By

By Dale J. Bizub

Taylor Allderdice High School

This research project is entitled, "A View of Pittsburgh through the Pen." It was developed to promote a wide array of resources (not limited to print) by Pittsburgh authors, as well as the views of other writers on Pittsburgh, past and present. It will also include suggested activities that can be used to enhance the participants’ understanding of the work or works read. Given that this unit is for a library setting and there are not regular daily classes, a rigid or highly structured unit of study would not be appropriate. This unit is not only a resource for our immediate community, but for those who have never set foot in our area. Pittsburgh is known worldwide, but sometimes in a preconceived and misinformed way. Here is an opportunity to provide reliable information through good literature. I would hope that anyone throughout the country who reads this unit would like to teach about Pittsburgh, but I know that this will not always be the case. With this being the likelihood, I also want the format of this unit to be adaptable for areas other than Pittsburgh. This will allow it to be used anywhere by developing an area-specific bibliography. I will make reference to any resources that I think may be helpful to you as an educator wishing to use this as a template. These suggestions are nothing more than guidelines you may wish to use, as I’m aware you are a professional who will modify and adapt as you see fit.

The unit title "A View of Pittsburgh through the Pen" represents a broad meaning. First of all, the "view of the pen" may refer to the author, whose work was read, or the student who engages in some activity as a result or reaction to what was read. The term "pen" must also be considered as not just the object that contains ink and is used to produce the written word, but any visible product, which conveys the participant’s viewpoint (photographs, artwork, video.) The primary objectives of this unit are twofold. The first is to promote literacy through reading and the use of library/media skills. The second is to expose our young people to the history and cultural heritage of this city called Pittsburgh.

Literacy is defined as the condition of being literate, which in turn is defined as showing extensive knowledge, experience or culture. Many students today equate reading with assignments they "have" to do. Thus reading becomes a tedious and burdensome chore for many. It is the intention of this unit to motivate individuals to find personal value and meaning in what they read because it relates to them and where they live. Perhaps a direct or indirect connection will be made with the lives they lead. Reading may then be viewed as a meaningful way for one to grow in knowledge as well as become a catalyst for expressing oneself in ways that makes the reader an active recipient and participant.

This unit will promote the concept of literacy by encouraging readers to become engaged in activities that will further develop their understanding and involve them in what they have read. These experiences will give the individual a chance to become more conscious of what the author is trying to convey. It will also give them an opportunity to express themselves in some form that is meaningful and enriching. These activities may include, but are not limited to, writing and presenting a visual (photos, video) or audio presentation. All activities will encourage the acquisition and use of library/media skills. Suggestions are outlined in this unit but are only limited to the participant’s desires, needs and imagination.

The second objective is interwoven with the first, but is still an important aspect of the unit. That is the exposure to the history and cultural heritage of Pittsburgh. During my years as an educator in this region, I have developed an interest in Pittsburgh’s industrial community and the contributions it has made to the world. So much has occurred here prior to and since the Industrial Revolution, both economically and socially. In recent decades heavy industry has declined in our region and we continue to struggle with the changes we are being forced to make. With the rapid expansion of technology and the growth of new industries in our area, the call has gone out to look to the future and let the past go. As we meet the challenge to rediscover who we are and where we need to go from here, I feel that much of what has been the backbone of this region may be forgotten. I fear that young people today lack an understanding of how the successes and failures of the past have shaped this region and its people. These readings and activities will help put the past in proper perspective for the future.

This unit is dynamic in that there are always new resources and activities that can be made available as the need arises. The activities that were developed for this unit are flexible. The purpose, as I have stated, is to promote literacy through the Pittsburgh experience. Most of the resources will be made available to all students at all times. My intent in this unit, however, is to be flexible enough so the librarian and the academic instructor can tailor it to fit a desired classroom unit. The library will promote Pittsburgh by encouraging students to participate in selected activities on an individual basis. In cases where the student engages in a visual project, their efforts will be displayed for others to see. Selected books will also be recommended for enjoyment and as part of our district’s literacy standard which requires each student to read twenty-five books a year.

