But things are actually a lot more exciting than that. A lot more exciting, indeed. Through the efforts of LaCava and Ruth Carter, the ULS' former head of archives, the EA has become a vital, living tool to scholars from as far away as Germany and China. Established in 1980, the EA has quickly grown from a fledgling assortment of materials to encompass 1,000 linear feet. To accommodate its expansion, the collection was recently relocated to an off-campus University warehouse in the Point Breeze section of the city.
People also call because they're researching their property or their neighborhood.
We do a lot of detective work. LaCava, who has both bachelor's and master's degrees in history, became interested in environmental studies while doing his undergraduate work at Haverford College. It is no wonder, then, that the papers of the Smoke Abatement League are his favorite part of the collection. These materials, donated by the Mellon Institute of Research, chart the progress of initiatives introduced to curb urban and rural pollution and include the original studies done to determine the impact of smoke on the human body. This research helped inspire legislation dealing with clean water, air pollution, and soil conservation.