When the University of the Arts abruptly closed its doors in June 2024, the shock rippled far beyond its Broad Street campus. The loss was not just an academic one — it represented the end of nearly 150 years of cultural, creative, and educational influence in Philadelphia.
But one piece of the university’s story will not be lost. This month, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) announced it has acquired the institution’s archives, safeguarding generations of artistic and academic history for future scholars, students, and community members.
The two organizations are now working together to to prepare, catalog, and transfer an enormous volume of material. The final result is unprecedented: at 870 linear feet, the UArts archives represent the single largest acquisition in HSP’s 200-year history.
The collection spans from the late 19th century through the university’s final semester in 2024, and includes everything from official records and correspondence to artwork and campus ephemera. Altogether, the transfer included 643 boxes, 25 flat file drawers, and more than 591 individual containers — a logistical feat now safely housed at HSP’s headquarters on Locust Street.
“The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is proud to serve as the new home for the University of the Arts’ records. We are honored to preserve this vast collection of 150 years of institutional history,” said David Brigham, librarian and CEO of HSP. “As we undertake this multi-year project to make the collection available, we acknowledge the significant cultural contributions of UArts to our region and beyond.”
The acquisition includes a wide range of materials, from administrative records like meeting minutes and accreditation files to exhibition programs, slides, photographs, negatives, audio-visual materials, architectural drawings, catalogs, and original creative works by students, faculty, and visiting artists.
It does not include student records or personal belongings.
Notable items such as graduate theses, student portfolios, and projects from UArts’ photography and book arts programs, as well as works from the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts, the Sol Mednick Gallery, and the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, are also part of the collection.
The archives feature materials by prominent artists such as 1939 alum Laura Jean Allen, faculty member Edna Andrade, and Philadelphia Dance Academy founder Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck.
The archives also capture the legacies of foundational institutions including the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia Dance Academy, and the Philadelphia College of Art, which originated from the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art.
Preserving, processing, and making the collection accessible will take significant resources. HSP has already secured an initial $50,000 gift toward an estimated $500,000 need for cataloging, conservation, and digitization.
“It will take time, a tremendous exertion of skilled work, and a substantial investment to make the UArts collection fully accessible,” said Brigham. “HSP is committed to that long-term effort and hopes the philanthropic community will generously support these efforts.”
If you’re interested in getting a glimpse into this collection, HSP is hosting a special event on Saturday, Nov. 8, from noon to 4 p.m., that will feature select highlights from the archives. The University of the Arts community, along with the general public, is invited to reflect and engage with the materials. Demonstrations, make-and-take activities, and musical performances will also take place during the event.
Visitors will hear from Sara J. MacDonald, former Director for Public Services at the University of the Arts Greenfield Library, about the history of the iconic arts school. Members of the University of the Arts community will be able to contribute their own stories through a memory collection project that will become part of the archives.
This acquisition reflects HSP’s core mission of collecting records of artistic endeavors and complements other notable archives, including the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art), the Plastic Club, the Academy of Music, and the Brandywine Workshop and Archives.
Since 1824, HSP has preserved an array of documents that bring the past into conversations today. Now in its third century, HSP continues to grow its collections, capturing the region’s rich cultural and creative history.
“HSP is committed to working with the UArts community to ensure the records remain accessible to artists and scholars, both today and in the years ahead,” Brigham finished.
