Gardens of the Jazz Age: Archival Sources

Collection of maps, property atlases, and other materials selected for the study of the geography of historic Philadelphia. Don't miss the Property Maps / Atlases category in the Resource Browser.

Downloadable atlases showing estates surrounding the Main Line Pennsylvania Railroad from 1871-1961.

Collection of property atlases and maps covering Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties from 1848-1948. Some available online.

This is a really handy lookup tool to search for historic streets in Philadelphia.

Two series of color lantern slides from 1930-1940: The Gardeners, photographs of suburban Philadelphia gardens, identified by name of property owners; and a general collection that includes views of gardens, sights, and specific plants from Europe and the U.S. There are 35mm slide reproductions of many of the lantern slides in the collection.

This is a collection of photographs, slides, and negatives from the Philadelphia Flower Show, from 1927 to 2006. Photographs include general views of the exhibition and its attendees, displays of major exhibitors, first through third place winners for each judging of competitive classes, opening ceremonies, and awards presentations.

Glass lantern slides from 1930, donated by the Garden Club of America, in color of photographs of Philadelphia area gardens and homes, including Andalusia, Stenton, Highlands, and Ludington. The collection also contains several portraits of notable Philadelphians and horticulturists and landscape plans. There are also 35mm slide reproduction.

This collection of approximately 2,800 lantern slides represents an historical view of American buildings and landscapes built during the period 1850-1920. The collection offers views of cities, specific buildings, parks, estates and gardens. Select Browse Collection by Place (United States--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia) to browse slides of Philadelphia.

This collection of photographs from the Detroit Publishing Company Collection includes more than 25,000 glass negatives and transparencies as well as about 300 color photolithograph prints, mostly of the eastern United States during 1880-1920. Select Browse Collection by Place (Pennsylvania--Philadelphia) to see Philadelphia photographs.

Over 800 photographs and fact sheets that encompass over 150 houses and estates in the Lower Merion area. The majority of this material was the research papers of William Alan Morrison who was the author of the book "The Main Line: Country Houses of Philadelphia's Storied Suburb, 1870-1930." Not available online.

Information on how to research historic properties. Geared towards Lower Marion, but guidelines can be adapted to historic property research in other areas.

Search tip: For photo of garden, use gardens. Example: gardens philadelphia. This collection contains over 37,000 35mm slides, 3,000 glass lantern slides and a small number of landscape architectural plans and drawings, all of which document the history of American gardens and landscapes from 1920 to the present. Garden files were compiled by the Garden Club of America, which was established in 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not available online.

The Thomas Warren Sears Collection includes over 4,600 black and white glass negatives and glass lantern slides dated c. 1900 to 1966. Most images show private and public gardens in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York; few images are captioned or dated. Not available online.