Guide to the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Records, 1906-2004
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Records
- Creator
- Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Collection Number
- MSS#552
- Extent
- 2.5 linear feet (3 boxes)
- Date
- 1906-2004
- Abstract
- The Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church was founded in 1905 in Allegheny, now Pittsburgh's North Side, where it remains today. The records include financial materials, documents related to anniversaries of the congregation, meeting minutes, bulletins and newsletters, marriage records, legal documents, biographical information on pastors, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The formation of the Allegheny/North Side church began in late 1905 following the conversion of Reverend Thomas Clayton, a former clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Clayton collaborated with Reverend Walter Mason, pastor of First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, and together they organized a temporary congregation known as the Second Unitarian Church. In 1907, the congregation was incorporated as the North Side Unitarian Church. Early meetings of the congregation were held at Carnegie Hall of Allegheny, but soon efforts were made to procure land on which to construct a church building. With the assistance of founding member Dr. Robert Gilliford, the church was successful in buying land at the corner of West North Avenue and Resaca Place and construction soon began. Pittsburgh architect Maurice Trimble was hired to design the building. The building was officially dedicated on February 6, 1910. Soon after, Reverend Clayton resigned and was replaced by Reverend Charles Snyder. Under Snyder's leadership the membership grew to over 200 members by 1916, more than doubling the attendance from 1911. Following Snyder's resignation in 1917, several pastors would be selected to lead the congregation. By 1962 the church had a membership of 35 and the congregation began to question its future. The church overcame this crisis and found a very popular minister in Reverend Jesse Cavileer, who served in that post from 1966-1985. Cavileer was selected as Minister Emeritus in 1992. In 1997 Reverend Art McDonald, was selected as pastor. Both Cavileer and McDonald actively lead the congregation's Social Advocacy Program.
The congregation has been active in community and social action initiatives on the North Side and in Pittsburgh throughout its history. Members have assisted in running food drives, funding children's camps, and providing programs and lecture series for community education. They have been advocates for social equality, advocating women's suffrage, gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender and queer rights, civil rights, peace, and nuclear disarmament. Many of these ideals are reflected in the collection, particularly in the newspaper clippings.
Currently known as the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church, this church has also been known as: Second Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, North Side Unitarian Church, Allegheny Center Unitarian Church and the Allegheny Unitarian Church.
Scope and Content Notes
The Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church records are housed in 3 boxes and are arranged topically. Records include: financial materials, minutes of the board and committees, newspaper clippings, bulletins, correspondence and other documents and photos.
The Accounting and Financial section consists of 3 folders and contains letters, memos and notes regarding the churches financial state as well as information regarding the various grants and funds the church has received, most important of which is the Gilliford Fund. This fund was created from the estate of Dr. Robert Gilliford and was intended to help fund the church and to build a Lyceum.
The Allegheny City Sesquicentennial section consists of 2 folders and contains newspapers and various other documents pertaining to the 150th Anniversary of Allegheny City.
The Anniversary Materials section consists of 7 folders and contains documents and information regarding the dedication of the church building in 1910, the 35th Anniversary in 1901, the 50th Anniversary in 1950, the 80th Anniversary in 1986 and the 90th Anniversary in 1996. Included in the 90th Anniversary folder is a document concerning the church's founding and early history that was compiled by a member of the congregation.
The Board and Committee Minutes section consists of 2 folders and 5 volumes containing the Board and Committee Minutes from 1906-2004. Some of the volumes do overlap in years.
The Bulletins and Newsletters section, while not inclusive, consists of 3 folders and contains a large number of bulletins and newsletters from 1928-2004. The collection of bulletins between the years 1928 and 1941 is almost completely inclusive.
The Church Events section consists of 4 folders and contains flyers and notes regarding a number of church events, including newspaper clippings of ads inviting people to worship.
The Correspondence section consists of 3 folders. Of particular note is the correspondence regarding the church's future, written during a time of low attendance, the congregation began to question whether it should continue or close.
The Legal Documents section consists of 2 folders and contains copies of the bylaws as well as copies of incorporation documents.
The Marriage Records section consists of 6 folders and contains a number of marriage applications from 1969-1970 as well as a program from the wedding of Carol-Jean Russell McGreevy and Jorge Morales Gomez. In addition this series contains hundreds of marriage licenses from the years 1938-2003.
The Ministers section consists of 8 folders and contains documents pertaining to a number of pastors that served the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church. Reverend Jesse Cavileer's is the largest file and includes bulletins from other congregations he served.
The Newspaper Clippings section consists of 6 folders and has been divided by topic or author. Two congregation members, Sanford Kelson and Robert Kennedy, were prolific "letter to the editor" writers and were also the subject of a number of articles. Also included in this series are a number of articles regarding activism, the North Side, and articles about the congregation and its members.
The Photographs section consists of 3 folders and contains photos of church members, ministers, and the church building. Most of these are labeled as to the subject of the picture.
Also included in this collection is the Burial Record of a deceased church member and information regarding the church's social advocacy program.
Conditions Governing Access
A marriage license that includes social security numbers, located in Box 3 Folder 14, has been restricted. A redacted copy has been made available in Box 2 Folder 19.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church in March, 2010.
Preferred Citation
Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church Records, 1906-2004, MSS# 552 Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Pamela Litchfield in May 2010.
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.
Related Materials
First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh Records, MSS# 550.
Separated Materials
To the Library Serials Collection 10 issues of the Northside Chronicle
Subjects
- Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Unitarians--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
- Unitarianism.
- Religion--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.