Bartlett School
Also known as: Palumbo,Frank C.,School
Why it's listed
Built in 1930 in South Philadelphia, this junior high school fills most of a city block and served the surrounding neighborhood. Junior high schools had been introduced in Philadelphia in 1913 to provide grades 7 through 9 as preparation for high school. Designed by school architect Irwin Catherine, the building uses strong vertical lines and tall, attenuated massing, combined with Gothicized ornament, to produce a monumental design suited to the junior high's role. It is regarded as the largest and most imposing junior high in the city when completed. Among the school designs by Catherine, which share some techniques and details, it is considered the only example of this particular type. The building is significant as a distinctive blend of Art Deco style and Gothicized detailing among his schools, reflecting the architect's skill in manipulating surface and height.
Significance in brief: The building is described as the largest and most imposing junior high school in Philadelphia when constructed. It is argued to be the only example of its architectural type among the school designs of its architect, and a unique blend of Art Deco style and Gothicized detailing.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003315, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | 1100 Catharine St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003315 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930-3( |
| Architect / builder | Irwin Catherine (architect) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco with Gothicized detailing |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 39.93993, -75.16138 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003315.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4865417
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.