Guide to the Buhl Foundation Photographs 1929-1950
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Buhl Foundation Photographs
- Creator
- Buhl Foundation
- Collection Number
- MSP 187
- Extent
- 1.5 linear feet (3 boxes)
- Date
- 1929-1950
- Abstract
- The Buhl Foundation was established in 1927 and has provided grants for universities, hospitals and public programs including the University of Pittsburgh, Buhl Planetarium, Chatham Village and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The photographs in this collection are of the Chatham Village housing development.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The Buhl Foundation awards grants, primarily to educational and cultural organizations in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. One of Pittsburgh's largest foundations, it was established in 1927 by Henry Buhl, Jr., owner of Boggs and Buhl department store, located in Allegheny City, now Pittsburgh's North Side.
The Buhl Foundation officially began operation on June 1, 1928, almost a year after Buhl's death.
In its first year, the Foundation distributed $646,256.75 for ten separate activities or programs in the fields of economics, education, recreation and social research. The first grant given by the Foundation was to the Pennsylvania State Crime Commission to finance a study of the minor courts in Allegheny County. Two other significant grants awarded during the first year included one to the University of Pittsburgh to develop its Bureau of Business Research program, and funds to establish a pension fund for employees of Boggs and Buhl.
The Buhl Foundation Board diversified their work in 1931 with the construction of Chatham Village, a housing project in Pittsburgh's Mount Washington neighborhood. Chatham Village offered residents attractive and affordable rental housing, a commodity in short supply in Pittsburgh. The Board of Managers favored a long term rental policy over ownership because of the volatile economy of the day. Chatham Village gave families the opportunity to "ride out" the Depression until the economy improved. Chatham Village accomplished all of the 1931 goals established by the Foundation. It is still a model for many housing projects throughout the country. The Foundation maintained Chatham Village as rental property until 1960 when it was turned into cooperative housing and sold to owner occupants.
Scope and Content Notes
The Buhl Foundation photographs are housed in three archival boxes which were separated from the Buhl Foundation Records (MSS 187). The boxes contain scrapbook pages of photographs of homes in Chatham Village, the Buhl Foundation's model housing development located on Mt. Washington. The photographs contain descriptive annotations and date from 1929 to 1950 and consist of interior, exterior, and aerial views of the Village's homes in summer and winter, Chatham Hall (the community center), recreational areas, and snapshots of the development's residents and children during holiday events and at the school play yard. The model homes were furnished by the Boggs and Buhl department store. The folders are labeled and dated according to the topic of the scrapbook. Box 1 also contains one folder of photographs of the Buhl Optical Co. building and the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.
Conditions Governing Access
None
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Buhl Foundation in 1993.
Archives accession # 1993.0310
Preferred Citation
Buhl Foundation Photographs, 1929-1950, MSP 0187, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Sarah Ecklund on 04/28/12.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Separated Materials
Records of the Buhl Foundation, 1869-1980, MSS 0187, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Subjects
- Chatham Village (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Mt. Washington (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Rental housing --Pennsylvania--Allegheny County.