Guide to the Papers of the Arbuthnot Family, 1896-1963
Arrangement
Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Papers of the Arbuthnot Family
Creator
Arbuthnot Family
Collection Number
MSS#115
Extent
1.0 cubic feet(2 Boxes)
Date
1896-1963
Abstract
The Arbuthnot Family were a prominent Fifth Avenue (Pittsburgh, Pa) family. Charles Arbuthnot, a wholesale dry goods merchant, and his wife Elizabeth Shaw had three sons. Thomas Shaw Arbuthnot, whom most of the papers address, was born in Allegheny (North Side of Pittsburgh) on February 18, 1871. These papers include genealogies, correspondence, diaries, stories, travel logs, photographs and other sundry items providing a rich history of the family and the importance of Dr. Thomas Shaw Arbuthnot to Pittsburgh.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by: Historical Society Staff in 1977 and 1983. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on June 28, 1999.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Biographical Sketch of the Arbuthnot Family (1896-1963)
The Arbuthnot Family were a prominent Fifth Avenue (Pittsburgh, Pa) family. Charles Arbuthnot, a wholesale dry goods merchant, and his wife Elizabeth Shaw had three sons. Thomas Shaw Arbuthnot, whom most of the papers address, was born in Allegheny (North Side of Pittsburgh) on February 18, 1871. Thomas was a prominent physician in Pittsburgh where he served as dean of the medical school of the University of Pittsburgh, 1909-1918; President of the Arts Society of Pittsburgh beginning in 1932; and a big game hunter and traveler in Africa and Alaska. Thomas captured many animals in photographs, as trophies and in stories which help to explain his love for the hunt and adventure. Their other sons were Wilson Shaw Arbuthnot, former president and director of Arbuthnot-Stephenson Company and Charles Junior. Charles Jr. married Caroline Berger and had two children, Elizabeth Shaw Arbuthnot and Charles Arbuthnot III.
Scope and Content Notes
These papers include genealogies, correspondence, diaries, stories, travel logs, photographs and other sundry items providing a rich history of the family and the importance of Dr. Thomas Shaw Arbuthnot to Pittsburgh.
Arrangement
The Arbuthnot Family Papers are housed in two archival boxes and arranged in two series. Series have been designated for the Arbuthnot Family (1927-1951) and Dr. Thomas Shaw Arbuthnot (1871-1956).
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in two accessions.
Acc# 1977.61 Gift of David Owsley, (Papers). April 22, 1977 .
Acc# 1983.79 Gift of John Bodish, (Papers). June 22, 1983 .
Preferred Citation
Papers of the Arbuthnot Family, 1896-1963, MSS# 115, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Previously cited: Arbuthnot Family,Papers, 1896-1936, MSS# 115, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
General
Previously cited: Arbuthnot Family,Papers, 1896-1936, MSS# 115, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Historical Society Staff in 1977, and 1983.
The records were rearranged and inventory rewritten by Stephanie Riccardi on April 24, 1994.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Kate Colligan on June 28, 1999 .
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Forbes Field (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Arbuthnot-Stephenson Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Arts Society of Pittsburgh.
Carnegie Hero Fund.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball team)
Rolling Rock Club (Ligonier, Pa.)
University of Pittsburgh
Yale University.
Personal Names
Arbuthnot, Charles, -- 1888-1964.
Arbuthnot, Thomas Shaw, -- 1871-1956.
Carnegie, Andrew, -- 1835-1919.
Geographic Names
Big game hunting -- Africa.
Africa -- Description and travel
Alaska -- Description and travel
Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Commerce.
Other Subjects
Art -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Baseball -- Connecticut.
Baseball -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Big game hunting -- Alaska.
College students -- Connecticut.
Dry-goods -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Education -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Holidays -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Hunting -- Africa.
Hunting -- Alaska.
Medicine -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Universities and colleges -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
Universities and colleges -- Connecticut.
Voyages and travels
Container List
Scope and Contents
The majority of information contained in the personal papers of Dr. Thomas Shaw Arbuthnot are the diaries, correspondence and lectures in Africa and on Safari taken c1933; diaries and correspondence on an Alaskan Hunting Trip c1919-c1926; and correspondence, lectures and medical notebooks he kept while serving as Dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Medical School, 1896-1929. The Alaskan Hunting Stories contain four short stories entitled: An Unusual Experience with Moose; Goats in Pink Pajamas; A Sheep Hunt; and A Hunting Trip in the Cassian Mountains Near Alaska. Another short story entitled A Trip Around the World also explains his experiences as a traveler and big game hunter. Also of importance is information and a speech given by him on the Carnegie Hero Fund; biographical information on his life, work and ideas, correspondence while president of the Arts Society of Pittsburgh; publications, printed materials, photographs and a scrapbook dating 1894-1957 showing the highlights and important events of his life.