National Register of Historic Places

Alcorn, James, School

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
November 18, 1988
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
88002225

About this property

The Universal Alcorn Charter Elementary School is an American charter school that is located in the Grays Ferry neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Beginning in 2012 the elementary levels remained at the original building while middle school classes began to be taught in the former King of Peace Catholic School. Originally known as the James Alcorn School, this building was designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built between 1931 and 1932. It is a three-story, nine-bay, yellow brick building that sits on a raised basement. Created in the Late Gothic Revival style, it features two projecting entrances with stone surrounds, a central entrance with arched opening, a two-story projecting bay window, and a crenellated parapet.

Location

1500 S. 32nd St.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.93519, -75.19800

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Alcorn, James, School

This page lists Alcorn, James, School. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Alcorn, James, School report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Audenried, Charles Y., Junior High School
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church Complex
Listed
0.2 mi
Wayne, Anthony, School
Industrial
0.5 mi
University Avenue Bridge
Industrial
0.6 mi
Bartram, John, House
Colonial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
1.6 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
3 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin
1777Revolutionary War
3.8 mi
Fort Mercer (Battle of Red Bank)
1777Revolutionary War
3.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Alcorn, James, School listed on the National Register?

Alcorn, James, School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 1988.

What type of historic resource is Alcorn, James, School?

Alcorn, James, School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Alcorn, James, School?

The period of significance for Alcorn, James, School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Alcorn, James, School?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Alcorn, James, School will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Philadelphia County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Philadelphia County.

Explore PhiladelphiaCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Alcorn, James, School will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report