A blast from the past:

Temple University Edition

Produced by Nick Eiser

Words by Hannah Church

Present-day photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg and Joseph V. Labolito

Students are outside of Campus Safety, reading a magazine

Four students outside Campus Safety, circa 1981.

Four students outside Campus Safety, circa 1981.

We scoured Temple’s Special Collection Research Center for photographs of Main Campus from the past and matched them with images from the present. A lot has changed over the years, but, of course, some things are timelessly Temple.

Broad Street has always been bustling—both in 1925...

North Broad Street in 1925. Automobiles drive toward City Hall.

and 2018!

People cross the street in front of City Hall.
Black and white photo of Conwell Hall in 1925.

The view of Conwell Hall in 1925 looks so empty without Morgan Hall in the background!

The sun shines on Conwell Hall, as traffic moves up and down Broad Street.

Mitten Hall has always been a breathtaking building—it hasn’t changed much since 1931!

Black and white photo of students in front of Mitten Hall.
Students walk past Mitten Hall.

Every Temple student, whether in 1976 or today...

The Bell Tower stands proudly behind students, who walk all different directions to class.

knows the

in-between

class rush!

In the winter, The Bell Tower stands proudly behind students walking on main campus.

In the 1970s, sitting outside the Student Center...

Black and white photo of students sitting outside of the Student Center.
Item 1 of 1
Black and white photo of students sitting outside of the Student Center.

was just as popular as it is today!

Students sitting outside of the Student Center.
Item 1 of 1
Students sitting outside of the Student Center.

Anderson Hall was so new in 1976—three-years-old, to be exact—that it wasn’t even on the sign yet.

Black and white photo of couple holding hands, in front of Gladfelter and Anderson Hall.
A building sign that reads, College of Liberal Arts, Gladfelter and Anderson Hall.
Black and white photo of couple holding hands, in front of Gladfelter and Anderson Hall.
A building sign that reads, College of Liberal Arts, Gladfelter and Anderson Hall.

Founder’s Garden now and in 1986—landscaping on point for decades and decades.

On the steps of Founder's Garden, students sit and chat.
A man in a green coat walks underneath O'Connor Plaza sign.

Who knew there was a payphone outside of
Ritter Hall
in 1986?

A student uses the payphone outside of Ritter Hall.
A student in a green beanie walks passed Ritter Hall.

Now, as in 1987, the Bell Tower is a central part of campus!

Black and white photo of the Bell Tower and Paley Library.
Mural on Temple's main campus reads, Perseverance Conquers.
Black and white photo of the Bell Tower and Paley Library.
Mural on Temple's main campus reads, Perseverance Conquers.
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