Guide to the Records of Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), 1969-1988
Arrangement
Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Records of Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP),
Creator
Group Against Smog and Pollution (Gasp)
Collection Number
MSS #43
Extent
4.5 cubic feet(9 boxes)
Date
1969-1988
Abstract
The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) was a Pittsburgh and Allegheny County area citizens action group founded in 1969 by Michelle Madoff. An important goal of the organization was to prevent and reduce the existing forms of ecological degradation. The GASP Records are housed in nine archival boxes and are arranged in two series.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by Historical Society Staff on May 17, 1994. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Summer 2000.
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.
The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) was a Pittsburgh and Allegheny County area citizens action group founded in 1969. Membership in this group was not limited to professionals such as scientists, doctors, lawyers, and teachers but included housewives and anyone interested in their health. In order to meet the organization's goal of preventing and reducing the existing forms of ecological degradation, Mrs. Michelle Madoff, the organization's founder, used a number of acting standing committees in the medical, legal, scientific, and water and air pollution areas. These groups took legal action, wrote medical opinions, and kept an eye on major polluters of the area. They were very active in attending and testifying at hearings and it was due to their participation that many laws were changed. Many of the laws accepted by the Allegheny County Commissioners were written by committee members and became the toughest laws in the country for pollution.
Scope and Content Notes
Series have been designated for the Original Records of the group and the Pollution that GASP was fighting against. Within the Pollution Series three subseries: General, Air and Water were developed to look at pollution as a whole. The Air and Water subseries are especially important to the collection because they are the major pollution factors in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh. These papers include correspondence, news clippings, publicity, pamphlets, reports, land policies, laws, studies and other sundry items showing the need for the GASP organization to take its roots and hold in the Pittsburgh area and Alllegheny County.
Arrangement
The GASP Records are arranged in two series.
The GASP Records are housed in nine archival boxes.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Cletis Pelkofer, 1979
Preferred Citation
Guide to the Records of Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), 1969-1988, MSS #43, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Erin Clougherty and Stephanie Riccardi.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Edward A. Galloway in Summer 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
Corporate Names
Clairton Coke Works -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Personal Names
Nader, Ralph
Other Subjects
Clean Air Act -- United States
Clean Water Act -- United States
Environmental Agencies -- Allegheny County -- Pennsylvania
Environmental Health -- Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, Allegheny County)
