School Design, Site Selection, and the Political Geography of Race in Postwar Philadelphia

Through a close exploration of site selection and school design, this article seeks to demonstrate the continued significance of school buildings on the landscape of Philadelphia. By assessing the decisions made by school district bureaucrats in the post–World War II era in light of race, the roots of a separate and unequal school system are revealed.

Clapper, Michael. “School Design, Site Selection, and the Political Geography of Race in Postwar Philadelphia.” Journal of Planning History, Vol 5, No 3 (2006), 241-263.