Guide to the Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor Records, 1878-1925 AIS.1975.11
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor
- Creator
- Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor
- Collection Number
- AIS.1975.11
- Extent
- 1 microfilm_reel
- Date
- 1878-1925
- Date
- 1878-1896
- Abstract
- The Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor Records contains one microfilm reel comprising annual reports of the organization from 1878 to 1925. The bulk of the collection dates from 1878 to 1896.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by date of the annual report.
History
The Pittsburgh Association for Improvement of the Poor was formed after the financial and industrial depression in 1874 affected many of Pittsburgh's citizens' livelihoods. Benevolent Pittsburghers gathered money, clothing, food, and fuel to help their neighbors through the brutal winter of 1874-1875. While much of the charity was independent and self-directed, Mrs. William Thaw and Mrs. William Herron recognized a need to organize and systematize their charitable efforts for maximum efficiency. The necessity of permanent organization to conduct this work was brought about in a meeting room at the YMCA on December 15, 1875, in which the Pittsburgh Association for Improvement of the Poor was formed. Two years later, on April 24, 1877, the organization was granted a charter by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.
The work of the Association during the period of 1875 to 1912 was largely concerned with helping the numerous families brought to its attention. In 1879, the program was expanded to include summer excursions and summer homes for children. In 1881, the summer excursions were discontinued as a Fresh Air Home was opened at Shousetown on the Ohio River, which in 1886 was moved to Oakmont. The organization also began a Children's Temporary Home and Day Nursery in 1881. In 1912, the Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor opened an Industrial Plant for unemployed and homeless men. The program was modeled after those in other cities: the men were given shelter and expected to work for the Association. They were tasked with gathering discarded and donated clothes and other household items. The men were to repair the items and resell in the Association's store in order to generate funds necessary to sustain the Industrial Plant.
In 1986, the Pittsburgh Association for the Poor merged with the Child Abuse Prevention Center to form Family Resources.
Previous Citation
Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor, 1878-1925, AIS.1975.11, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor, 1878-1925, AIS.1975.11, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Wendy Pflug in June 2010.
Scope and Content Notes
The Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor Records contain annual reports of the organization from 1879 to 1925. The bulk of the reports date from 1878 to 1896.
Subjects
- Pittsburgh Association for the Improvement of the Poor
- Pittsburgh (Pa.)
- Annual reports
- Charities -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Urban poor -- Services for -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Associations
- Poor -- Services for -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh