Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, South Side Branch 2 CLP.20170801.008

Arrangement

Language
English
Repository
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
Title
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, South Side Branch 2
Collection Number
CLP.20170801.008
Extent
3 Linear Feet Six boxes
Date
1909-2005
Date
1909-1969
Author
Joseph Salvador
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 South Side Branch Collection II consists of six series spanning the years from 1909 to 2005. The majority of the collection consists of monthly and annual reports. These are divided between those that pertain to the branch as a whole and those created by the Children's Department (later called the Boy's and Girl's Room/Department). The fourth series Circulation Statistics is made of reports and charts concerning attendance and book circulation. The final two series, Newspaper Articles and Correspondence, contain material that was originally kept with the Children's Department materials. The bulk of the collection consists of the reports from the opening of the South Side Branch, in 1909, and these run nearly complete through 1969; missing material is noted in the Series Note.

Arrangement

The majority of this collection has been organized by topic and arranged in chronological order within each series. The collection has been divided into four series and has largely been retained in the original order, the only exception being that material found out of chronologic order was placed accordingly. Also, the Children's Department circulation and statistics reports for the years between 1974 and 1986 had been maintained separately; these have been combined for ease of use. Newspaper articles and correspondence were originally kept (usually stapled) with monthly reports; these have been separated due to concerns of acid migration and placed in their own series. All material has been placed in new folders.

Preferred Citation

South Side Branch Collection II, William R. Oliver Special Collections Room

Biographical / Historical

Opened in 1909, the South Side Branch was the last of the Pittsburgh libraries to be built with funding from Andrew Carnegie. The branch remains at its original location at the corner of East Carson and 22nd Streets. At the time of construction, the South Side was a major industrial center within Pittsburgh and the library was built at the heart of this area. The South Side Branch was built to serve the substantial population of immigrant mill-workers who had come to characterize the area. Because of this, the branch acquired books in a number of non-English languages such as German, Polish, Lithuanian, French, Italian, Slovakian and Swedish. At the same time, the South Side Branch maintained a large collection of Children's literature and technical books. The South Side Branch witnessed the decline and revitalization of the South Side neighborhood and experienced the effects of industrialization, depression, war, immigration, and economic decline. Over the decades, the branch as seen its visitor base and circulation trends rise and fall as the South Side community adapted to these changes. The South Side Branch has retained a prominent place in the local community for more than a century.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no use restrictions.

Custodial History

Most materials were moved from the South Side Branch to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room in May 2010; additional Children's Department materials arrived in January 2011.

Container List