Repository

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Title

Frank J. Lucchino Papers

Creator

Lucchino, Frank J. (Frank Joseph), 1939-

Collection Number

AIS.2020.02

Extent

12.42 Linear Feet (6 records center boxes,1 oversize box, 1 document case, 5 a-v cases)

Date

1950-2021

Abstract

The Frank J. Lucchino Papers document the professional life and political career of Judge Frank J. Lucchino. Native to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lucchino was involved in local politics and the Democratic Party, serving as a District Magistrate, member of Pittsburgh City Council, Allegheny County Controller, and as a judge in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. He also served as a board member for several corporations and cultural and educational organizations. The collection contains a variety of materials including scrapbooks, photographs, campaign materials, newspaper clippings, realia, and audio-video materials.

Language

The materials in this collection are in English.

Publisher

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Address

University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Debra Nicole Brown in March 2022.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Frank J. Lucchino on December 8, 2020.

Biography History

Frank J. Lucchino is a Pittsburgh and Allegheny County political figure and judge. For several decades, as a member of the Democratic Party, Lucchino served as a member of Pittsburgh City Council, Allegheny County Controller, and as a judge in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

Frank J. Lucchino was born in the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 16, 1939, to Dominic Anthony and Rose Marie Lucchino. Lucchino attended Taylor Allderdice High School. Upon completion, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1961. As a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, Lucchino served as Vice President in 1959 and President in 1960. After earning his degree, Lucchino continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he earned his LL.B. in 1964. He was admitted to the Bar in 1964.

In 1968, Lucchino organizated and was the first president of the Greenfield Organization (GO), a grassroots neighborhood group that raised funds and advocated for positive change in their community, including the establishment of playgrounds, senior centers, addition public transportation lines, better access to healthcare facilities, and sought to combat urban decay.

Following the start of his legal career, Lucchino served as district magistrate from 1970 to 1973. In 1973, running as a Democrat, he was elected to the Pittsburgh City Council, during a time when Council members were elected to represent the entire city, not individual districts, and served until 1978. After an unsuccessful mayoral run in 1977, Lucchino ran a successful bid for the Office of Allegheny County Controller, a position he held until 2000. After leaving the County Controller office, Lucchino served as a judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas until his retirement in 2016.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Lucchino served as chair of the Pittsburgh Democratic Party in the mid-1980s, and was delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1980, which was held at Madison Square Garden's in New York City.

As County Controller, Lucchino wrote and published "A Quiet Crisis: Libraries in Allegheny County" documenting the sustainability challenges of libraries within the county. This led to the Commission of the Future of Libraries in Allegheny County. Over time, the commission obtained more permanent funding for libraries, improving accessibility and resources. As chair of the commission, Lucchino lead efforts to establish nine "Knowledge Connections" throughout Allegheny County, where community library facilities were established in public housing communities. The "Knowledge Connections" not only provided books and other reading opportunities, but also provided access to computers, where residents could connect to additional resources through out the library system in the county. Much of this work was achieved in partnership with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) and also led to an appointment to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science by President Bill Clinton. He served in this role from 1994 to 1998. He retired from the CLP Board in 2014 at the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Lucchino has continued to serve on the boards of multiple professional, educational, and cultural organizations. Staying involved with his alma mater, Lucchino was a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Pittsburgh from 1989 to 1996. He was also a member of the boards of National Steel (1995-2001), U. S. Steel (2003-2013), Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Science Center, and the Heinz History Center (also known as Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania). He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association. Following his retirement from the Boards of the Carnegie Museums and the Carnegie Library, he was selected to serve as an Emertus Trustee of each.

Lucchino married his wife Roberta Ann Frank on August 25, 1962. They have three children: F.J., Jennifer, and David. They now live in the Fox Chapel area of Allegheny County.

Arrangement

Arrangement into 16 Series:

I. Scrapbooks

II. Political Campaigns

III. Pittsburgh City Council

IV. Allegheny County Controller

V. Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

VI. Correspondence

VII. Awards and Recognition

VIII. Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

IX. National Steel Corp.

X. United States Steel Corp.

XI. National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences

XII. University of Pittsburgh

XIII. Cultural and Educational Instutions

XIV. Photographs

XV. Realia

XVI. Audio/Visual Materials

Scope and Contents

This collection contains documentation created by and on Pittsburgh and Allegheny County political figure and judge, Frank J. Lucchino. Included are materials on Lucchino's political career as well as his tenure on the boards of various institutions and commission and his time associated with the University of Pittsburgh.

Documents on Lucchino's political career includes campaign materials, terms while in office as a member of City Council, Allegheny County Controller, and member of the Court of Common Pleas, as well as awards received for his service. These files include scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, campaign materials, photographs, audio/visual materials, correspondence, reports, and awards.

The papers also include documents from Lucchino's role as a board member of various institutions, including National Steel, U. S. Steel, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the National Commission on Library and Information Science, and the Heinz History Center. Objects included in these files include photographs, realia, board meeting notices and minutes, awards and recognition, and travel information. Records regarding Lucchino's education and relationship with the University of Pittsburgh is represented through photographs, awards, correspondence, and meeting minutes.

Preferred Citation

Frank J. Lucchino Papers,1950-2021, AIS.2020.02, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Container List