The collection consists of documents pertaining to administrative correspondence, annual reports, building planning, construction, maintenance and furniture reports and correspondence pertaining to the construction of the branch. The bulk of the records are monthly reports from the Boys and Girls Department dating from 1935-1989.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder and chronologically within each folder. The folders are organized with the earliest date in the back and the most recent in the front. The boxes are organized with the latest dates in front and the earlier dates in the back.
Biographical / Historical
In 1928, preparations were made for the opening of the Knoxville-Carrick branch in the Rochelle School, which was the first full scale branch building located in a school building. The Board of Education provided the space, heat, light and janitor service, and the library serviced staff, books, furniture and equipment. During the reduction of staff during the Depression, Knoxville along with a number of other branches were put on a half-time schedules where one staff covering two branches, each of which was open on alternating days.
In September 1943, the Knoxville branch was forced from its original rented location at the Rochelle School when the Board of Public Education sold the school. The Knoxville business area on Brownsville Road provided an ideal location for the library reach the public. The only store available was not adequate to fully house the library and its services and was rented as a temporary space. The temporary occupancy lasted 22 years, until the completion of the Knoxville building in 1965, which was one of the first newly constructed branches since the establishment of the library system in 1895.
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, Knoxville Branch and transferred to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room.
Accruals
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Knoxville Branch sends new materials to the Oliver Room on an irregular schedule.
Preferred Citation
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Knoxville Branch, William R. Oliver Special Collections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh