Check out a new beta version of this site

Guide to the Allegheny Conference On Community Development (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Records, 1920-1993 (bulk 1960-90)

Arrangement

Head

Descriptive Summary

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Allegheny Conference On Community Development (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Records,
Creator
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Collection Number
MSS#285
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Language
English , English .
Extent
188.5 linear feet (377 boxes)
Date
1920-1993
Abstract
The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is a nonprofit organization that works with the public and private sectors to improve the economy and quality of life of the Pittsburgh region. The organization has worked to curtail air pollution, establish Point State Park, consolidate public transit operations, assist minority-owned businesses, and develop Pittsburgh's Cultural District. The records include minutes, correspondence, reports and printed materials. The records document the large scope of the involvement of the Conference in the planning and redevelopment of the greater Pittsburgh region.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by David R. Grinnell.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The Allegheny Conference can trace its origins to a meeting of Richard King Mellon, Dr. Edward R. Weidlein, President of the Mellon Institute, and Wallace Richards, Secretary of the Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association, in Washington DC during the Winter of 1943. According to Weidlein, "We talked about the future of Pittsburgh in the Post War years and came to the conclusion that unless something was done, Pittsburgh would become a dying city." (Lorant, p.381) Their thoughts evolved into the creation of an organization that would do research and study on the region, which would create a community improvement plan. Following this meeting Weidlein, Richards and Dr. Robert E. Doherty, President of Carnegie Institute of Technology, invited forty individuals from business, industry and politics for a luncheon at the William Penn in the Spring of 1943. Doherty presided at the meeting and outlined many of the problems faced by the community. It was then agreed to formally organize the group into what was then known as, the Allegheny Conference on Post-War Community Planning. Doherty was elected as the chairman, Weidlein as vice-chairman, Richards as secretary and later, Vincent Lanfear, Dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh, as the treasurer. The main body of the Conference became known at the Citizens Sponsoring Committee. Soon, the Conference occupied office space in the Cathedral of Learning.

In 1944 the Citizens Sponsoring Committee approved the Incorporation of the Conference and its Bylaws, which established an Executive Committee. The Incorporators consist of: Doherty, Arthur E. Braun, L. W. Monterverde, J. Steele Gow, Alexander Reed, and Edgar J. Kaufmann. During this year, the Conference also altered its name to Allegheny Conference On Community Development. They establish new office in the Magee Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Willard E. Hotchkiss is listed as the Executive Director and presumable the first to hold that position. Some of the early working committees established by the Conference were: Economic Problems, Employment, Financial Resources, Health, Housing and Neighborhood Development, Land Use and Zoning, Legislation, Public Improvements, Highways, Mass Transportation, Parking, Refuse Disposal, Smoke Abatement, Stream Pollution Abatement, Water Supply, Recreation, Research Coordination, Welfare, Agriculture, Cultural Development and Smoke Abatement.

On February 1, 1945, Park H. Martin was hired as the second Executive Director. Under his leadership the Allegheny Conference had it first major victory, the passage of the Pittsburgh Package in the State Legislature. The Pittsburgh Package was a series of bills that helped to establish more smoke control in Allegheny County, insured the extension of the Penn-Lincoln parkway, new garbage disposal plants, the establishment of a Transit and Traffic Commission, permitting the State to take ownership of several bridges, establish a Parking Authority, establish a Department of Parks, and permitting the broadening of the tax base by allowing taxes on sources other than real estate. This was a huge step in insuring that local government agencies would have the power to move the Pittsburgh Region in a direction that was envisioned by local planners. In 1959, Martin accepted the position of Secretary of Highways for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Edward J. Magee succeeded Martin as the Executive Director. Under Magee the Conference continued it redevelopment of Point State Park, Gateway Center and the Lower Hill. The coordination of these projects proved to be a major coup for Magee. He later resigned in 1968.

Robert B. Pease, the former Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Redevelopment Authority, succeeded Magee as the Executive Director of the Allegheny Conference. Under Pease's leadership the Conference's focus was expanded to include more about the living conditions and climate of the citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. After the explosion of the racial riots in 1968, the Conference instituted a program to assists minority business growth. They established programs that would encourage minorities to open businesses, they provided leadership training for them and also low interest loans and grants. These programs were coordinated with local banks, business leaders and social service groups.

Pease remained the Executive Director until 1992. He had one the longest tenure in that position to date. Under his leadership Pittsburghers saw the rise of Three Rivers Stadium, the USX Tower, Oxford Center, Fifth Avenue Place, and PPG Place. The Offices of the Conference moved from the Magee Building after the construction of the USX Tower. In the Tower, the Conference had a suite of offices designed for its multifaceted work.

In 1992, Richard Stafford took over the leadership of the Conference as the Executive Director. Recently, with the construction of the new headquarters of ALCOA on the North Shore, the Conference Offices have moved the old ALCOA building. It continues to be active as a cooperative agency.

Scope and Content Notes

The Allegheny Conference On Community Development Records are housed in 357 boxes and are arranged alphabetically in twenty series. Series have been designated for Annual Dinners; Articles; Community Activities Advisor; Conventions; Director of Planning; Executive Director; Financial Materials; Highland Park Zoo—Aquarium; Highways; Lower Hill Redevelopment; Mellon Square Park; News Releases; Pittsburgh Bicentennial Association; Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association; Point Park Committee; Planning, Recreation, Conservation and Park Council; Report Library; Three Rivers Stadium; and Topical Files. These records include minutes, correspondence, reports and printed materials. The records document the large scope of the involvement of the Conference in the planning and redevelopment of the Greater Pittsburgh region.

The arrangement of the records has been recreated by the order in which they appeared to have been used or created by the Conference Staff. This order was most often very apparent to the processor. However, on some occasions it was not and therefore, best judgment in the arrangement of these records was used. Many of these records were maintained by separate individuals in a variety of capacities at the Conference Offices. Therefore, material found in the Topical Folders Series may have additional or duplicated papers in other series, such as, the Executive Director or the Director of Planning. Researchers searching for specific topics need to be aware that it may be necessary to search in several series.

Conditions Governing Access

In the Topical Series, Personnel Subseries, the folders under the subtitled "Individuals" [Box 327, Folder 9 thru the end of Box 330] are closed until 2015. Also in the Topical Series, Pittsburgh New Futures Subseries, folders under the subtitled "Interviews" [Box 340, Folders 9 & 10] are closed until 2015.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials were received in one accession, Accession # 1994.0314, in August 1994.

Preferred Citation

Allegheny Conference On Community Development (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Records, 1920-1993, MSS 285, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David R. Grinnell in July 2000.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Separated Materials

Allegheny Conference On Community Development (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Photographs, MSP 285.

To the Printed Collection--Duplicates of many of the reports and publications have been cataloged separately in the Library.

Container List