Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch CLP.20170717.001

Arrangement

Language
English
Repository
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
Title
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch
Collection Number
CLP.20170717.001
Extent
5 Linear Feet 10 Boxes
Date
1903-2010
Date
1905-1989
Author
Patricia Quinn Winter
Publisher
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
Address
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
info@carnegielibrary.org
URL: http://www.carnegielibrary.org/

Content Description

The East Liberty Branch Collection consists of five series spanning from the 1900s to 2000s. The majority of the collection is made up of annual reports for the entire branch as well as monthly and annual reports for the branch's children's department. The collection also includes documents related to programs, significant anniversaries, newspaper articles, photos and correspondence.

Annual reports on the branch are available from a report detailing the opening of a reading room on May 11, 1902 in a former Italian tenement and bakery in the Frankstown Avenue district of the East End, which predates the opening of the library in 1905. Annual reports are available from 1905 to 1989. Although monthly reports for the branch make up a significant portion of the collection, reports from 1916-1969 are missing. The series on the children's department features a monthly report for every year from 1905-1989, and in some cases, an annual report as well. There is very little information about the branch after 1989. These materials may be part of another collection.

Arrangement

The materials are separated into five series. Each individual series is arranged by year; although the case of the latter two series, the series is arranged by year and subject. The first two series, Annual Reports and Monthly Reports, deal with the branch as a whole. The third series deals specifically with the Children's Department, which is also referred to as the Boys and Girls Department from 1929 to 1970. In 1971, official reports refer to the department as Children's Services. The fourth series includes a wide range of materials, including newspaper clippings, histories, photographs, and programs, organized by year and subject. The final series includes Construction Documents detailing the building of the library's second location in East Liberty, which opened at 130 S. Whitfield Street in 1969.

Biographical / Historical

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – East Liberty opened on October10, 1905, the sixth of eight branches funded by Andrew Carnegie. Prior to its opening, there was an East Liberty Children's Free Club and Reading Room operated by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and later under the banner of the Library Club Association. The $175,000 building was designed in the "Carnegie" style that featured an impressive entrance, dark oak woodwork, an octagonal charge desk and shiny turn styles. The library featured a reference and reading room, a children's room, a delivery and a stack room (capacity 25,000). The second floor was comprised of two meeting rooms and a janitor's apartment. The basement held three classrooms, a 400-seat auditorium and engine and storage rooms. The location was set back from the business district in a residential area at the corner of Larimer Avenue and Station Street. The Presiding Officer at the dedication, the Honorable Edward Manning Bigelow read a cablegram of contractions from Andrew Carnegie of Skibo Castle, Scotland. Library Trustees, local dignitaries and representatives of schools and religious organizations were in attendance.

The library's tenth year of service was marked by celebration on Tuesday, November 5, 1915. Five-hundred people were in attendance, many of whom were at the 1905 opening. As with the grand opening celebration, remarks were made by prominent members of Pittsburgh's political and educational community. Miss Margaret Carnegie, age 18, the only child of Andrew and Louise Carnegie, read two stories to children.

A 50th anniversary celebration was held in 1955 featuring an open house, exhibits of Braille books, rebinding, and photostating (a device for making photo copies), demonstrations of a ceiling projector, microfilm and a "talking" book, and a visit by the bookmobile.

On February 28, 1969, a new library building at Baum Boulevard and South Whitfield Street in East Liberty's business district was dedicated. The project was part of a major urban renewal project taking place in East Liberty. Construction funds for the branch were provided by the City of Pittsburgh, with the assistance of funds from the Library Services and Construction Act, a federal program administered by the Pennsylvania State Library, and the Appalachian Redevelopment Act, a federal program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce. Library and City officials presided at the ceremony.

A Centennial Celebration was held in 2005 to mark the 100th anniversary of the library with a celebration that included more than 2,000 guests. Shortly after, a community dialogue began to discuss renovating the building, the tenth project of the Libraries for LIFE Capital Campaign. In June 2009, the library closed to the public for a $5.6 renovation and expansion.

The redesigned building was more energy efficient and included many environmentally-friendly characteristics in the construction. A two-story 9,000 foot addition was included and the upper floor of the building is visible to visitors from three major streets. Additional funds were raised to help relocate and preserve the Library's 150,000 volume Heritage Collection, which consolidated materials stored at the Allegheny Regional Depository and other locations. The branch was rededicated on August 28, 2010 and more than 4,700 people attended the grand reopening weekend celebration.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no use restrictions.

Custodial History

Transferred from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room

Accruals

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch sends new materials to the Oliver Room on an irregular schedule.

Preferred Citation

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch, William R. Oliver Special Collections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Container List