Irwin T. Catharine

Who was Irwin T. Catharine?

Irwin Thornton Catharine was the chief architect of Philadelphia public schools from 1920 until his retirement in 1937. Buildings built during Catharine's tenure ranged from Gothic Revival, as in the case of Simon Gratz High School, to Streamline Moderne, as in his last project, Joseph H. Brown Elementary School. He died in Philadelphia in 1944.

Catharine succeeded Henry deCoursey Richards as the main school designer in Philadelphia. During 1918 to 1937, his work added 104 new buildings, added wings to 26 other schools, and otherwise improved at least 50 other schools.

A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Works include:

⁕James Alcorn School, 1500 S. 32nd St., NRHP-listed

⁕Ethan Allen School, 3001 Robbins Ave., NRHP-listed

⁕Charles Y. Audenried Junior High School, 1601 S. 33rd St., NRHP-listed

⁕Bartlett School, 1100 Catharine St., NRHP-listed

⁕Clara Barton School, 300 E. Wyoming Ave., NRHP-listed

⁕John Bartram High School, 67th and Elmwood Sts., NRHP-listed

⁕Dimner Beeber Junior High School, 5901 Malvern Ave., NRHP-listed

⁕Belmont School, 4030-4060 Brown St., NRHP-listed