RESOURCES
ONLINE RESOURCES:
You
of course know google.com, but do you know www.redlightgreen.com? It’s an amazingly quick search engine among
printed books. Also, www.vivisimo.com is
in some ways superior to google, because it "bundles" results by
theme.
And
you know www.library.pitt.edu, to
get you to pittcat, but remember that it gets you to other libraries too (CMU,
Carnegie) and to www.worldcat.com, which
is an awesome worldwide resource that also tells you where you can locate the
book that might not be in Pittsburgh.
www.franktoker.pitt.edu is the website
that leads to three important resources for the HA&A1010 seminar:
--an
online version of Franklin Toker's: Pittsburgh:
An Urban Portrait (but unfortunately missing the chapter on Oakland)
--online
version of Franklin Toker's chapter 1 of Buildings
of Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (with Lu Donnelly,
David Brumble; to be published by Oxford University Press in 2005).
--an
online version of this guide, with "clickable" links.
Other
Web Resources
CARNEGIE
LIBRARY www.carnegielibrary.org
CAROLINE
is the Carnegie Library's Online Card Catalogue. Most information the Library has received
since 1975 can be found in the computer.
You can search by: title, author, subject and keywords. You need a
library card to gain access. This can
also be accessed from home using your library card number. The cards must access information prior to
1975. It is therefore imperative to use
both hardcopy information as well as that received from online when it comes to
the Carnegie Library.
Resources>Research
Database>Magazine/Newspaper
This
feature allows remote access to other sites, such as the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette (PG). A search can be done
for any and all articles printed in the PG.
It also provides links to archives; articles not owned by the PG, genealogy,
and real estate transfers. Library Card
may be needed for remote searches.
Resources>Discover Pittsburgh
Provides
numerous links to valuable Carnegie Library resources, such as Photos &
Scene of Pittsburgh, which allows one to access images of Pittsburgh through
the years. Bridging the Urban Landscape
is an exhibit of over 600 images text of Pittsburgh’s bridges and
neighborhoods. The site includes
information ranging from famous Pittsburghers to Maps to Pittsburgh Web
Directory.
Pennsylvania
Department at the Carnegie Library
http://www.carnegielibrary.org/locations/pennsylvania/
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
www.library.cmu.edu/Research/ArchArch
The
homepage includes links to Collections Information, Pittsburgh
Architecture: A Guide to Research, Architectural Records,
and Architectural Archives Site.
Collections Information page consists of collection descriptions and a
searchable database of holdings from the Middle Nineteenth Century to present
documenting the region’s built environment.
Also from here you can search via an architect or firm, where you will
receive a short biography/history of the person, content of the collection, and
a select bibliography. In clicking
through you may find something like Samuel Diescher, who was an engineer in
Pittsburgh. The collection contains
numerous original drawings. Pittsburgh
Architecture: A Guide to Research was composed by Martin Aurand, assisting
researchers in the quest for information on architectural works in
Pittsburgh. Next is the Architectural
Records, which provides more than just the buildings. This resource may include notes and
communications between the architect and the patron. Finally the Architectural Archives Site provides
links to other U.S. Architectural Archives Sites and Research Guides. Also available from the
homepage is a new feature, full-text electronic access to Charette magazine
(1920-1974).
LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS
American
Memory: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ammemhome.html
Historic
American Building Survey and Engineering Report
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/hhhtml/hhhome.html
This
site contains the HABS/HAER Collection, which allows access to all the photos
and drawings of H.H. Richardson’s Allegheny Courthouse, as well as other
prominent Pittsburgh buildings. In the
case of the Courthouse, there are 35 drawings available, 13 black & white
photos, data pages, photo caption pages, and supplemental materials.
PITTSBURGH
HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION
From
the PHLF homepage>Index &Links>Pittsburgh Links
The
website offers a clear representation of the services they offer, such as the
James Van Trump Library.
SENATOR
JOHN HEINZ REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER
This
site allows you to access the books and arrival inventory of the Historical
Society of Western Pennsylvania (HSWP) without having to actually go to the
History Center. The HSWP possess items,
such as the deed to Frank Nicola for Schenley Farms in 1905.
UNIVERSITY
OF PITTSBUGRH LIBRARY SYSTEM
The
Digital Research Library
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh
A
project of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and the University of
Pittsburgh, this site offers full text, maps, census, chronology, and
more. There are over 500 full-text from
the Nineteenth-Twentieth Century Pittsburgh. You can search this list by
browsing through or searching a specific author, book. Also available are real estate plat maps via http://digital.library.pitt.edu/maps
Atlases and Plat-Books of Pittsburgh are your quickest visual
source of information on the city. They
began in the 18th century but in their printed form date from the later l9th
century. Their titles may be found in PITTCAT under "Pittsburgh --
Maps". Among the major series are the Warrantee
Atlas; Atlas of the City of
Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Adjacent Boroughs (l872 and later, by G.M.
