Reverend James W. Garvey collection on Carnegie, PA places of worship, CLP.20230306.002.LH
Arrangement
Repository
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
Title
Reverend James W. Garvey collection on Carnegie, PA places of worship
Collection Number
CLP.20230306.002.LH
Extent
2 VolumesStored in 2 records storage containers.
Date
1992-2022
Language
English .
Author
Amanda Peters
Sponsor
Biographical/Historical Note details are taken from the University of Pittsburgh's
Papers of Reverend James W. Garvey, 1989-1996 and Reverend James W. Garvey's obituary from
the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 3, 2023.
Publisher
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
This collection contains correspondence, line drawings, photographs and historical
information on places of worship in Carnegie, PA. The collection also contains programs from
religious events. Also, included are bluegrass benefit posters and brochures from events
held at the St. Joseph House of Hospitality under the management of Paul Dvorchak.
The collection is stored in 2 record storage containers.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in five series. The first three series are arranged by place of
worship: Line Drawings, Information Requests, Photographs and Negatives. The fourth series
is Programs that Reverend Garvey attended. The fifth series is St. Joseph House of
Hospitality and will have its own Scope and Content note and Biographical/Historical
note.
Biographical / Historical
Reverend James W. Garvey was born on September 9, 1938, to William T. Garvey and Marget C.
(nee Blaney) Garvey. Born and raised in McKees Rocks, he received his education at St.
Francis de Sales Parish. Reverend Garvey graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of
Pittsburgh and was awarded a Master of Divinity Degree from St. Francis Seminary in Loretto,
PA. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, October 23, 1976,
by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard, D.D., at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.
Reverend Garvey served in Parochial Ministry in various assignments in the Diocese of
Pittsburgh: St. Anne Parish (1976-1981), Castle Shannon, St. Ursula (1981-1985), Allison
Park, St. Catherine of Siena, Beechwood. He was Administrator of St. Joseph Parish
(1986-1987), Manchester, and Immaculate Conception (1987-1992), Carnegie, and worked in team
Ministry at St. Charles Lwanga, Homewood. He was pastor or St. Bartholomew, Penn Hills, and
Epiphany, Uptown Pittsburgh, and Senior Priest at St. Margaret Mary, Moot Twp. Revered
Garvey retired from full time priestly ministry in January 2009, after which he was in
residence at Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Troy Hill.
Reverend Garvey was also active in numerous community organizations. He was co-founder of
Jubilee Soup Kitchen, Hill District. Reverend Garvey served as Coordinator of Programs for
the Homeless for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and served as the Director of St. Joseph's House
of Hospitality for many years.
Reverend Garvey's interest in history led him to serve two terms as President and two terms
as Secretary for the Catholic Historical Society of Western PA. His interest in local church
history led to many contributed books and artifacts on The Catholic Community to the
Archives of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the Historical Society of Western PA, the University
of Pittsburgh, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Reverend Garvey researched and
authored the histories of several places of worship including: St. Joseph Parish
(Manchester), St. Francis de Sales Parish (McKees Rocks), Immaculate Conception Parish
(Carnegie), Epiphany Parish (Uptown Pittsburgh), St. Paul Cathedral (when it was located in
downtown Pittsburgh), St. Margaret Mary Parish, (Moon Township), a chapter in the Centennial
History of St. Paul Cathedral Parish, Oakland, St. Raphael Parish, (Morningside,) and St.
Anne Parish, (Castle Shannon.)
In 1992, Reverend Garvey was working with the Historical Society of Carnegie, PA to prepare
a Centennial Book marking the 100th Anniversary of Carnegie for 1994. He wanted to ensure
that the more than 20 places of worship were represented in the Carnegie Centennial Book and
photographed each place showing multiple angles to capture the architectural details.
Reverend Garvey sent his photographs to Creeko Creations Co. Of Johnson Creek, WI to create
line drawings of each that would be featured in the book. A Track through Time: A Centennial
History of Carnegie, PA 1894-1994 by V. Robert Agostino and Marty Wolfson was printed and
released in 1994 by the Historical Society of Carnegie and is found in CLP's Local History
department reference collection.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is open for research but may contain specific reproduction restrictions due
to copyright.
Custodial History
Paul Dvorchak donated this material to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on behalf of
Reverend James W. Garvey on March 2, 2023.
Related Materials
See A Track Through Time: A Centennial History of Carnegie PA, 1894-1994 by V. Robert
Agostino and Marty Wolfson found in CLP's local history department under rq F159 .C3 A4
1994x.
See individual files on the places of worship in CLP's local history department vertical
files.
Separated Materials
Two unlabeled photographs of a local fire department and officer were separated from the
donation and added to CLP's Pittsburgh Photograph Library. Duplicate photographs of the
places of worship found in this collection were added to CLP's local history department
vertical files.