The first part of this project will be to set up a display containing available materials about local authors, history and people of interest and/or prominence. This display will be located in a convenient and noticeable area of the library. This area will be a permanent site but will be dynamic in scope. Print, video and graphic displays will be created and showcased on a regular basis. Various themes will be explored and the displays rotated accordingly. Activities will be made available for individual student use or for class based research projects.

Ideally, it would be best if all the books related to local history were in one area, but this may be difficult from the standpoint of the number of books available (we have 100-150) and cataloging (books being out classified areas.) This will be at the discretion of each individual library. Bookshelves (permanent or portable), a table or countertop, bulletin boards and perhaps even display cases should be part of this area. Current technologies such as a computer with Internet access, a TV/VCR or individual listening/viewing stations may also be used, depending on the media available. This area can be whatever you decide, and of course would be based upon whatever financial resources you have available. If finances are a problem, look for grants that might be available through your school (PTO or Alumni organizations,) community (local clubs or historical societies) and educational organizations (corporate, local colleges or universities.) Don’t forget Inter-Library loan programs and museums that have lending programs. You would be amazed at the organizations that exist to promote local regions and communities.

I would like to tell you about my father-in-law, Dr. David Henderson. Dr. Henderson came to this country from Scotland as a boy. He and his family arrived here in the mist of the Depression. His father worked in the steel mills and the family lived in Hazelwood. Dr. Henderson graduated from Taylor Allderdice H.S. in the mid 1930s. He studied hard and worked several jobs during those years. His hard work won him a scholarship to college and he eventually went on to earn his Doctorate. He served in the military during WWII, then as a teacher and college instructor at the University of Pittsburgh. He was Dean of Students at Chatham College and then in the late sixties he became the Director of the Buhl Foundation. He served many distinguished years at this position and was active in the Frick Commision, even after his retirement. I say all this because Dr. Henderson embodied the American Dream. He came with nothing, gave all he could and left a positive mark on the city of Pittsburgh. He was a proud, quiet man who spoke little but knew what he was talking about when he did speak. In my small but heartfelt way, I dedicate this to his contributions and to his memory.

Historical Narrative/Activities

Pittsburgh is a city located in Western Pennsylvania at the juncture of three rivers. It is the heart of Allegheny County. It has been called many things throughout its 200- plus year history. Many today know it as the "Steel City." In 1753 George Washington wrote in his journal: "As I got down before the canoe, I spent some time viewing the Rivers, and the Land in the Fork; which I think well suited for a Fort, as it has the absolute command of both rivers (1)." In the mid 1800s it was known as the "Iron City." One of the most vivid phases that described early industrial Pittsburgh was made by James Parton who in 1868 wrote in Atlantic Monthly that Pittsburgh was "Hell with the lid taken off." When the steel industry was in its heyday most of the country referred to Pittsburgh as the "Smoky City" and up until recent times the "Steel City." Most of us, however, call it "home." When someone talks of home, many images and thoughts come to mind. One of the first images is usually what home looks like. Pittsburgh is located west of the Allegheny mountain range that overlooks the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers and merges into the Ohio. These "Three Rivers" became a major route of transportation for travel and commerce that gave Pittsburgh the title of the Gateway to the West. Today, the center focus of the downtown area is known as the "Golden Triangle." The Pittsburgh story is one of ups and downs, but one that has a rich and proud heritage.

It has been recorded that the first white man to settle west of the Alleghenies was John Fraser in 1712. In 1747 a group of men from Virginia formed the Ohio Company (or Ohio Land Company) and petitioned the king’s council for five hundred thousand acres for land speculation and Indian trade. In 1749 the Ohio Company received word that some of the land had been granted, with the rest contingent upon the company settling one hundred families within seven years. Washington first arrived in 1753 at the spot that would be later known as Pittsburgh. The British immediately began to build a fort but the French intervened. In 1759, after much battle and bloodshed, the English recaptured the fort and Pittsburgh came into being.

