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Guide to Russian Nationality Room Committee Collection, 1927-1959 UA.40.19

Metadata Details

Title
Russian Nationality Room Committee Collection, 1927-1959
Subject
Avinoff, Andrey , 1884-1949, Mitchell, Ruth Crawford , 1890-, Nationality Rooms (Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, Pa.), University of Pittsburgh. Nationality Rooms Program. Russian Nationality Room Committee, University of Pittsburgh. Nationality Rooms Program., University of Pittsburgh., Classrooms--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh, Russian Americans--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh, Universities and colleges--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
Description
The Russian Nationality Room Committee Collection is comprised of materials related to the design, funding and construction of the Russian Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. The majority of these records date from the beginning of design in 1927 to the completion and dedication of the room in 1938; however, there are few records that date up to 1959. The documents consist of correspondence, primarily between committee members, Ruth Crawford Mitchell, Dr. Andrey Avinoff, and chair maker Russell Mitchell; meeting minutes; agendas; memoranda; a "running memo" of actions taken in the design and completion of the room; financial statements; written descriptions of the room and its components; publicity material; newspaper clippings; photographs; sketches; blueprints; and event information, such as programs, invitations, and guest lists. Other documents pertain to the Russian Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, Countess Tolstoy's visit to Pittsburgh, and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the University in 1959., Processing Information: This collection was processed by Emily Ahlin in September 2016., Russian Nationality Room Committee Collection, 1927-1959, UA.40.19, University of Pittsburgh Archives, Deposit; Nationality Rooms Program Office; 1999., The Russian Nationality Room was designed by Dr. Andrey Avinoff, the then-director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and an advisory professor at the University of Pittsburgh. The Russian Nationality Room Committee, chaired by Dr. Avinoff, worked with Nationality Rooms advisor Ruth Crawford Mitchell to bring his vision for the room to life. This was achieved through private donations, as well as several benefit events from 1927 to 1939, including concerts, dances and teas. The room was completed with a funding deficit that was resolved through more fundraising and benefits after its presentation to the University on July 8, 1938, along with the Scottish, German and Swedish rooms. The Russian Nationality Room contains a tapestry designed by Dr. Avinoff, referred to as the "Vishivka" of St. George, a common icon found throughout pre-Soviet Union Russia symbolizing youth. The "Vishivka," which means embroidery in Russian, was originally set to be completed by Dr. Avinoff's mother, but after she passed away in 1932, the work was completed by Madame Shoumatoff (Dr. Avinoff's sister), Princess Obolensky, and Helen Viner. Materials for the vishivka were donated by Miss Helen C. Frick. The style of the room, in addition to the vishivka, was designed to reflect sixteenth and seventeenth century peasant art and was completed locally when possible. The furniture was a joint effort between John Luhowiak, a Ukrainian from the South Hills of Pittsburgh, and the R.W. Irwin Company. Luhowiak provided carving unique to each piece of furniture, while the R.W. Irwin Company built the furniture and provided the finish. In addition, Luhowiak carved the triptych, which houses the blackboard, with finish provided by the R.W. Irwin Company. Dr. Avinoff designed the light fixtures, which were completed by Hyman Blum. The work on the stained glass windows was completed by Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studios. Other notable members of the Russian Room Committee include Michael V. Smirnoff, secretary, and Michael Kormos and Paul Barna, who helped with the fundraising., Materials are mostly written in English, though some materials are in Russian Cyrillic and Latin alphabets.
Contributor
University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms Program. Russain Nationality Room Committee., University of Pittsburgh (depositor)
Date
1927-1959
Type
Collection, text, still image
Identifier
pitt:US-PPiU-ua4019, oclc: ocn966639043, pitt: US-PPiU-ua4019
Language
eng, rus
Relation
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?type=simple;c=ascead;view=text;subview=outline;didno=US-PPiU-ua4019, pdcp_noharvest
Coverage
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
Rights
Copyright Not Evaluated. The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/, Copyright Not Evaluated. The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
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