University of Pennsylvania Finding Aids

The Gotham Book Mart (1920-2006) was one of New York City’s most iconic bookstores during the 20th century. Founded by Frances Steloff (1887-1989), the daughter of poor Russian-Jewish immigrants, the Book Mart became a social center for the New York literati and a focal point for literary modernism in the United States. Steloff’s successor, independent literary manuscript dealer Andreas Brown (1933-), maintained the store’s focus on avant garde and small press publications while incorporating his own interests in postcards and genealogy. This collection contains 91 boxes of material relating to the daily operation of the Book Mart; correspondence, biographical, and legal material from both Brown and Steloff; postcard and genealogical material collected by Brown; photographs of the store, its employees, and events which took place there; and manuscripts and ephemera offered for sale.

Katharine "Kay" E. Reichert was an Air Force nurse who served with the Far East Air Force in Japan during the Korean War. After her return to the United States, Reichert earned her B.S. in Nursing Education from the University of Pennsylvania and then her M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The bulk of this collection is comprised of photo albums and scrapbooks documenting daily life and excursions to destinations around Japan. Also included are official and personal papers and ephemera, yearbooks from Reichert's studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and artifacts such as medical bag and equipment, military insignias and honors, and door signs.

Some personal papers of Leopold Stokowski, including correspondence to and from Stokowski, notebooks, calendars, bank statements, royalty statements, insturance records, and contracts; this includes some correspondence and contracts related to Stokowski’s tenure as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra (bulk 1937-1946). Also includes writings by and about Stokowski, obituaries, programs, photographs, scrapbooks, clippings, awards, memorabilia, and issues of three newsletters devoted to Stokowski. Also includes administrative correspondence of the former curator of the Leopold Stokowski Collection at the Curtis Institute of Music, Dr. Edwin E. Heilakka, 1980-1994.

The Sophia Wittenberg Mumford papers contain, correspondence, writings, diaries, photographs, memorabilia, audio-visual material, financial and legal material documenting the private and public life of Sophia and her husband Lewis Mumford. A large majority of this collection is remnants of Lewis Mumford's papers that remained in their house upon his death in 1990 and were finally transferred to the University of Pennsylvania after her death in 1997.

Thomas Sovereign Gates, Jr., was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy during World War II, who went on to serve as the Secretary of the Navy (1957-1959), Secretary of Defense (1959-1961), and Ambassador to China (1976-1977). As a civilian he also pursued a career in investment banking at the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company (later J.P. Morgan & Co.). Gates’ personal papers focus largely on his government service, with a small amount of additional personal items. Included are many military and government documents and correspondence with influential politicians--perhaps most notably with President Dwight D. Eisenhower, under who Gates served as both Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Defense. The collection also includes many clippings and photographs that have been assembled into a remarkable collection of scrapbooks that bring Gates’ service to life.