Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
05
Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Sarah
Leu through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden
Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories.
Last updated on March 25, 2015.
Philadelphia History Museum
Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
Table of Contents
Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3
Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Administrative Information........................................................................................................................... 4
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................5
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Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
Summary Information
Repository
Philadelphia History Museum
Creator
Buckley and Co., Inc.
Title
Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
Call number
05
Date [inclusive]
1927-1971
Extent
2.75 linear feet
General Physical
Description note
8 boxes
Language
English
Abstract
John Buckley and Company was established by John J. Buckley
(1896-1974) in 1928 as construction contractors specializing in
foundations. Buckley and Co., Inc. is still active as of 2014 as a
major highway and heavy contractor business located in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. The Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs,
1927-1971, consist primarily of images of construction sites, but also
include film negatives, and small numbers of letters, bid forms, and other
documents.
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Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
Biography/History
John Buckley and Company was established by John J. Buckley (1896-1974) in 1928 as construction
contractors specializing in foundations. Buckley and Co., Inc. is still active as of 2014 as a major highway
and heavy contractor business located at 1800 South 34th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
During the 1940s, Buckley and Co. was located at 1317 South Juniper Street. After the death of founder
and president John J. Buckley in 1974, his son, Robert R. "Bob" Buckley (born 1935), took over the
positions of President and Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, Buckley and Co. transitioned
from a foundation contractor to a heavy contractor. Buckley and Co. has worked on many projects in the
Philadelphia area including the Market and Broad streets subways, various sections of Interstate 95 and
Interstate 76, the Passyunk Avenue Bridge, and the Center City Commuter Connection (also known as
the commuter tunnel). The company has also participated in projects in New York, New Jersey, Florida,
California, and Puerto Rico.
Bibliography:
The Moles. "Robert R. Buckley." 2007. Accessed October 3, 2014. http://themoles.info/
aboutUs_awards_Buckley.php.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists primarily of photographs of construction sites, but also includes film negatives
and small numbers of letters, bid forms, and other documents. The construction sites in the photographs
are mostly identified. The majority of locations depicted are in Philadelphia, but some sites are in
other areas including Norristown (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) and Washington, D.C. The
photographer is identified for some images. A detailed inventory of this collection is available on-site.
Administrative Information
Philadelphia History Museum
Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Sarah Leu through the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories.
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Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
Sponsor
This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden
Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made
possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Access Restrictions
Contact Philadelphia History Museum for information about accessing this collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
Gift of Buckley and Co., Inc. (accession 90.66)
Processing Information Note
Summary descriptive information on this collection was compiled in 2012-2014 as part of a project
conducted by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to make better known and more accessible the
largely hidden collections of small, primarily volunteer run repositories in the Philadelphia area. The
Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) was funded by a
grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
This is a preliminary finding aid. No physical processing, rehousing, reorganizing, or folder listing was
accomplished during the HCI-PSAR project.
In some cases, more detailed inventories or finding aids may be available on-site at the repository where
this collection is held; please contact Philadelphia History Museum directly for more information.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
• Buckley and Co., Inc.
Geographic Name(s)
• Norristown (Pa.)
• Philadelphia (Pa.)
• Washington (D.C.)
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Buckley and Co., Inc. construction photographs
Subject(s)
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Building
Buildings
Construction and demolition debris
Construction equipment
Construction projects
Contractors
Elevated highways
Subway tunnels
Subways
Wrecking
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