Virginia Castleman writing in her diary

The photographs in this online exhibit were taken by Virginia Carter Castleman, an 1899 graduate of the library school at Drexel Institute.

During Castleman's time, the majority of classes and administrative activities at Drexel were confined to the Main Building at 32nd and Chestnut Streets.  In 1899, what now encompasses the Drexel campus was crowded with residences, businesses, and small industrial buildings.  While most students came from Philadelphia and the surrounding region, Virginia Castleman was one of the few that came from out of the area to attend. 

The photographs seen here provide some insight into student life at Drexel at the turn of the century.  More importantly, they offer the unique perspective of an independent woman during a interesting period in the history of women and Philadelphia.

The originals of the photographs in this exhibit are part of the Virginia Carter Castleman photograph collection in the Drexel University Archives.  For questions about Virginia Carter Castleman’s collection of photographs, or any other question related to the history of Drexel, contact the university archivist at archives@drexel.edu.