Guide to the Papers of Robert Garland, 1911 - 1955
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Robert Garland
- Creator
- Garland, Robert
- Collection Number
- MSS#59
- Extent
- 0.25 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1911 - 1955
- Abstract
- Robert Garland was a long-time member of Pittsburgh's City Council and was best know as the "Father" of Daylight Savings Time in the United States. Garland expressed his views on political, economic and social issues, as well as prominent concerns of city residents and Americans during World War I and the Great Depression in a series of speeches. This collection includes many of Garland's speeches given between 1907 - 1940.
- 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 Robert Garland (1862-1949)
Robert Garland was a long-time member of Pittsburgh's City Council and was best known as the "Father" of Daylight Savings Time in the United States. Robert Garland emigrated with his parents, Eliza and Robert, from Dugannon, County Tyrone, Ireland in 1877. He began his business career as a clerk in the offices of Lewis, Oliver and Phillips. In 1893 Garland and his brother John formed the Garland Chain Company. However, it would be Garland's political career which would make him part of Pittsburgh's history. In June 1911 the City council appointed Garland to replace resigning councilman A.J. Kelly, Jr. Later that year the citizens of Pittsburgh voted him onto the Council, a position he held continuously for the next twenty eight years. During this tenure Garland primarily served as chairman of the finance committee; stepping down only once to serve as Council President from 1934 to 1935. Many political colleagues referred to Garland as a fighter, promoting less popular issues of the day with frequent success. He contributed to the removal of the infamous "hump" on Fifth Avenue, worked to change the name of Monongahela Boulevard to Boulevard of the Allies and helped to build the Mount Washington Roadway (now McCardle Roadway). He maintained strong ties to the Republican Party throughout his political career prompting his ouster from City Council in 1939 when the democrats solidified their control of Pittsburgh's city government. Garland served as director of the Third National Bank of Pittsburgh, trustee and president of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, trustee of Grove City College, Carnegie Institute and Carnegie Library, member of the American HardwareManufacturer's Association and member of various social and philanthropic organizations. He married Alice Noble Bailey (d. 1932) in 1888 and had one daughter, Alice, wife of Roy H. McKnight.
Perhaps Garland's greatest fight, and the campaign he is most known for, was the establishment of Daylight Savings Time (DST). While serving as manager of the War Resources Committee for Western Pennsylvania introduced the concept of DST. The idea of DST was not new. In the mid eighteenth century, Benjamin Franklin proposed moving the clocks forward one hour to provide for a longer day in the spring and summer months. Garland hoped to exploit the increased daylight to produce more war material. He used his influence as president of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce to push through Senate Bill 1854, which established both Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time in 1918.
Scope and Content Notes
The Robert Garland Papers consist primarily of typescript speeches Garland presented to various civic groups, commercial conventions, and political, religious and social organizations, 1907-1940. Garland was a great civic booster and often conveyed Pittsburgh in the best possible light in these speeches. Garland expressed his views on political, economic and social issues, as well as prominent concerns of city residents and Americans during World War I and the Great Depression. Included is a speech on the importance of English as the sole language of America. Miscellaneous material includes correspondence relating to Garland's efforts to retrieve pens used in the signing of the law establishing Daylight Savings Time in 1918 and various newsclippings about DST and Garland. There is relatively little material of substance relating to the establishment of Daylight Saving Time.
Arrangement
The Robert Garland Papers are housed in one archival box and arranged alphabetically by folder title with miscellaneous material placed in the rear.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials were received in one accession.
Preferred Citation
Guide to the Papers of Robert Garland, 1911 - 1955, MSS# 59, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was originally processed by Donald Haggerty inDecember of 1988.
The papers were rearranged and inventory rewritten by Stephen Doell onSeptember 10, 1993.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Kate Colligan in May 20, 1999.
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
- Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Commerce.
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Politics and government
- Boards of trade -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Civic improvement -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Daylight saving -- Law and legislation
- World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Pennsylvania
- Industries -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh