Skip to content

West End Historical Collection Finding Aid

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – West End

West End Historical Collection Finding Aid

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Dates: 1874-2016
Extent: 16 Boxes, 12 photo binders, and 21 loose books.
Language: English
Repository: Cupboard under the Stairs, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – West End, 47 Wabash Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Acquisition Information: Organized in 2015, the provenance of materials is unknown. Materials accumulated in the storage space over many years.
Copyright: N/A
Requested Citation: West End Historical Collection, West End Library, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Finding Aid Created by: Carl Lew

Notes on the Collection

Scope and Content Note: This collection contains 16 boxes, 12 photo binders, 21 books, a “Mid-Century Collection” that includes a vinyl record, GI magazines and War Department publications from WWII, and a binder of materials related to the WPA “Museum Extension Project.” Some of the items are not an original copy, but a photocopy of a primary document. This is noted with an asterisk (*).

Arrangement Note: Items are grouped thematically. Box 1 contains items relating to CLP and its general organization. Boxes 2-5 contain materials specific to the West End branch of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP). Boxes 6-12 relate to the West End neighborhood and surrounding communities, the people who lived there, and civic projects related to their upkeep. Box 13-14 contains editions of the variously named “Western Pennsylvania History Magazine.” Box 15 contains miscellaneous educational materials regarding various epochs and events (e.g. the Vietnam War). Box 16 houses the GI materials in the Mid Century Collection. Not all items have a date ascribed to them. The year is left blank when this is the case.

Series Note: This collection is separated into seven series: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Local History, Educational Materials, Mid-Century, Loose Books, Photo Binders, and Commemorative Newspapers.

History: Built in 1899, the West End Library has been recognized as a historic landmark by Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and is credited with holding the first children’s storytime in Pittsburgh and possibly the country. Established in 2015, the archives are not traditional – not all of the materials are technically “historic”, though many are historical (copies of primary documents). The collection was organized with the intent to aid and inform researchers of this neighborhood.

Container List

Series 1 – Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh:
Box 1 – CLP

  1. CLP Employee Handbook 1995
  2. CLP History 1945
  3. CLP Annual Report and Supplement 1976
  4. CLP Annual Report and Supplement 1977
  5. CLP Annual Report 2002
  6. CLP Annual Report 2013
  7. “Suggestions for Improving CLP” 1940
  8. Survey of CLP and its Services 1929
  9. Staff Survey 1960
  10. Catalog of Relics 1911

Box 2 – CLP West End

  1. Hundredth Anniversary Guest Book 1999
  2. Branch Analysis 1985
  3. Branch Analysis 2000
  4. Outreach 2009-12
  5. Greenlore Newsletter 1998-2000
  6. West End Elliot Citizens Council 1993-2000
  7. Annual Statistical Report 1947-9
  8. Annual Reports 1935-46
  9. Branch Reports 1902-23
  10. Building Plans 2012-14
  11. Internship Reports 1986-97
  12. Branch Correspondence 1985-2002

Box 3 – CLP West End

  1. User Survey 1993
  2. Computer Tables for User Survey 2000
  3. Friends of the Library 1985-7
  4. Historical Outreach 2001
  5. Library Surveys and Development 1997
  6. Survey of Branch Services 1943-61
  7. Employee Duties
  8. Opening Ceremony Program (copy) 1899
  9. “Why My Library is Important to Me” 2000
  10. Fiftieth Anniversary 1949

Box 4 – CLP West End Children’s Department

  1. Children’s Department Monthly Reports 1982-5
  2. Children’s Department Monthly Reports 1974-6
  3. Children’s Department Monthly and Annual Reports 1966-73
  4. Children’s Department Monthly and Annual Reports 1958-65
  5. Children’s Department Monthly and Annual Reports 1935-55

Box 5 – West End Circulation Statistics

  1. “Spot Check” Statistics 1956-71
  2. Cumulated Statistics 1899-1969
  3. Circulation Statistics 1969-76
  4. Books Added and Withdrawn 1947-66
  5. Performance Appraisal 2005
  6. Survey Committee 1958

Series 2 – Local History:

Box 6 – Local History

  1. “A Geographical History of the West End and Elliott” 1973
  2. West End Valley Flood* 1936
  3. 1874 Flood* 1874-2000
  4. Old Stone Tavern* 1900s
  5. West End History* 1900s-2005
  6. Temperanceville Days* 1985
  7. Neighborhood Photographs*
  8. Community Photographs
  9. West Pittsburgh History Club 2012-6
  10. West Neighborhood Historical Association – St. James Parish 1979
  11. West End Cultural Mural 1993
  12. Quilt of History 1995
  13. “From Dilapidated to Dazzling” – Tribune-Review Article 1998
  14. 17 Noblestown Road – A Building Story* 2003

Box 7 – Local History

  1. North Pole Lee Company 1967-88
  2. West End Economic Overview 1969-88
  3. Stories and Research 1900s
  4. Community Survey 1961
  5. West End Profile 1968
  6. West End Branch Neighborhood Questionnaire 1977
  7. A Study of the Economic Conditions of the West End 1984
  8. Community Studies 1963-84
  9. Community Study 1988
  10. Economic History 1998
  11. West End Valley Glass Industry 1900s
  12. Census Tract Map 1980
  13. West End Master Plan 2010
  14. Census Data 2010
  15. Census Data II 2010
  16. WEB News (West End Branch Newsletter) 1995-2003
  17. General James A. Garfield Post 215, Grand Army of the Republic, West End Roster* 1926

Box 8 – Surrounding Communities

  1. Carrickter 1966
  2. Crafton History Volume Ic. 1932
  3. Crafton History Volume IIc. 1932
  4. Crafton Heights and other Communities 1961-90
  5. This Very Old House 1999
  6. Article on Elliott 1904
  7. Elliott and Esplen Community Profiles 1977-84
  8. Newspaper Clippings: Elliott and West End 1900s
  9. Examination Questions, Fifth Avenue High School 1897
  10. Green Tree Times 2001
  11. Green Tree Borough 75th Anniversary Book I 1960
  12. Green Tree Borough 75th Anniversary Book II 1960
  13. Green Tree Borough Centennial Book 1985
  14. Green Tree Cemetery Index and Information Book 1988
  15. “Growing Up Golden: A 50 Year History of St. Margaret Parish, Green Tree, PA” 1988
  16. 50th Anniversary of Langley High School 1973
  17. History of Oakwood 1900s
  18. “History of Kim Bottling Co” – Green Tree Times* 2014

Box 9 – State, City, and Local Materials

  1. Your State Pennsylvania 1973
  2. Pennsylvania Capital 1963
  3. Pittsburgh in 1816-1926
  4. Pamphlets and Books regarding the Pennsylvania Dutch 1948-61
  5. Pamphlets and Books regarding the Pennsylvania Dutch II 1950-70
  6. The Poles in Pennsylvania 1986
  7. Local Religion and Religious Organizations 1954-78
  8. Local Architecture 2000-1
  9. Local Architecture Articles* 1990-2004
  10. Creative Writing 1991-2
  11. Taste of Temperanceville 1982
  12. Various Local History Topics 1976

Box 10 – Civics

  1. Pittsburgh Pollution 1948-71
  2. Report on Sources of Acid Mine Drainage – Saw Mill Run Road 1969
  3. Saw Mill Run Road – clippings and photocopies 1900s
  4. Airport Busway/Wabash HOV Project Phase II Archeological Survey 1996
  5. Early Street Names of Pittsburgh 1928
  6. Pittsburgh Transportation 1975-7
  7. “An Efficient Solution for the West End Traffic Circle” 1999
  8. Fort Pitt Bridge Rehabilitation 1999
  9. “The Pennsylvania Turnpike: A History” 1990

Box 11 – Maps

  1. Area Maps I 1977
  2. Area Maps II 1974
  3. Area Maps III 1949-84
  4. Area Maps IV 1975-98
  5. Pittsburgh Zoning 1950
  6. Stream Map of Pennsylvania 1963

Box 12 – People’s History

  1. “Pathways Chosen by Our Ancestors” 1981
  2. Baker Family Reunion 1986
  3. West End Valley Biographies* 1931-89
  4. Autobiography of Henry Fred Busse 1988
  5. Henry Fred Busse 1988-95
  6. Andrew Carnegie 1985
  7. Personal Memories of the Darlington Family* 1949
  8. Arthur M. Fording Biographyc. 1920
  9. Harris Family 1974-88
  10. Henry Meredith: Reminiscences of 80 Years 1952
  11. Sheria James Written Work
  12. John F. O’Toole Obituary
  13. Henry Reider: Memories and Tales 2009
  14. H.W. Schwelger – In Memoriam 1989
  15. Henry Tranter* 1908-2012
  16. Nick Tutino 1988

