Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Records, 1952-2000
Collection
Identifier: 020
Scope and Contents
This collection contains material related to various urban renewal projects undertaken by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) from its establishment in 1956 through 2000. Photographs, architectural drawings, maps, and other materials document the planning process, plan execution, and community engagement activities of the CRA, with the bulk of the material related to their redevelopment of the Kendall Square, Wellington-Harrington, and Walden Square sections of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Of special note is the large number of photographs in the collection documenting the recreational programming of Just-a-Start, a youth training and community revitalization program in Cambridge’s Wellington-Harrington neighborhood.
Dates
- 1952-2000
Access to Collection
This collection is open to research.
Conditions Governing Use
The material in this collection is subject to copyright and intellectual property restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to understand and observe copyright law and to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyright. Researchers must obtain written permission from the copyright holder(s) if they wish to publish materials from this collection. Questions concerning copyright and permission to publish should be directed to the Cambridge Room, Cambridge Public Library Archives and Special Collections.
Biographical / Historical
The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) was established in 1956 to implement urban renewal projects and other community development activities in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Projects administered since its organization include the Kendall Square Urban Renewal Project, the Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Renewal Project, the Walden Square Urban Renewal Project, and the City-Wide Housing Rehabilitation Program. As of 2012, CRA urban redevelopment projects have resulted in approximately 6 million square feet of commercial development and over 2,000 newly constructed and rehabilitated residential housing units.
Extent
43.8 Linear feet
20.5 Cubic Feet
18 boxes (8 Hollinger, 1 half Hollinger, and 9 oversize)
14 Files (14 flat files in 6 drawers)
Language of Materials
English
Organization of Collection
This collection is organized into 3 series, each with subseries:
Series 1.1.1: Photographs, Kendall Square Development, 1963-1998
Series 1.1.2: Photographs, Kendall Square Predevelopment, 1963-1998
Series 1.2: Photographs, Other Projects, 1963-1998
Series 1.3: Photographs, Walden Square, 1963-1998
Series 1.4: Photographs, Wellington-Harrington, 1963-1998
Series 2.1: Slides, Kendall Square, 1970-2000
Series 2.2: Slides, Other Projects, 1970-2000
Series 2.3: Slides, Walden Square, 1970-2000
Series 2.4: Slides, Wellington-Harrington, 1970-2000
Series 2.5: Slides, Wellington-Harrington Reference Materials, 1970-2000
Series 3.1: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Kendall Square, 1952-1990
Series 3.2: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Other Projects, 1952-1990
Series 3.3: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Walden Square, 1952-1990
Series 3.4: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Wellington-Harrington, 1952-1990
Approximately 11,000 items grouped by Cambridge Redevelopment Authority project within each series.
Series 1.1.1: Photographs, Kendall Square Development, 1963-1998
Series 1.1.2: Photographs, Kendall Square Predevelopment, 1963-1998
Series 1.2: Photographs, Other Projects, 1963-1998
Series 1.3: Photographs, Walden Square, 1963-1998
Series 1.4: Photographs, Wellington-Harrington, 1963-1998
Series 2.1: Slides, Kendall Square, 1970-2000
Series 2.2: Slides, Other Projects, 1970-2000
Series 2.3: Slides, Walden Square, 1970-2000
Series 2.4: Slides, Wellington-Harrington, 1970-2000
Series 2.5: Slides, Wellington-Harrington Reference Materials, 1970-2000
Series 3.1: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Kendall Square, 1952-1990
Series 3.2: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Other Projects, 1952-1990
Series 3.3: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Walden Square, 1952-1990
Series 3.4: Architectural Drawings and Maps, Wellington-Harrington, 1952-1990
Approximately 11,000 items grouped by Cambridge Redevelopment Authority project within each series.
Custodial History
Donated by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority in July 2014.
Physical Description
11,000 Items
Physical Description
3,200 Photographic Prints
Physical Description
7,700 Photographic Slides
Processing Information
Processed by Michael Wilkerson in June and July 2015. Processed and encoded by Katherine Crowe January through March 2016.
- Alewife (Cambridge, Mass.)
- Architectural drawings (visual works)
- Architecture -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge
- Black-and-white prints (photographs)
- Black-and-white slides
- Cambridge (Mass.). Community Development Department
- Cambridgeport (Mass.)
- Central Square (Cambridge, Mass.)
- Charles River (Mass.)
- Church buildings -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge
- City and town life -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge
- City planning -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge
- Color prints (photographs)
- Color slides
- East Cambridge (Cambridge, Mass.)
- Harvard Square (Cambridge, Mass.)
- Housing development -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge
- Kendall Square (Cambridge, Mass.)
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Urban renewal -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge
- Walden Square (Cambridge, Mass.)
- Wellington-Harrington (Cambridge, Mass.)
- Title
- Finding aid to the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Records, 1952-2000 020
- Author
- Michael Wilkerson and Katherine Crowe
- Date
- March 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge Room, Cambridge Public Library Archives and Special Collections Repository
Contact:
Cambridge Public Library
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
617-349-7757
apacy@cambridgema.gov
Cambridge Public Library
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
617-349-7757
apacy@cambridgema.gov