Local History Day Connects Communities through History, Culture and Stories
On Saturday, November 4 from 12 -4 pm, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main in Oakland will host Bridges of Belonging: Connecting Communities through History, Culture, and Stories, a local history day featuring speakers, historical tours, a community archive photo project, exhibitors and more.
The event next month will give patrons the opportunity to reengage with their local library and learn about different organizations working to make historical tools and research collections accessible to everyone.
“Here in Pittsburgh, we’re incredibly fortunate to have a variety of groups and individuals sharing a passion for our city’s unique history,” said Amanda Peters, CLP Archivist. “Local History Day is an exciting event that not only celebrates the rich history and culture of the Pittsburgh region and beyond, but encourages members of our community to explore their own stories and histories. Whether you’re a history buff or simply interested in learning more, this event offers something for everyone.”
Patrons will get the chance to visit exhibitors such as SisTers PGH, Squirrel Hill Historical Society, Murals of Maxo Vanka, African American Historical & Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh, Heinz History Center Detre Library & Archives, and Steel City Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. The event will also feature a presentation from Ed Simon, author of An Alternative History of Pittsburgh, a demonstration of HistoricPittsburgh.org, and a panel discussion on building a community archive.
Patrons are invited to bring a copy of a photograph that demonstrates what “home” means to them to add to a Community Photograph Board. Photographs, including neighborhood/community information, date and names of people in the photo, will be added to the Library’s Archives as part of a community archive effort.
Event Details
*No registration required. The event is free and open to the public.
Where: CLP – Main (Oakland), 4400 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213
Event held on Second Floor and Third Floor – Walk around and view historical and community resources
When: Saturday, November 4 from 12 -4 pm
Schedule of Events
12 – 1 pm – Opening Speaker, Ed Simon, author of An Alternative History of Pittsburgh (ASL Interpreter will be present)
Ed Simon will talk about the various resources he used in writing An Alternative History of Pittsburgh in his talk “Steel City History by the Girder,” an appreciation of the writers and scholars who have been invaluable in recording and interpreting the complicated history of Pittsburgh. Ed Simon is the editor of Belt Magazine and a widely published author whose work has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, The Paris Review Daily, The New York Times and The Washington Post, among dozens of others. Author of An Alternative History of Pittsburgh, his most recent books are Elysium: An Illustrate History of Angelology and Heaven, Hell and Paradise Lost.
1 pm – Historical Tour (Sign-up at the Welcome Table on the Second Floor, tours start on the First Floor in front of the Director’s Office, near the restrooms.)
1:15-1:45 pm – University of Pittsburgh will demo HistoricPittsburgh.org in the Third Floor Conference Room.
Join us for a demonstration of HistoricPittsburgh.org in the Third Floor Conference Room. Historic Pittsburgh is an online resource comprised of primary and secondary sources documenting the greater Pittsburgh region. With contributions from universities, museums, historical societies, libraries, and non-profits in Western Pennsylvania, the site hosts digitized content such as publications, maps, manuscripts, photographs, audio-visual materials, and more to support personal and scholarly research.
2 – 3 pm – Panel on building a community archive (ASL Interpreter will be present)
3 pm – Historical Tour
For additional information about this event, please visit carnegielibrary.org.
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