Series 3 – Educational Materials:

Box 13 – Pittsburgh History Magazine

  1. Summer 1989, Vol. 72, No. 2, 1989
  2. Holiday 1989, Vol. 72, No. 4, 1989
  3. Spring 1990, Vol. 73, No. 1, 1990
  4. Summer 1990, Vol. 73, No. 2, 1990
  5. Fall 1990, Vol. 73, No. 3, 1990
  6. Winter 1990, Vol. 73, No. 4, 1990
  7. Fall 1991, Vol.74, No. 3, 1991
  8. Winter 1991, Vol. 74, No. 4, 1991
  9. Spring 1992, Vol. 75, No. 1, 1992
  10. Fall 1992, Vol. 75, No. 3, 1992
  11. Winter 1992-3, Vol. 75, No. 4, 1992-3
  12. Summer 1993, Vol. 76, No. 2, 1993
  13. Fall 1993, Vol. 76, No. 3, 1993
  14. Winter 1994-5, Vol. 77, No. 4, 1994
  15. Spring/Summer 1996, Vol. 79, No. 1 & 2, 1996
  16. Winter 1996-7, Vol. 79, No. 4, 1996-7
  17. Spring 1997, Vol. 80, No. 1, 1997

Box 14 – Pittsburgh History Magazine – name changed to Western Pennsylvania History Magazine in 1999

  1. Summer 1997, Vol. 80, No. 2, 1997
  2. Fall 1997, Vol. 80, No. 3, 1997
  3. Winter 1997-8, Vol. 80, No. 4, 1997-8
  4. Spring 1998, Vol. 81, No. 1, 1998
  5. Summer 1998, Vol. 81, No. 2, 1998
  6. Fall 1998, Vol. 81, No. 3, 1998
  7. Winter 1998-9, Vol. 81, No. 4, 1998
  8. Spring 1999, Vol. 82, No. 1, 1999
  9. Summer 1999, Vol. 82, No. 2, 1999
  10. Fall 1999, Vol. 82, No. 3, 1999
  11. Winter 1999, Vol. 82, No. 4, 1999
  12. Spring 2000, Vol. 83, No. 1, 2000
  13. Summer 2000, Vol. 83, No. 2, 2000
  14. Fall 2000, Vol. 83, No. 3, 2000
  15. Spring 2001, Vol. 84, No. 1, 2001
  16. Summer 2001, Vol. 84, No. 2, 2001
  17. Fall 2001, Vol. 84, No. 3, 2001
  18. Winter 2001-2, Vol. 84, No. 4, 2001
  19. Spring 2002, Vol. 85, No. 1, 2002
  20. Fall 2002, Vol. 85, No. 3, 2002

Box 15 – Magazines

  1. Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, Winter 2015-6, Vol. 98, No. 4, 2015-6
  2. Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, Spring 2016, Vol. 99, No. 1, 2016
  3. Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, Summer 2016, Vol. 99, No. 2, 2016
  4. Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, Fall 2016, Vol. 99, No. 3, 2016
  5. Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, Winter 2016-7, Vol. 99, No. 4, 2016-7
  6. The Magazine of Heinz Endowments, Issue 2, 2016
  7. Smithsonian Magazine, May 2016, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2016
  8. Smithsonian Magazine, June 2016, Vol. 47, No. 3, 2016
  9. Smithsonian Magazine, July-August 2016, Vol. 47, No. 4, 2016
  10. Smithsonian Magazine, September 2016, Vol. 47, No. 5, 2016
  11. Smithsonian Magazine, October 2016, Vol. 47, No. 6, 2016
  12. Smithsonian Magazine, November 2016, Vol. 47, No. 7, 2016
  13. Smithsonian Magazine, January-February 2017, Vol. 47, No. 9, 2017
  14. Smithsonian Magazine, March 2017, Vol. 47, No. 10, 2017
  15. Smithsonian Magazine, April 2017, Vol. 48, No. 1, 2017

