Guide to the Papers of the Barr Family, 1850-1912
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of the Barr Family
- Creator
- Barr family
- Collection Number
- MSS#24
- Extent
- .25 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1850-1912
- Abstract
- Prominent in 19th and early 20th-century political and philanthropic life, James P. Barr and his son Albert J. Barr, were news and business men. Their papers include correspondence, invitations, a scrapbook and other sundry items.
- 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 the Barr Family
Daniel H. Barr (-1852) came to the United States in 1799 from his home in Ireland and settled in Blairsville, Pennsylvania (Indiana County). While his main occupation was as a cooper, he quickly moved into the political circles by serving in numerous public offices in Blairsville. He served as town justice of the peace, postmaster and collector on the Pennsylvania Canal. Daniel Barr passed his trade onto his son, James P. Barr (1822-1886).
James P. Barr moved to Pittsburgh in 1841 at nineteen years of age and quickly began his involvement in various political and social circles. He married Ann Dunlevy (-1865) in 1847 and had seven children before Ann's death in a railroad accident in 1865. James's first position in the newspaper industry was with the American Manufacturer, a Democratic weekly, which merged one year later with the Mercury to form The Post. The Post was formed as a newspaper holding forth the ideals of the Democratic Party. By 1845, he had reached the position of business manager for the Post but left the newspaper to join the Pittsburgh Post Office. He returned to journalism in 1849 when he purchased the Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle. He sold the Chronicle within five years and rejoined the Post at his old position of business manager. Shortly thereafter in 1857, James Barr purchased the Post. As editor and sole owner of the Post, his reputation and political influence grew tremendously. By 1862, he was elected Surveyor General of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War, Barr raised money for the founding of schools for orphans of Civil War soldiers. Much of this money came from Railroad funds set aside to equip the Civil War troops, which were not needed. The ensuing school, the Pennsylvania Reform School was founded with James Barr as vice-president of theBoard of Managers. Barr was also the benefactor of Mercy Hospital and St. Paul's Asylum. He also played a role in abating the 1877 Railroad Riots in Pittsburgh. Barr played an active role in politics despite refusing to run for Senatorial and Gubernatorial offices. He replaced Jeremiah Black as delegate to the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention in 1873 and influenced the nominations of Democratic presidential candidates Samuel Tilden and Grover Cleveland.
Of the Barr's seven children, Albert J. Barr (1851-1912) most closely followed his father's path into political circles. He married Mary A. McDevitt and had five children, Margaret, Constance, Madeline, Louis and Albert. He attended Western University of Pittsburgh and upon graduation, joined the Artisans Deposit Bank in 1870. He quickly advanced at the bank to become its secretary and eventually president. Upon the death of James Barr in 1886, Albert assumed the presidency of the Post Printing and Publishing Company. He continued the papers commitment to the Democratic party and his father's role in politics. His numerous offices and political positions include serving as commissioner for the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago, 1893), vice-president of Mercy Hospital and member of the Allegheny County Board of Viewers (1911). In 1894, Albert was appointed to the position of surveyor for the Port of Pittsburgh by President Cleveland, a Democrat whose nomination he heartily supported. Like his father, Albert was encouraged to run for public office but also remained loyal to the newspaper.Albert died of a stroke while in attendance at the Duquesne Club on February 24, 1912.
Scope and Content Notes
These papers include correspondence, invitations, a scrapbook and other sundry items. These papers primarily document the James P. and Albert J. Barr's political and newspaper related career in Pittsburgh and the rest of Pennsylvania. The correspondence is sporadic and primarily related to political issues including the nominations of Democratic presidential candidates in 1880, 1884 and 1892. Included are two letters between James P. Barr and Samuel Tilden on the 1880 and 1884 Democratic nominations. Also included is the document concerning James P. Barr's sale of the Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle in 1854.The printed material covers a wide variety of material relating to the newspaper industry in Pittsburgh, including printed grievances from the Typographical Union of Pittsburgh, and a memorial to William Cullen Bryant. Papers relating to Albert J. Barr are primarily invitations and programs of dinners and event that he attended in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and New York.These events were sponsored primarily by groups relating to the railroad and newspaper industries for foreign and national dignitaries. Included is the dinner at the dedication of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in 1906 and a dinner in honor of Conservatory benefactor Henry Phipps in 1909. Albert Barr's scrapbook includes newspaper articles relating to Albert and James Barr's role in Democratic politics, repeated calls for the Barr's to run for public offices, the Pittsburgh Rail Strike of 1877 (including full the full text of letters and telegraphs sent by James Barr on the riots), and travelogues recorded by the Barr's for the newspapers on trips to South America and other locations. Very little material document the Barr family personal life or family members other than James P. and Albert J. Barr.
Arrangement
The Barr Family Papers are housed in one archival box and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were received in two accessions. 1960 and 1964.
Acc# 1960x and 1964x Gift of Margaret Barr, (Papers. Ms. Barr is the daughter of Albert J. Barr).
Preferred Citation
Papers of the Barr Family, 1850-1912, MSS #24, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Donald Haggerty in May 1988. The papers were rearranged and the inventory rewritten by Chris Sutcher on March 27, 1993.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Janie Weaver on February 3, 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
- Democratic Party (Allegheny County, Pa.)
- Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle (Newspaper)
- Pittsburgh Post (Newspaper)
- Typographical Union of Pittsburgh.
- Barr, Albert J., -- 1851-1912.
- Barr, James P., -- 1822-1886.
- Bryant, William Cullen, -- 1794-1878
- Phipps, Henry, -- 1839-1930.
- Tilden, Samuel J. -- (Samuel Jones), -- 1814-1886.
- Dinners and dining -- Pennsylvania.
- Labor disputes -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Newspaper publishing -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Political parties -- Pennsylvania.
- Railroads -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Trade-unions -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.