Many colleges and universities have carefully maintained archival collections that are consulted by historians and alumni interested in learning first-hand about their storied pasts. Not many institutions of higher learning can boast of such a nice collection of online materials, and certainly this website serves as a good example to others looking to develop such a collection. First-time visitors will want to take a look at the digital image collection, which contains 725 images depicting the campus in West Philadelphia, along with maps, slides, and sketches. Along with performing a simple search, visitors can browse a list of topical collections. Another good feature located here is a reproduction of an 1895 article from Harper's Magazine by Francis N. Thorpe that contains 18 illustrations within its 21 pages. Visitors looking for historical sketches of Penn's history and development will want to browse the section that offers numerous essays, including titles dealing with urban renewal and the university's gradual expansion over the 125 years.
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