Box 16 – Miscellaneous Educational Materials

  1. Capitals of Countries Quiz
  2. Civil War
  3. The Old West
  4. Trolley Era and Electrical Age 1995
  5. Vietnam War
  6. Women’s History Month
  7. Object Catalog Sheets 2014

Series 4 – Mid-Century Collection:

Box 17 – GI Materials from WWII

  1. YANK Magazine – October 22, 1943
  2. YANK Magazine – November 19, 1943
  3. YANK Magazine – June 2, 1944
  4. YANK Magazine – August 4, 1944
  5. YANK Magazine – August 18, 1944
  6. YANK Magazine – August 25, 1944
  7. YANK Magazine – September 8, 1944
  8. YANK Magazine – September 15, 1994
  9. YANK Magazine – September 22, 1944
  10. YANK Magazine – September 29, 1944
  11. YANK Magazine – October 6, 1944
  12. YANK Magazine – October 20, 1944
  13. YANK Magazine – October 27, 1944
  14. YANK Magazine – November 3, 1944
  15. YANK Magazine – November 10, 1944
  16. YANK Magazine – November 17, 1944
  17. YANK Magazine – November 24, 1944
  18. YANK Magazine – December 1, 1944
  19. YANK Magazine – December 8, 1944
  20. YANK Magazine – December 15, 1944
  21. Army Life in Hawaii 1943
  22. Hawaii: As the Camera See’s It 1941
  23. Scenic Hawaii: A Collection of Unusual Photos of the Hawaiian Islands 1943
  24. A Pocket Guide to New Guinea 1943

Loose Materials

  1. Discorsi Storici di Benito Musolini (vinyl record) 1930-40s
  2. WPA District 15 Museum Extension Project Binder

Series 5 – Loose Books

  1. A Concise Historical Atlas of Pennsylvania 1989
  2. Atlas of the County of Allegheny, Pennsylvania (reprint ed.) 1988
  3. Clide Hare’s Pittsburgh 1994
  4. Death in the Dining Room and Other Tales of Victorian Culture 1900s
  5. Encyclopedia Britannica World Atlas 1945
  6. Early Pittsburgh History 1900s
  7. General Plan for Housing and Development: West End-Elliot 1973
  8. Golden Anniversary: Holy Souls Church 1972
  9. “West End” 1936
  10. “West End Recollections: Volume I” 1929
  11. “West End Recollections: Volume II” 1929
  12. “West End Recollections” (Copy without Photos) 1929
  13. Index to “West End Recollections” 1998
  14. “Have a Good Day, or, So What Are You Going to Do with Your Seven Weeks in Italy” 1997
  15. Henry Fred Busse Autobiography 1988
  16. Newspaper Clippings Binder 1900s
  17. Newspaper Clippings Binder 1967-79
  18. Newspaper Clippings Binder 1980-1
  19. Pennsylvania Abstract: A Statistical Fact Book 1999
  20. Pittsburgh: A Place in Time 1999
  21. Pittsburgh During the American Civil War (1861-65) 2002
  22. Miscellaneous CLP-West End Materials 1900s

Series 6 – Photo Binders

  1. Library and Community Events 1970s
  2. CLP-West End Centennial 1999
  3. Bicentennial +1 Celebration and Temperanceville Days 1974 and 1982
  4. West End Neighborhoods Historical Association: West End Photographs 1900s
  5. West End Library: The 75th Anniversary Festivities 1974
  6. West End Branch: Projects, People, Staff 1992-7
  7. West End Branch 1974 and 1999
  8. West End Branch Activities 1900s
  9. West End Library: Wall of Pride and Giving Tree Quilt 1992 and 1994
  10. West End Branch Activities 1971-2
  11. West End Branch Activities 1990s
  12. Miscellaneous 1900s

Series 7 – Commemorative Newspapers

  1. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Thursday, June 16, 2016
  2. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, June 13, 2009
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Thursday, June 16, 2009
  4. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, September 16, 2001
  5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wednesday, September 12, 2001
  6. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Wednesday, September 12, 2001
  7. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, January 1, 2000
  8. Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Sunday, January 2, 2000
  9. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, January 2, 2000
  10. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Friday, December 31, 1999

Support the Library, Give Today
site logo

What would you like to find?

Skip to content
Skip to content