The materials are separated into four separate collections: the Allegheny Regional Branch, Neighborhood Services of the CLP, Director's Office of the CLP, and the Allegheny Department of Public Works and Carnegie Free Library. The Allegheny Regional Branch collection contains materials specifically relating to events, reports, and correspondence of the branch. The Neighborhood Services collections include information on facilities management and relations with other branches. The Director's Office collection contains historical information on the Allegheny Regional Library. The Allegheny City Dept. of Public Works and the Carnegie Free Library collection contains information regarding the original building and staff.
The collection as a whole is particularly strong in the correspondence of James Welbourne, Bob Croneberger, Connie Galbraith, Jane Dayton, Anthony Martin, and James Hughes. It is also strong in planning and construction information dealing with the original building and the two subsequent renovations. Some materials in the collection deal with other Branches, such as annual reports from certain years, but are kept in this collection to preserve original order. The collection is weak in organizational structure as the materials are spread over several different collections.
Arrangement
The materials have been separated into four different collections as noted above and arranged in each box primarily by year or subject. Most materials are contained in their original folders to preserve the order by which they were initially arranged. Each box is numbered according to this finding aid in order to facilitate the search for specific items across the four collections. To further aid in finding specific materials, a short subject list by box and folder is placed at the end of this finding aid along with a rough item inventory as materials in some folders are somewhat varied in their relation to each other.
Biographical / Historical
Andrew Carnegie originally donated the fund necessary to build the Allegheny Regional Branch Library as the Carnegie Free Library of the city of Allegheny. Officially opened in 1890 as a cultural center, the building contained a library, art gallery, lecture room, and music hall although there was no catalog of the collections merely a finding list at the delivery and circulation desk. William M. Stevenson was appointed the first librarian.
In 1907, the city of Pittsburgh annexed itself to Allegheny without the general permission of the citizens of Allegheny. The Carnegie Free Library remained a separate public space until 1956 when it was merged, after much deliberation, with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, being renamed the Allegheny Regional Branch. Building renovations were done in 1965 and 1974 in order to provide additional space for the expanding library collections as well as space for community activities. In 1990 the Branch celebrated its Centennial.
The Allegheny Regional Branch, in 2005 (?), was hit by lightening and had various other facilities issues, which closed the building to the public. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Main Branch began to use the building as a warehouse while other arrangements were being planned. A new building was built on 1210 Federal Street that is to be opened in the summer of 2009.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no use restrictions.
Custodial History
The materials were removed from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch and transferred to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room.
Accruals
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch sends new materials to the Oliver Room on an irregular schedule.
Preferred Citation
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch, William R. Oliver Special Collections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
