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Guide to the Sahli Family Collection 1860s-1970s

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Sahli Family Collection
Creator
Sahli family
Collection Number
MSS 0604
Extent
0.5 linear feet (1 box)
Date
1860s-1970s
Abstract
The Sahli Family Collection contains regional ephemera collected by the Sahli family of Indiana County Pennsylvania. Dr. John R. Sahli served in the History Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1946 through 1975, both as a professor and assistant chair. His daughter, Nancy Sahli, was Director of the Records Program at the National Historic Publications and Records Committee for nearly twenty years. Materials in the Sahli Family Collection include regional company advertisements and brochures, political pamphlets, event programs at which Dr. Sahli was a featured participant, and regional almanacs.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Alex J. Toner.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

Dr. John R. Sahli was born on May 1, 1910 in Indiana County Pennsylvania. After teaching history at Beaver Falls Junior High School for several years, Dr. Sahli earned his PhD. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1941. He served as a Professor of History at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1946-1975, also serving as assistant chair to the History Department during his tenure. Dr. Sahli was involved locally in the YMCA, Kiwanis Club, and the Methodist Church. Professor Sahli died in Indiana Pennsylvania in February, 1976. Nancy Sahli, daughter of Betty and Dr. John R. Sahli, earned her Master's degree and Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. She served as Director of the Records Program for the National Historical and Publications Records Commission for over twenty years. Nancy Sahli was the 1973 recipient of an American Association of University Women National Award, is a fellow of the Society of American Archivists, and has served as chair to the SAA Status of Women Committee. The materials in the Sahli Family Collection were collected by the family during their residence in the Pittsburgh region.

Scope and Content Notes

The Sahli Family Collection contains several different event programs at which Dr. John R. Sahli was a featured participant, such as the 1973 Indiana University of Pennsylvania summer commencement with Dr. Sahli serving as the Grand Marshall. Among other items are several school souvenir cards from Gordon Public School in Indiana County from 1909 through 1920, which were given by teachers to the students. There is an assortment of store brochures and advertisements from the early 20th century from companies located in Beaver Falls, Johnstown, Indiana, and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Several of the businesses include: J.A. Gault Company, Pittsburgh Steel Company, Dehaven and Company, Hardware House of James McCullough Jr., W. and Walker Co., an illustrated catalog of burial caskets from JNO Murphy's Co., and several more. Among various political materials are a poster-sized election bulletin listing the Republican candidates for Indiana County Pennsylvania in 1911, Republican committee brochures from 1964 and 1967, a blank Armstrong County primary election ballot dated 1898, and a Republican party specimen ballot for the U.S. general election in 1964. Other regional materials include programs, invitations, and advertisements focused on the McKeesport Centennial in 1894; several bankers and "everyday" almanacs, including three published by Pittsburgh publisher the Hostetter Company from 1881, 1894, and 1909; and an invitation to the Loyal War Governors' Conference Semi-centennial in Altoona Pennsylvania in 1912. There is also an embossed, leather-bound dinner program for the Americus Republican Clubs' 24th dinner in 1910 commemorating the birth of General Ulysses S. Grant. The dinner was held at the Hotel Schenley, with William Howard Taft as the featured speaker.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Nancy Sahli in 1996.

Archives accession # 1996.0300

Preferred Citation

Sahli Family Collection, 1860s-1970s, MSS 0604 , Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Alex J. Toner on 10/10/2011.

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

Indiana University of Pennsylvania maintains 20 boxes of materials comprising the John R. Sahli collection. John R. Sahli Collection, 1873-1967, MG# 23, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University Archives and Special Collections.

Separated Materials

The Library maintains approximately 40 books donated in 1996 by Nancy Sahli relating to Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana Pa.)

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)
    • Indiana (Pa.)

    Other Subjects

    • Politics--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
    • Almanacs, American--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
    • Stores,Retail--Catalogs--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
    • McKeesport (Pa.)--Centennial Celebrations, etc

Container List