Emlen, Eleanor Cope, School of Practice
Why it's listed
Built in 1925-1926 on Chew Street in Philadelphia, the Eleanor Cope Emlen School of Practice is a three-story building of buff-colored brick with limestone trim, designed in the Late Gothic Revival style by Irwin T. Catharine. Its nine-bay front has projecting end sections, carved stone panels beneath the openings, and a central two-story stone bay carrying the school's name above an arched entrance. A crenellated parapet tops the building. Its plan resembles the John Story Jenks School. In 1930 an auditorium was added to the rear of the northeast wing. The school was one of several the Philadelphia School District erected to teach children and also to train teachers in methods endorsed by the Board of Education, a model that was praised in national educational circles. Along with the Henry C. Lea, Logan, Russell H. Conwell and Thaddeus Stevens schools of practice, it represents that program. The nomination treats its educational role as the basis for its importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant under the education criterion as one of several Philadelphia School District buildings that served both to instruct children and to train teachers in methods endorsed by the Board of Education. It is evaluated as a contributing part of the Philadelphia Public Schools thematic group on its educational merits.
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 88002267, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6501 Chew St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002267 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Irwin T. Catharine (architect); Melody & Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and integrity as good; in school use |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 40.05415, -75.17806 (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 88002267.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5354252
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.