on Superintendence and Police in 1872. These four bodies should be regarded as a continuing body.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.16 Committee on Land Purchases and Damages. Minutes
- 1867-1931
3 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.17 Committee on Plans and Improvements. Minutes
- 1868 - 1931; missing February 1869 - December 1871
8 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.18 Committee on Art Museum. Minutes
- June - October 1911
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.19 Executive Committee. Minutes
- 1877 - 1880
1 volume, no index
This Executive Committee has no relation to the Executive Committee which existed starting in 1936.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.20 Finance Committee. Minutes
- January 7, 1880 and January 25, 1881 only
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.21 Committee on Hunting Park. Minutes
- 1872 - 1887
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.22 Committee on Memorial Hall. Minutes
- 1883, 1894 - 1911
2 volumes, no index
Note at the beginning of vol. 1894-1911 indicates that committee minutes of earlier dates are recorded in the Minutes of the Board of Commissioners.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.23 Special Committee on Repairs to Memorial Hall
- 1880-1884
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.24 Special Committee on Merion Railroad and Gravity Railroad. Minutes
- September-October 1880
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.25 Committee on the Preservation of the Purity of the Water Supply. Minutes
- 16 January 1883
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.26 Committee on the Washington Monument.
- 5 January 1889
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.27 Captain of Fairmount Park Guard. "Statistics"
- 1870-1987
1 volume, no index
Annual reports to the Park Superintendent list numbers of visitors, accident victims, picnics, parades, offenses, arrests, and many and varied miscellaneous incidents; statistical summaries often followed by written reports reviewing year's activities
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.28 Captain of Fairmount Park Guard. Guard's Time Book
- 1870-1874
1 volume, no index
Entries in monthly time sheets list employee's name, position, number of days on duty, daily rate of pay, total amount due him for th emonth; month's salaries totalled.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.29 Captain of Fairmount Park Guard. Guard's Service Record
- 1933-1936
1 volume, index
Entries for each Guard list name, address, birth date, starting position, promotions, misdemeanors and fines, dates.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.29a Fairmount Park Guard. Arrest Book
- 28 June 1927 - 18 February 1952
1 volume, no index
A chronological listing of arrests by the Fairmount Park Guard which includes date of arrest; name, address, age, color, marital status, and place of birth of person arrested; charge, name of arresting guard, names of witnesses, disposition of arrest (e.g. waived, discharged, fined, place of detention), and name of magistrate before whom prisoner taken. Entries beginning in January 1946 add time of arrest. Back flyleaf of volume includes numbers of lockers assigned to members of the Guard
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.30 Chief Engineer. Annual Report
- 1927-1936
10 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.31 Chief Engineer. Topographical Map of Fairmount Park.
- 1894 (1897)
1 map, no index
Excluding Wissahickon Creek area, map indicates contour lines and heights, Park buildings, reservoirs, lakes, Schuylkill River bridges, statuary sites; and lines, trolley barns, stations, and powerhouse of the Fairmount Park Passenger Railway of 1897.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.32 Committee on Outlying Parks. Minutes
- 14 October 1912 - 19 July 1929
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.33 Accounts for Work Done Each Day
- January 1888 - July 1891
1 volume, no index
Includes, for each month, daily entries of expenditures for salaries, general maintenance of the Park; repairs and/or maintenance of guard shelters, water wagons, St. George's House, Memorial Hall, Horticultural Hall, Hunting Park; and care of drains, lawns, water supply, drives, walks, buildings, bridge paths, flower beds, pumps and spigots, picnic tables, tools, settees, trees and shrubbery, sheep, livestock, and fountains; monthly total expenditure for each item, daily total expenditure for all items, monthly total for all items.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.34 Permanent Improvements. Item Book
- 1869-1872
2 volumes, no index
One volume undated.
Under heading of item number and description, entries list date, daily entries of total number of hours worked or total wages paid for foremen, assistant foremen, laborers, stone cutters, masons, pavers, tile and pipe layers, finishers, carpenters, double teams, roller teams, carts, and others; number of loads, amount of materials used, and total monthly cost of labor and materials. Entries June 1870 p February 1872 add occasionally names of employees.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.35 Item Book
- 1888-1891
1 volume, no index
Under heading of item number and description, entries list monthly expenditures for payrolls, bills and contracts; total monthly expenditures, annual appropriation for item, and monthly balances.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.36 Appropriations and Expenditures
- 1922-1951
1 volume, no index
Includes entries of expenditures of appropriations made from loans, 1922-1930; and expenditures from the Park Fund, 1922-1951. Entries list appropriation item number (if any) and title, date of ordinance authorizing appropriation, amount of appropriation, date of expenditure, warrant number, name of payee, purpose of expenditure, amount, whether payments made for items on contract or open market order, or for payroll and miscellaneous expenditures, and unencumbered balance of appropriation. Entries of expenditures of appropriations made from loans add date of ordinance authorizing loans, election date at which loan approved, date of certification of election result to the Court, and date and amount of any transfers.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.37 Map of Farms and Lots Embraced Within the Limits of Fairmount Park
- ca. 1868-1869
1 map, no index
Map shows properties appropriated for public use by the Act of Assembly approved 14 April 1868. For each property are listed the owner's name, the amount of acreage included in the plot and the plot's metes and bounds. Scale 800 feet to an inch.
Insets show owners of Lansdowne Land Company lots in the 24th Ward, 1868; owners of Mifflin Land Association lots in the 20th Ward; and "Plan of Ground Appropriated for the Preservation of Purity and an Addition to Fairmount Park under an Ordinance Approved 28 June 1864" which identifies buildings built of brick stone or frame.
This map can be used as a guide for locating properties covered in Title Papers, Fairmount Park Property.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.38 Regulations
- 1964
1 volume, index
Includes: "Regulations for the Government of Parks under Control of the Commissioners. 1964" which contains regulations relating to persons, horses, bicycles, athletic sports, boating, the Zoological Garden and indicates punishment for violations.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 149.39 Topographical Maps
- 1982-1986
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Shelf list is available.
- 149.40 Committee on Recreational Activities. Annual Report
- 1938
1 volume
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Last updated on October 27, 1998