Hopkins); Real Estate Plat-Book (l896
and later); Insurance Map of Pittsburgh
(l924 on, published by Sanborn Map Company); Ward Books (Pittsburgh Magazine Company, 1911, for each of the 27
wards). At this site you can 26 volumes of the Hopkins plat maps for the grater
Pittsburgh area from 1872-1939. Searches
can be conducted by building or street name.
I searched the Frick Building, leaving the default building type. I acquire three maps from 1903, 1923, and
1929. The result page also provides you
with landmarks on the same page of the plat map.
www.arch.state.pa.us/default.asp
gets you to almost every National Register form from Pennsylvania: i.e. all our
important older buildings.
This
is the official website of the City of Pittsburgh
City Services>Department Index>City Planning
Offers
a list of city departments and phone numbers, including the Bureaus of Building
Inspection located in the County Office Building at 200 Ross Street,
downtown. Call 412. 255. 2176 for an
appointment.
City Services>Department Index>Maps
Provides various maps of the City
Map room 412.255.2200
Neighborhood
maps, as well as city parks (including Schenley), wards & voting districts,
and others are available.
Archives
of American Art, Smithsonian Institute
National
Parks Service
National
Register of Historic Places
Architects--
Biographies
HARDCOPY RESOURCES--Archival
materials and clippings
In
Frank Toker's office:
--packets
of clippings and earlier papers corresponding to each of the research topics
advertised above.
--research
posters with graphic information on specific problems such as public housing in
Pittsburgh, the Hill, Civic Arena etc.
--backup
materials on all the buildings described in Buildings
of Western Pennsylvania volume
--backup
materials on all the buildings and neighborhoods described in Pittsburgh: An Urban Portrait
--backup
materials on specific streets, buildings, and neighborhoods of Pittsburgh
For
deeds research, consult the Block and Lot Room and the Recorder of Deeds
Office in the County Office Building at 400 Ross Street, downtown.
The
Allegheny County Recorder of Deed Office contains deeds, as well as detailed
building development plans. An
appointment is not necessary, but you may want to call ahead 412.350.4226. Also located in the County Office Building
downtown at 200 Ross Street.
CARNEGIE
LIBRARY www.carnegielibrary.org
4400
Forbes Avenue, Oakland 412.622.3114
Music
& Art Department 412.622.3105
PA
Dept 412.622.3154
Periodicals/Microfilm 412.622.3152
The
Oliver Room, Greg Priore 412.622.1932
Library
Card
In
order to access the computers at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, you must
have a valid library card. If you are a
resident of Pennsylvania and have a PA library card that contains an Access PA
sticker on it, you may use this. To
obtain a Carnegie Library Card, you must be a resident of Allegheny
County. You may take a utility bill to
show proof of residency in Allegheny County when applying for a library card.
Miscellaneous
resources in the CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY: In the microfilm collection, second
floor, are all city directories (PA-202). Sanborn insurance maps
(P101) of Pittsburgh and all Pennsylvania are available on microfilm for
1884 (partial); 1893; 1906; 1927; 1951. These show every building in the city,
with detailed plans of industrial complexes, labeled. The Music and Art
Department, second floor, has index-card drawers on the buildings of
Pittsburgh: drawers 53, 54, 55 on architects, and buildings by institutional
categories (e.g. churches) as well as homes by owners names. The same
department has three clippings files on architects and prominent buildings.
The
Pennsylvania Department, second floor, contains the Pittsburgh Photograph
Library of thousands of large-format contact prints; full clippings files on
neighborhoods and buildings; a "biography index" of card catalogs
that cite prominent Pittsburghers in books; and a biographical clippings file
on Pittsburghers that is most useful in determining facts on buildings.
A
wealth of knowledge can be found in the Pennsylvania Department. This department is located in the right wing
of the second floor. The information in
this department can be accessed in a variety of ways.
*Biography
Indexes
*Card
Catalogues
*
Books
*
Biography/Business Index
*
Picture Index: will lead you to any pictures of the site found in the texts,
need to look up under several headings, such as Industry>Brick
*
Portrait Index: will lead you to any pictures of the person found in the texts,
do not exist in print, but in books
Census
The
Census is available from 1790-1930. The
easiest way to search is to know the name of the person you are looking for
City
Directories
City
Directories are available from 1813 arranged by street. After 1929 the directories are arranged by
street and person's last name. Available
on microfilm, reference number PA-202.
Maps
*
County
*
Sanborn--Fire Insurance Maps available from 1920 --1950, show where things were
and also were the boundaries were; on microfilm reference number P101,
originals are kept in the Oliver Room
*Ward--available in hard
copy in the Oliver Room.
*Hopkins--available
on microfilm, reference number P411A
Newspapers
There
is no index for these. Racial and ethnic
papers are available.
