Guide to the Photographs Ellen B. McKee, 1957-1972
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Photographs of Ellen B. McKee
- Creator
- McKee, Ellen B.
- Collection Number
- PSS #1
- Extent
- .5 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1957-1972
- Abstract
- Ellen B. McKee played an active role in preserving and documenting the history of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and the vicinity. The photographs in this collection include images of log houses in eastern Allegheny County and Westmoreland County built between 1726 and 1893, images of other historical structures (primarily built before the Civil War) in the same areas, images of the historical association that Mrs. McKee was associated with, and documentary material for the photographs of log houses.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- 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 Ellen B. McKee (-c1981)
Ellen B. McKee played an active role in preserving and documenting the history of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and the vicinity. In 1934, McKee joined a group of concerned citizens of the Wilkinsburg area in forming an ad hoc organization for the purpose of historical research on "Old Wilkinsburg and the vicinity." McKee became the assistant secretary to the executive board of the organization. The main work of this organization was published in the book, Annals of Old Wilkinsburg and Vicinity: the Village, 1788-1888. McKee edited the book along with Elizabeth M. Davidson.
Throughout her life, McKee contributed endless hours fulfilling her desire to clarify and record the history of Wilkinsburg. She compiled a partial record of Civil War soldiers of Wilkinsburg which mainly listed the soldiers not mentioned on the Wilkinsburg Honor Roll. She also included soldiers buried in Beullah and Hebron Cemeteries, members of select posts of the Grand Army of the Republic as well as other resources. In addition, she took photographs of early log houses in Wilkinsburg and other communities east of Pittsburgh from the 1950s through the 1970s.
Scope and Content Notes
These photographs include images of log houses in eastern Allegheny County and Westmoreland County built between 1726 and 1893, images of other historical structures (primarily built before the Civil War) in the same areas, images of the historical association that Mrs. McKee was associated with, and documentary material for the photographs of log houses. These photographs were primarily taken over a twenty year period from the 1950s to the early 1970s and are predominantly in black and white. The subjects of almost all of the photographs are identified (address, town or owner) on the reverse side or on the mounting. These photographs are occasionally blurry and often reveal both the limitations of her photographic ability and equipment. McKee often took only single shots of most houses limiting the views of these structures. The other photographs do not represent a significant portion of these photographs and were not taken with as comprehensive a focus as the ones on log houses. While these photographs are not ideal, they do represent possibly the only images of many structures that have since been destroyed and an important link to the history of frontier life in Western Pennsylvania. The documentary support for these photographs includes lists of log houses and correspondence on her interest in preserving the history of that type of structure.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession in 1981.
Acc# 1981.133, Gift of the Estate of Ellen B. McKee, (Photographs).
Preferred Citation
Photographs of Ellen B. McKee, 1957-1972, PSS#1, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania This collection was previously cited: McKee, Ellen B., Photographs 1957-1972, PSS#1, Historical Society of Western PennsylvaniaGeneral
This collection was previously cited: McKee, Ellen B., Photographs 1957-1972, PSS#1, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was originallyprocessed by Ruth Salisbury Reed in 1981. The photographs were rearranged and the inventory was rewritten by Ricarda I. Dudek on January 6, 1992.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Michael Bolam on January 27, 2000.
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
- Neal, Robert.
- Schenley Park (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Crafton (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Coraopolis (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- East McKeesport (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Monroeville (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Murrysville (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Oakmont (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Penn Hills (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Plum Boro (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Swissvale (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Wilkins Township (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Wilkinsburg (Pa.) -- Buildings.
- Buildings -- Pennsylvania
- Historic buildings -- Pennsylvania.
- History -- Societies, etc. -- Pennsylvania -- Wilkinsburg.
- Log cabins -- Pennsylvania.