In the early 1760s Pittsburgh was recovering from its battles only to become involved in conflict with the Indians. In 1763 Chief Pontiac persuaded other Indian tribes to join forces in hopes of pushing the English settlers back over the Allegheny Mountains. At the Battle of Bushy Run, Colonel Henry Bouquet thwarted the attack of the Indians. As a result the Indians withdrew their siege on Pittsburgh. The Indian threat lessened greatly and by the following year was all but non-existent. For the third time Pittsburgh would begin to establish itself as a settlement. This time there was no stopping this pioneer village. Pittsburgh turned rapidly from an English military fortification to a major trading post. From there a settlement, a town and then a city evolved. This region did not develop by design or plan, but through conflict and the innate stubbornness of its inhabitants to never give up. Pittsburgh is the result of that conflict (2).

Pittsburgh grew. It grew because of the people. In the 1770s the population was made up mostly of English and Scotch-Irish immigrants. Although there were many religions represented, the Presbyterian influence of the Scotch-Irish is said to have provided the moral fiber of Pittsburgh. Life was simple and amusements were few, but the ample resources and open wilderness provided a setting for hunting, fishing or long walks through natural settings. Yet those who passed through and many individuals of "breeding" referred to life in Pittsburgh as rude and vulgar. The families were rugged, self-sufficient and determined. Some came for the adventure; some came to escape the consequences of some wrongdoing. Most however, came to improve their economic conditions. Although they did not expect their own lives to be greatly improved, they worked to acquire some form of durable wealth that could be passed on to their children. Everything needed to survive was close at hand if one was willing to work, and Pittsburgh grew because the people were willing. The key to the economy was the clearing of farms, production of crops and raising of livestock. Fertile farmland yielded such surpluses that crops become a source of income for many. Pittsburgh emerged as an agricultural village.

Pittsburgh also grew because of the vast forestation. The wood from the forests provided logs for building homes and their furnishings as well as for heat and the cooking of food. Woodworking skills were a challenge but something that was essential to the farming family and community. Wood was used to make tools for farming, looms for making cloth and clothing, and for barrels, kegs, buckets and the like. As the last two decades in the 18^th century arrived, America began to rely on its own production of goods. Pittsburgh was already doing this and became an area for not only the production of goods, but as a center for exchange.

Politics and governments have always been man’s servant and man’s master. Pittsburgh was no different. In 1788 Allegheny County was formed with Pittsburgh being its seat. A few years later Pittsburgh was incorporated as a borough. Growth and prosperity brought many new changes to the region. A local newspaper, a post office, department stores and new industries began to appear. As Pittsburgh grew, the country also grew. Congress needed ways to finance a nation that was already debt- ridden from the Revolutionary War. In 1791 a tax on whiskey was enacted that affected most every farmer in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. The result of this tax stirred the farmers into what is know as the Whiskey Rebellion.

The questions after each section are designed to further the individuals basic knowledge of Pittsburgh and to foster interest in learning more about all or certain aspects of the city. The questions or resources are by no means comprehensive. They can be altered according to available resources and/or teacher preference. Projects that involve the student producing artwork or some type of media (still and video photography, computer-based) will be planned in conjunction with the student, academic teacher/advisor, and the librarian. Since this type of project is limited only to the imagination and creativity of the individual student, an attempt to set up criteria is not the intent of this narrative. See Appendix 1 for suggestions.

1. A battle was waged over the fort(s) erected at what would become Pittsburgh. What were the names given these forts? When and by who were they controlled?

2. Who was credited with naming Pittsburgh and what is his contribution to the history of Pittsburgh?

3. Around 1760 a census was taken. How many houses/huts were there? How many men, women and children lived in Pittsburgh?

4. What year was Pittsburgh incorporated as a borough and what was the first ordinance passed?

5. What was the name of the first newspaper in Pittsburgh and who started it?

6. What was the Whiskey Rebellion? Who was Tom Tinker?

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970)

Laura C. Frey, The Land in the Fork: Pittsburgh 1753-1914, (Philadelphia: Dorrance & Company, Inc., 1956)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Further information

Randolph Downes, Council Fires on the Upper Ohio, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1989)

John W. Harpster, editor, Crossroads: Descriptions of Western Pennsylvania 1720-1829, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1938)

J. E Wright & Doris S. Corbett, Pioneer Life in Western Pennsylvania,

(Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1979)

