University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation January 2007 The Plastic Club of Philadelphia: A Site Management Study and Building Analysis Reagan Baydoun Ruedig University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Ruedig, Reagan Baydoun, "The Plastic Club of Philadelphia: A Site Management Study and Building Analysis" (2007). Theses (Historic Preservation). 86. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/86 A Thesis in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Historic Preservation 2007. Advisor: Randall F. Mason This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/86 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Plastic Club of Philadelphia: A Site Management Study and Building Analysis Comments A Thesis in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Historic Preservation 2007. Advisor: Randall F. Mason This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/86 THE PLASTIC CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA: A SITE MANAGEMENT STUDY AND BUILDING ANALYSIS Reagan Baydoun Ruedig A THESIS In Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION 2007 ________________________________ ______________________________ Advisor Program Chair Randall F. Mason Frank G. Matero Associate Professor of Architecture Professor of Architecture University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania ________________________________ Reader Gail Caskey Winkler Lecturer in Historic Preservation University of Pennsylvania This thesis is dedicated to my husband, Adam Ruedig, who has been of tremendous help and has shown remarkable patience and love. ii Acknowledgments I would like to thank my neighbor, Michael Guinn, for introducing me to the Plastic Club and its charm, for being on call for my many questions, and for turning the heat on for me in the basement. I would also like to thank Betty MacDonald for her patience and for her extraordinary memory, which has helped me gain a better understanding of the Club’s history. Additional thanks goes to the entire Board and Club members for allowing me to spend so much time listening in and exploring the nooks and crannies of the building. I would like to acknowledge the help and guidance received from my advisor, Randall Mason, and the extra time that my reader, Gail Caskey Winkler, donated to aid my thesis. Special thanks also goes to Bill Campbell, who so kindly spent much time recounting the history of the Sketch Club. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments......................................................................................................iii Table of Contents...............................................................................................................iv List of Figures..................................................................................................................... v Introduction and Methodology ........................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: History of the Plastic Club and 247 S. Camac Street........................................ 3 History of the Organization ........................................................................................ 3 Building History........................................................................................................ 13 History of the Club House ........................................................................................ 20 Chapter 2: Literature Review............................................................................................ 33 Chapter 3: Current Organization and Comparables.......................................................... 48 Stakeholders.............................................................................................................. 48 Goals ......................................................................................................................... 52 Comparables ............................................................................................................. 54 The Philadelphia Sketch Club....................................................................................... 54 The Salmagundi Art Club ............................................................................................. 58 Chapter 4: Statement of Significance and Values............................................................. 63 Statement of Significance ......................................................................................... 63 Values ....................................................................................................................... 63 Historical Value ............................................................................................................ 63 Social Value.................................................................................................................. 66 Chapter 5: Building Condition and Management ............................................................. 69 Current Conditions.................................................................................................... 69 Components to Preserve ........................................................................................... 76 Architecture................................................................................................................... 76 Furnishings.................................................................................................................... 79 Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations................................................................. 83 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 89 Appendix A. Historic Images and Photographs................................................................ 91 Appendix B. Current Plans and Photographs ................................................................. 110 Appendix C: Franklin Fire Insurance Survey for 247 S. Camac Street, 1890 (Transcription) ................................................................................................................ 196 Appendix D: Plastic Club Constitution and By-Laws (Revised 1982)........................... 198 Index ............................................................................................................................... 205 iv List of Figures Figure A1. Postcard of John Bartram’s House, designed by Mary E. Bonsall for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.) ............................ 91 Figure A2. Postcard of the Chestnut Street Bridge, designed by Ellen W. Ahrens for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.) ............................ 92 Figure A3. Postcard of the interior of Christ Church, designed by Millicent Drake for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.) ............................ 92 Figure A4. Postcard of Gloria Dei Church, designed by Violet Oakley for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.)........................................ 93 Figure A5. Postcard of Philadelphia City Hall, designed by Paula Himmelsbach for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.) ............................ 94 Figure A6. Postcard of a “Quakress and Meeting House” designed by Elizabeth Bonsall for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.)................. 95 Figure A7. Postcard of St. Peter’s Church, designed by Sara Patterson Snowden Mitchell for the Plastic Club’s Building Fund, 1903. (Source: Plastic Club Archives.)................. 96 Figure A8. Newspaper clipping showing a photograph of 247 and 249 S. Camac Street, c.1909, before the alterations by the Plastic Club were begun (Source: Plastic Club Scrapbook 1910-1918)...................................................................................................... 97 Figure A9. Photograph of the Plastic Club shortly after renovations and alterations were completed, c. 1910. (Source: Plastic Club Scrapbook, 1910-1918, p. 2) ......................... 98 Figure A10. Photograph of the interior of the Plastic Club, first floor, looking northeast, c. 1910. (Source: Annual Report of the Plastic Club, 1910.)............................................ 99 Figure A11. Photograph of the interior of the Plastic Club, first floor, looking northwest, c. 1910. (Source: Annual Report of the Plastic Club, 1910.)............................................ 99 Figure A12. Photograph of the interior of the Plastic club, second floor studio and gallery, looking northeast, c. 1910. (Source: Annual Report of the Plastic Club, 1910.)100 Figure A13. Photograph of the interior of the Plastic Club, second floor studio and gallery, looking northwest, c. 1910. (Source: Annual Report of the Plastic Club, 1910.) ........................................................................................................................................