Guide to the Records of Russell Lindberg, 1907 - 1976

Arrangement

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Records of Russell Lindberg
Creator
Lindberg, Russell
Creator
Lindberg, Anna Mae Gorman
Collection Number
MSS#234
Extent
1.0 cubic feet (2 Boxes)
Date
1907 - 1976
Abstract
Russel Lindberg was a Pittsburgh Swim champ during the 1920's and 30's. Both Lindberg and his wife, Anna Mae Gorman Lindberg, won many competitive swimming competitions before Lindberg went on to a coaching career and was named to the National Olympic Committee. The records reflect their careers and interests with numerous newspaper clippings, publications, medals, and other material.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by: on . Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on
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.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Biographical Sketch of Russell Lindberg (1913-)

Russell Lindberg, Pittsburgh swim champ in the 1920s and 1930s, was born in 1913 in Munhall, Pennsylvania. He attended Munhall Public School, and graduated from Munhall High School in 1930. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, studying architecture, but spent most of his life competing and coaching swimming.

Lindberg began his swimming career at age twelve, and by age sixteen was already an accomplished competitor. He won his first medal in 1925, and established his first title in 1929. By the time he was a student at the University of Pittsburgh, he had collected 67 medals, held all Senior and Junior Allegheny Mountain Association (A.M.A.) Amatuer Athletic Union ( A.A.U.) free style and backstroke records, and had, according to newspaper accounts "enough paper (award certificates) to cover the walls of his room." By his own personal recollection, Lindberg was only beaten three times in college competition.

Although favored to compete in the 1936 Olympics, he narrowly missed being selected to the United States team. However, he enjoyed watching his future wife and co-swimmer from the Homestead Carnegie Library Swim Teams, Anna Mae Gorman, win a second place medal along with her United States Olympic team mate Lenora Knight, also from the Homestead Carnegie Library Swim Teams.

During his career, Lindberg served as coach and advisor of the swim team at the Irene Kaufmann Center in Pittsburgh, and was also named to the National Olympic Committee. He was the swim chairman of the A.M.A. from 1938 to 1962. According to the Homestead Daily Messenger (April 23, 1976), he was "especially proud of being a member of a committee responsible for bringing the National Women's Swim Championship to Pittsburgh in 1964...(at which time) numerous records were broken." In addition to writing "Competitive Swimming", he also published several articles in Scholastic Magazine.

Lindberg stopped competing in 1945, but continued to swim and coach swimming until 1965. In 1976, both Lindberg and his wife were inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the first husband and wife duo to be so honored.

Scope and Content Notes

Series have been designated for Russell Lindberg and for Anna Mae Gorman Lindberg, and include scrapbooks, clippings, athletic certificates, school records, and other miscellaneous materials.

Arrangement

The Russell Lindberg Records are housed in two archival boxes and are arranged into two series, one for Russel Lindberg and the other for Anna Mae Gorman Lindberg.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These papers came in one accession.

Acc# 1989.0103 Gift of Russell Lindberg,July 2, 1988

Preferred Citation

Records of Russell Lindberg, 1907 - 1976, MSS# 234, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Karen Hockenson on July 25, 1996.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Kate Colligan in May 21, 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

    • Homestead Carnegie Library

    Personal Names

    • Lindberg, Russell
    • Crabbe,Clarence "Buster"
    • Knight, Lenora
    • Lindberg, Anna Mae Gorman
    • Weismuller, Johnny

    Other Subjects

    • Athletics -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Education -- Pennsylvania -- Munhall
    • Sports Clubs -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Sports -- International -- Olympic -- Athletes
    • Sports -- Swimming -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List