As the 19^th century arrived, Pittsburgh and the surrounding region were realizing some prosperity. Surplus products provided the basis for the development of external commerce. Rafts, boats, barges and storage containers for the shipping of goods were manufactured and sent down river to the ever-expanding west. The region continued to grow because of the ready-made river transportation system at what was called the Land of the Forks. The Allegheny from the northeast, combined with the Monongahela from the southeast, converged into the Ohio that then flowed to the Mississippi. It was in Pittsburgh that the trails of the land met with the traffic of the rivers. It was a major gathering and embarkation point to the westward expansion. Because goods could be floated to the West and the South, Pittsburgh was establishing itself as a major port of commerce. Pittsburgh became the "Gateway to the West." Immigration from European countries was rising dramatically. Ship and boat building were early industries in Pittsburgh. In 1811 the first steamboat on the western waters was built in Pittsburgh. The fact that Pittsburgh had this natural transportation system led to the early utilization of the regions ore and wood resources in the production of iron. This was to accommodate the beginnings of manufacturing for exportation. Coal was so plentiful in the surrounding hillsides that it was later said that all one had to do was funnel it down chutes into the furnaces below. Ore for iron and limestone for glass manufacturing were plentiful and easily accessible. From the end of the Revolution to the time Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city, Pittsburgh began to evolve into a major industrial center. As its population rapidly expanded, Pittsburgh continued to expand because America continued to expand.

Early industries were maintained at what has been referred to as "handicraft stage". Much of the manufacturing was done out of homes or what could be considered as a plantation form. The owner lived in a "mansion house" surrounded by worker cabins. This was built in an area where the resources were plentiful and accessible. Pittsburgh became invaluable during the War of 1812. Travel by water was the preferred method because roads were poor and dangerous. Even then, the land trade passed through Pittsburgh. The flow of goods from Europe slowed dramatically and this country had to manufacture much of what it needed. Pittsburgh now appeared as a growing metropolis compared to the small settlement of the decade before. Much of Pittsburgh’s early iron industry relied on imported raw materials and iron ore. Pittsburgh’s role in production was that of ironworker and ironmonger. Although early attempts at blast furnaces were unsuccessful, foundries and metal working factories sprang up all over the area. With the advent of the steam engine, and the fact that coal was plentiful and therefore provided cheap fuel, the growth of heavy industry could not be held back. Another of the earlier manufacturing successes in Pittsburgh is the manufacture of glass. According to one account, in spite of the slump that followed the War of 1812, there were 259 factories employing 1637 men and producing annually goods to the value of two and a quarter million dollars(3). Early products manufactured in Pittsburgh included iron, brass, tin, glass, leather, textiles, liquor and tobacco.

General Knowledge Questions

6. The three rivers that converge at the Point have been identified as the Allegheny, the Monongahela and the Ohio. Give a brief description each. Include information about their names and why each was important to the development of the region.

7. Who was James O’Hara and what was his industrial contribution?

8. Who was Zadok Cramer and what was he noted for?

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Further Information

R. Eugene Harper, Transformation of Western Pennsylvania, 1770­1800, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1991)

Walter C. Kidney, The Three Rivers, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, 1982)

Arthur Parker, The Monongahela: River of Dreams, River of Sweat, (University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999

Although the War of 1812 left Pittsburgh with a robust economy, an attempt by Britain to regain lost markets sparked a depression which lasted from 1817-1821. This event nearly destroyed Pittsburgh’s economy. To add insult to injury, Congress decided that Wheeling would be the site of the National Road that would cross the Ohio River. Commerce bound for the West that had once come through Pittsburgh was now transferred to a rival city. Fortunately, the rapid increase and sales of manufactured products more than made up for what was lost through commerce. Pennsylvania in turn responded to the diversion of commerce from the state by setting up its own turnpike system that connected its own cities with key roadways that led to the neighboring states. Also seen at this period of time was the building of canal systems. Although canals lessened the travel time needed by wagon, the sluggish waters had a tendency to freeze during the winter months. Pennsylvania undertook the vast and expensive project of building locks that would allow transport of goods over the Alleghenies to Pittsburgh. The combination of steamboat and stage made passenger travel quicker and more convenient. The steamboat was a transportation favorite and would rival the railroad and even that of the early airplane. It wasn’t until the 1850s that the railroad would come to Pittsburgh. Rail transportation expanded rapidly, but that did not happen without its problems. Battles over who would run the tracks, where they would go and who would pay for them all plagued its early growth. Labor problems were common and in 1877 the infamous railroad riots took place, causing extensive damage and loss of life. The railroads, however, proved to be a blessing for industry as rails made up a large part of the finishing mill business and also led to the organization of the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works.

