Greeting Cards, Roach Collection,University of Pennsylvania Archives

University Archives and Records Center
University of Pennsylvania

To Hannah and Spence

Holiday greeting cards from the
Architectural Alumni Graphics Collection of
Franklin Spencer Roach and Hannah Benner Roach.

Franklin Spencer Roach and Hannah Benner Roach were both well known professionally in the architectural, historical and cultural circles of Philadelphia.

Their collection, donated to the University Archives in 1978, dates from 1925 through 1977. It contains 522 items designed by 73 individuals. Many of these cards were designed and sent by fellow alumni of the University of Pennsylvania's architectural program. Each card, a small piece of artwork in its own right, highlights the whimsical and graphic illustration styles of the architect outside of the drafting studio.

Franklin Spencer Roach (1906-1987), B.Arch. 1928; Hannah Benner Roach (1907-1976), BFA 1929, B.Arch. 1935.

Spencer worked at a number of prominent architectural firms in the city, most notably the firms of Robert Rodes McGoodwin and Harbeson, Hough, Livingston and Larson. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Pennsylvania Society of Architects and served as Director of the Philadelphia Chapter of the AIA.

Among his clients were the Pennsylvania State University and the Thomas Jefferson University. He also participated in historical restoration projects for the Independence National Historic Park, the Free Quaker Meeting House and Mount Pleasant.

Hannah was associated with the architectural firms of Charles A. Klauder, R. Brognard Okie, Robert Rodes McGoodwin and Harbeson, Hough, Livingston and Larson. In the 1950's, however, she turned to genealogical research, teaching courses at the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania and at the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City. She served as Editor for the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine and as a Research Associate for the William Penn Papers.

More biographical information on Franklin Spencer Roach

These five greeting cards were sent by the Roaches (reading from top to bottom) for the years 1940, 1938, 1941, 1966 and 1971.

The collection includes 522 items sent to the Roaches by friends and fellow architects. Cards from thirteen of these architects are included in this exhibit. Click below to view selected Holiday Cards created by each architect, along with a short biographical sketch and photograph.

George D. Batcheler, Jr.	Alfred Bendinner	Joseph T. Fraser, Jr.	John F. Harbeson
William J.H. Hough	Phyllis Whei Yin Lin	Clarence B. Litchfield	Robert R. McGoodwin
Robert W. Noble	John N. Richards	Jacob R. Snyder	Harold T. Spitznagel

Darwin H. Urffer

All of the holiday greeting cards in this exhibit are from the
Architectural Alumni Graphics Collection of
Franklin Spencer Roach and Hannah Benner Roach,
University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.
This exhibit was created by Martin J. Hackett, Public Services Archivist. It can be viewed at the University Archives during the 1999 holiday season.

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