Obituaries
Arranged
by last name; 1786-1913 mostly Germans and Anglos; 1914-1962 need exact date of
death; 1963-1988 more broadly than just Germans and Anglos
Planning
Documents
Some
items found in the Oliver Room are details of the construction of the Liberty
Tunnels. Also available is information
involving three major planners: Frederick Law Olmsted of 1910, Robert Moses of
1936, and the Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association from 1962.
Pittsburgh
Photographic Library
A
copy of the four-page index list can be found on top of the cabinets. Subject Headings include: Bridges, Buildings,
Cemeteries, Districts (neighborhoods of the city), Flood Control, Gateway
Center, Housing, Immigrants, Industries, Institutions, Railroads, Sewage &
Refuse, Social Settlements, and Transportation.
With this resource, you can literally pull hundreds of pictures to look
through.
Scrapbooks
Vertical
Files
These
contain newspaper and magazine clippings throughout the years and are
continuously added to as articles are printed.
The organization of this group is varied from building name, event,
neighborhood, or person. You must ask a
librarian to obtain a file.
Rare
finds in the Pennsylvania Department can consist of Charles Stotz’s Memoirs, a
Scrapbook of Frederic Bigger, and oral histories of Renaissance I. The PA Department has a plethora of material
on Pittsburgh.
Music
& Art Dept
http://www.carnegielibrary.org/locations/musicart/
This
department is located in the left wing of the second floor. As soon as you enter there is a set of old
card catalogues to your right. In the
section closest to you, there are drawers numbered 47-48-49. In these you will find listings for
Pittsburgh Architects, Buildings, Exhibitions, Houses, and
Locations/Neighborhoods. Sometimes items
are listed several times, depending on which keyword you chose.
You
can also find architectural journals in the Music & Art Department. Pre-1969 are stored in the North Side Branch,
but you can request them to the Oakland Branch.
This takes a few days. American
Architect, Builders Bulletin, Carnegie Magazine, Charette, and Inland Architect
& News Record (very important fro the 1890s) remain at the Oakland
Branch. The Builders Bulletin (aka
Builder) is available on microfilm # 129 from 1904-1919. This resource contains Pittsburgh
neighborhoods and photos.
Also
found in this section are original field drawings. Please ask a librarian to escort to the
vertical files, which contain 1--Pgh Architects
(A-Z),
2--Pgh Architecture (A-Z), 3--Western PA architectural survey, includes filed
drawing, consists of 5 files
The
William R. Oliver Room
The
Archivist of the Oliver Room is Greg Priore, 412.622.1932. It is recommend calling ahead. This is where most of the older and rare
items throughout the library are kept for conservation.
CARNEGIE
MELLON UNIVERSITY
www.library.cmu.edu/Research/ArchArch
Hunt
Library, Fourth Floor 412.268.8165
Contact
Martin Aurand ma1f@andrew.cmu.edu for
an appointment, which is required.
PITTSBURGH
HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION
www.phlf.org 412.471.5808
Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) has an extensive library. It is available for no charge when a valid ID
is presented, otherwise there is a $10 fee.
Copies are $0.25. To schedule an
appointment, which is necessary, contact Albert Tannler by phone or al@phlf.org.
For architectural or historical reference questions, contact Walter
Kidney.
SENATOR
JOHN HEINZ REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER
www.pghhistory.org 412.454.6000
The
Library & Archives link from the homepage will take to the reading room and
library of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, which is housed on
the Sixth Floor of the History Center.
If you are a member of the Historical Society, then admission is free to
the library. If you are not a member you
can gain access by paying admission to the History Center. If you are planning to access this resource
several times, you may be able to pay a flat fee for several days admittance.
UNIVERSITY
OF PITTSBUGRH LIBRARY SYSTEM
Frick
Fine Arts Library 412.648.2413
Apart
from its extensive holdings on Pittsburgh architecture, there is a reserve
shelf containing a few essential Pittsburgh books, as listed above.
Hillman
Library 412.648.3330
Archives
Services Center 412.244.7091
http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/archives/aistoc.html
This
address will provide you with the Table of Contents to the Archives of the
Industrial Society Collections & Research Guides. This includes links to racial groups, women,
and laborers/workers. The Archives
Service Center contains the University of Pittsburgh archives, certain
specialized collections, and the Archives of Industrial Society, including the
City Photographer collection (50,000 glass negatives, 1900 to 1960), histories
of numerous clubs, companies and churches, and biographical files. The most
important of these collections for Pittsburgh urbanism and buildings are the Building Permit Dockets for Pittsburgh,
1878-1916. (The post-1916 permits are in
certificate form, and are reportedly housed in great disorder in the Bureau of
Building Inspection at the Public Safety Building, Downtown). The building permit entries are by year, ward
by ward, and detail the structure and cost, owner and builder of all new
Pittsburgh buildings of the period. The IAS has the originals, but generally
gives you microfilms to use. Also
available at the Archives Services Center are a variety of collections,
including one from the Office of the City Photographer that shows neighborhoods
literally growing up from the farms they used to be.