As Pittsburgh expanded, the flat spaces became so cramped that buildings appeared up and down the hillsides. Communities also emerged across the rivers. Bridges started to span the three rivers at various points. Some of these lasted many decades while others were short lived. Many of these early bridges were built and maintained by tolls. Because of public reliance on the bridges they eventually became free bridges, that is, toll free. Today literally hundreds of bridges still span from shore to shore up and down all our rivers. One can stand on a high location and view not only several bridges, but also several different types of bridges. Since these early days, Pittsburgh has and still carries yet another nickname, the city of bridges.

9. When did the Pennsylvania Turnpike open? What types of transportation (name 3) traveled on it?

10. Which railroad was the first to have a stop in Pittsburgh and what year did that occur?

11. How many bridges are in Allegheny County today? Name a two bridges on the Allegheny? The Monongahela? What type of bridges are they?

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970)

Walter C. Kidney, Pittsburgh Bridges: Architecture and Engineering, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, 1999)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Further Information

Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA http://www.buildingtechnology.com/bcba/bridges/

In 1816 Pittsburgh became a city. It had a mayor, alderman and the citizens. The city continued to expand and thus was divided into wards. By the mid 1850s the cities political leaders were elected by popular vote. Pittsburgh’s population rapidly increased. Historical accounts show that in 1800 it was recorded as 1565 people. In 1830 it was 22,461. Eighteen hundred fifty found Pittsburgh’s population at 46,601 in the city and 55,583 in the suburbs. By 1900 its city population had soared to 321,616(4). Pittsburgh was truly a melting pot. Immigration was by no means an orderly process. Although many skilled individuals came, the majority who sought homes were of peasant or artisan classes. People came with a dream, and a hope to better their lives. People came from Ireland, Germany, England, Scotland, France, Hungry, Slovakia and Poland. Some came here to get away from difficult circumstances. Some were promised a better life and convinced this was the place to come.

Pittsburgh was rugged, smoky and dirty. The street lights stayed on most of the day. The architecture was called helter-skelter, the homes were dingy and the streets were filled with mud, hogs, dogs and rats. Improvements were continually being made, but could not keep up with demand because of overcrowding. The city kept expanding outward along with the factories. Pittsburgh relied on public and private wells for its water. Many got water from the rivers and filled tanks kept in their back yards. Finally in 1824 a city water system was constructed. Even then it could not serve everyone. The city water was cheap but not purified. Many poorer areas went without adequate sewage facilities as well. Sickness and disease were common in the early days. Cholera was common for several decades but in 1854 a major epidemic took 200 lives in two weeks. A board of health was organized and medical facilities and hospitals began to appear. Churches contributed greatly to the organization and building of hospitals and benevolent organizations. Many were started to serve specific ethnic groups and their associated religions. Some cut across denominational boundaries. Charitable organizations also raised money and some even built facilities for the thousands of citizens who were in need. Police protection was needed but was not of concern until after the Civil War. Fire protection was voluntary until paid companies were set up in the 1870s.

The social aspects of Pittsburgh were on the rise. The cultural scene has always found a place in this region. Pittsburgh has never been recognized with the likes of New York and other cultural centers, but it boasts several artists and musicians as well as medical and scientific pioneers. Many were among the worlds most noted. People like composer Stephen Foster, poet Robinson Jeffers, painters John Kane and Mary Cassatt, and author Willa Cather made their mark on the world of the arts. Charles Martin Hall was the inventor of aluminum, Samuel Pierpont Langley was also an inventor as well as astronomer, while Rachel Carson and Dr. T. Lyle Hazlett were pioneers in the fields of environmentalism and industrial medicine respectively. Pittsburgh not only contributed to the cultural world but also was host to many Presidents, foreign royalty as well as other dignitaries and celebrities. The theater and opera were slow to start but developed and retained a loyal following. Newspapers in the early 1800s were numerous, inexpensive and a source of cultural enlightenment. Formal education was poorly organized. Some private schools existed early on but were small and exclusive. The public school system began in 1834 by order of the State, which provided aid. A board of education was elected and schools were opened. Because public education was relatively new and had no model to work from, progress was slow, but schools still sprung up rapidly. Colleges and academies were dated back prior to the public system and continued to grow in the region. Many of these fine universities still exist today, although under different names.

12. When did Pittsburgh become a city? Who was the first mayor?

13. Name 3 hospitals created in the mid 1800s. What organization started each?

14. Choose a individual (artist, musician, scientist, author etc.) from the 1800s and tell a little about them and what they were famous for.

15. The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham College all started with different names. What were they?

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Leonore R. Elkus, editor, Famous Men & Women of Pittsburgh, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, 1981)

Further Information

Virginia Bartlett , Keeping House: Women's Lives in Western Pennsylvania, 1790­1850, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1994)

Martin, Scott , Killing Time: Leisure and Culture in Southwestern Pennsylvania, 1800­1850, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1995)

Bridging Urban Landscape. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. June 2000.

http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/exhibit.html

By 1830 Pittsburgh was becoming a major manufacturing center and a key component to the productive system of America. Even with new transportation systems being developed the cost of moving goods from the East was high. Local merchants took advantage of their location and available resources to produce needed goods that could be sold. Early glassmaking became a successful industry. In 1856 glass factories generated between two and three million dollars in sales annually. Pittsburgh also became involved in every branch of iron manufacturing by using steam. The distillery and cotton industries were present but never really grew like the heavy industries. By the later part of the century they had closed or moved on to other areas. The iron and steel industry was expanding at the greatest rate. One source estimated that in 1857 Pittsburgh had 25 rolling mills, sixteen foundries, and over 50 iron working establishments which employed around 8,000 men totaling over fifteen million dollars a year(5). Production of steam engines realized about one million dollars a year as well. By 1860 steel making was a staple of the economy and had indications of a bright and continued future.

This early boom was not immune to growing pains. Labor was always a concern. One major drawback was a shortage of labor. As immigration increased labor problems shifted to that of wage disputes. Overcrowding caused poor living conditions and an inadequate infrastructure could not provide needed public services. To add to the problems, in April of 1845 a small fire got out of control in the downtown area and by evening had swept through some 56 acres, destroying or damaging close to one thousand buildings and leaving twelve thousand people homeless. Close to one-third of the city lay in ashes. Although it took years before all the signs of the fire were gone, the new construction replaced old areas of the city with new and up-to-date facilities. The depressions of 1837 and 1857 had their effect, but still could not hamper the road of progress for long.

As the Civil War opened, the steel output of the entire country was no more than about eleven thousand tons; twenty years later one single plant in Pittsburgh was producing that amount within a single month(6). In the two closing decades of the 1800s Pittsburgh was the largest steel producer in the country. Mills would run around the clock seven days a week. Workers put in long hours and in many cases had one day off every two weeks. Working a double shift during one of those thirteen days made up even that time. Steel was not the only industry that grew in Pittsburgh. There were numerous thriving businesses that contributed to the economy and employed thousands. Coal production was a major industry with much of it being used to produce coke for use in the steel mills. The coke industry was a big business itself and not only supplied this essential ingredient for making steel in Pittsburgh, but was transported to other regions as well. Because of the iron and steel industries, huge foundries were built that produced heavy machinery. Oil wells were drilled and natural gas was a useful by-product. Numerous oil refineries produced thousands of barrels each day. Glass was one of the earliest industries in Pittsburgh and remained a large industry through the beginning of the twentieth century. Around this time the first aluminum plant was established. Although it started as a small industry, this eventually grew into the industrial giant ALCOA.

Although the economy and industrial greatness of Pittsburgh was built with the toll and sweat of thousands of men and women, several names of individuals, whom today we would refer to as entrepreneurs, come to mind. Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick were the key players of the growth of the steel industry. Other individuals who were important in the growth of the steel industry were Captain Bill Jones, Henry Phipps, Henry W. Oliver, and Charles M. Schwab. Thomas Mellon and two of his sons, Andrew W. and Richard Beatty, established a bank and extended credit to men like Frick and Carnegie. The sons later held many prominent positions and contributed their expertise to many corporate, financial, and educational institutions. George Westinghouse held hundreds of patents and used his genius to set up a machine company, an electric company and the air brake company. His name is still recognized worldwide today. Henry John Heinz was the founder of the major food-packing industry that still thrives. There are so many others who contributed to industrial Pittsburgh but are too numerous to mention.

General Knowledge Questions

16. Briefly explain the Great Fire of 1845. How did it start and what were the results.

17. Who was Samuel M. Kier and Edwin L. Drake and what natural resource did their businesses have in common? How were their businesses different?

18. Choose one of the entrepreneurs mentioned in the text (or another of your choice.) Tell were he was from, how did he gain his wealth and what Pittsburgh remembers him for.

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Leonore R. Elkus, editor, Famous Men & Women of Pittsburgh, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, 1981)

Further Information

Thomas Bell, Out of This Furnace (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976)

Marcia Davenport, The Valley of Decision (New York: Scribner's, 1943)

Out of this Furnace: A Walking Tour of Thomas Bell's Novel. Dir.Steffi Domike. VHS. Pittsburgh, 1990.

Western Pennsylvania Civil War Resources http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~jw3u/round/table.htm

Pittsburgh can truly be called a melting pot. In 1890 the total population of Pittsburgh was 238,617. Of this number, no less than 73,154 were foreign born, about one third of the total. The mills and the mines needed workers. Shipload after shipload of men, recruited by agents of the industries, came from Slovakia and Hungry, from Poland and Greece, from Italy and Ireland(7). In 1850 a stream of "free Negroes" began to arrive in Pittsburgh via the Underground Railroad, which is said to have had several stations here. During this later time many southern born African-Americans continued to migrate North as well. The communities and neighborhoods developed according to economic and ethnic distinctions. The industrialists, financiers and businessmen dominated the upper classes while the industrial workers were at the bottom of the social and economic scale. One thing the two classes did share was that they worked hard. The upper class lived in luxurious mansions with lavish furnishing form all over the world. They were the first, perhaps anywhere, to enjoy modern conveniences such as running water, sanitary facilities as well as gas and later electricity. The wealthy attended balls and belonged to exclusive clubs. They lived in one of two areas. These early residential developments began before the Civil War in Allegheny City, just across the Allegheny River from the city’s central core. The second major area was the East End and began to attract wealthy families in the 1870s. By the turn of the century it contained one-half of the cities elite(8).

The average factory worker usually had a roof and four walls with no indoor facilities whatsoever. It was common for unmarried mill workers to rent a room from a family who also rented their living quarters. The wife would cook and do laundry for the tenant(s) to earn extra income for the basic necessities of the family. It was not uncommon for two men to rent a single room. One worked the day shift and the other the night. Work was so demanding that eating and sleeping were about the only thing laborers would do at home. The workers spent what little free time they had in saloons, attending sporting events or church socials. This was colorfully illustrated in Thomas Bell’s novel, Out of This Furnace.

As the neighborhoods grew up around various ethnic groups, they formed social organizations where they would speak in their native tongues and discuss life in the "old country." New immigrants would live near the business districts, mills and factories. " …Europeans established small enclaves near the Jones and Laughlin mill in Hazelwood (15^th Ward), in company homes in "Painter’s Row" on the Southside, and in the industrial communities of Homestead and Braddock(9)." Blue-collar neighborhoods, with an ethnic mix of African-Americans and new immigrants developed in the Hill District and surrounding areas. Middle class neighborhoods began to crop up in the eastern areas of the city. Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and Oakland were among these. People were beginning to separate living areas from working area when and if their economic situations allowed. As the twentieth century rolled into the early decades many ethnic groups began to be involved in community and political endeavors.

"While foreign-born persons made up only 4.6 percent of the city's population in 1990, Pittsburgh retains a strong ethnic character. Many neighborhoods have a clear ethnic identification, such as Bloomfield (Italian), the South Side and Polish Hill (Polish), and Squirrel Hill (Jewish)… Blacks predominate in several areas throughout the city, the largest being Beltzhoover, the Hill, Homewood-Brushton, and Manchester(10)." Today Pittsburgh is a city with all the elements of the modern era, but manages to retain strong ethic roots. Many individuals are one of several generations to be born, live and die in their neighborhoods.

19. Where was Allegheny City and what happened to it?

20. As a result of immigration several ethnic groups are still represented in Pittsburgh today. Name at least four of these groups and identify the neighborhoods in which they still reside.

21.  What was "Company Housing?

 

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Margaret Byington, Homestead: The Households of a Mill Town, (New York: Arno& The New York Times, 1969)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, editors, A Pittsburgh Album 1758-1958, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959)

Further Information

John Bodnar, Roger Simon, and Michael P. Weber, Lives of Their Own: Blacks, Italians, and Poles in Pittsburgh, 1900-1960, (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1982)

Ailon Shiloh, director, By Myself I’m a Book: An Oral History of the Immigrant Jewish Experience in Pittsburgh, collected by the Pittsburgh section, National Council of Jewish Women (Waltham, MA: American Jewish Historical Society, 1972)

One can not speak of the American labor movement and not include Pittsburgh in the discussion. Labor issues have been around for as long as one person has worked for another. Early reports of disputes and strikes date back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Those were usually settled in peaceful ways. The conflicts between employees and employers began to heat up mid century. In many cases the hours were long, working conditions hazardous and the pay not enough to live on. Pittsburgh’s labor union effort dates back to the 1830s. Although there were several unions formed between 1840 and 1860, progress was slow, if existent at all. Sentiment for laborers, at least by most of the press, was not favorable. Machinery was expensive and the competition in the industry was very cutthroat. The prevalent thinking was to hire cheap labor and push them as far as you could. Since store clerks and business people worked as many as twelve to eighteen hours a day there was little sympathy for the factory worker.

The situation was not always wage increase however. Some of the ugliest conflicts were fought over workers trying to prevent wage reductions. In 1865 a successful eight-month strike found the laborers on the winning end. Following the Panic of 1873, a successful strike resulted in the formation of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers. They set the example for other industries to follow suit. A few years later, an attempted wage reduction by the Pennsylvania Railroad resulted in the great railroad strike of 1877. Although accounts vary, one author notes that estimates of property damage exceeded $7,000,000; 61 persons were dead, 150 injured(11). The strikers went back to work and the resulting violence hurt their cause for years to come.

The Homestead Strike of 1892 shook the nation. The Amalgamated, numbering 80,000 protested the wage reduction of 325 men. The result was a prolonged strike. Months later while the strike dragged on and Carnegie had gone off to Scotland; Frick fired the entire force. Workers were offered individual contracts, but with very few takers the strike dragged on. The response by management was to send in 300 Pinkerton agents to break the strike. A daylong battle ensued and several lives were lost. An attempted assassination on Frick by an anarchist brought the conflict to national attention. Despite strong support for the workers, the lawless acts committed on the day of the battle turned general public sentiment against the strikers. When the strike ended, thousands of members resigned from the union and the movement in Homestead took a long hiatus. The depression of 1893 found a glut of unemployed people looking for work. New technologies reduced the amount of skill required for many jobs, and immigration still provided an influx of cheap labor. The formation of U.S. Steel resulted in a great corporation that virtually set the standards and anti-union sentiment for the industry. It was not until the mid 1930s that the Union was again a force in Homestead. But forces were at work behind the scenes. The Pittsburgh Survey, which was completed in 1908, had some strong statements to make about the labor and living situations in Pittsburgh.

"Certainly no community before in America or Europe has ever had such a surplus, and never before has a great community applied what it had so meagerly to the rational purposes of human life. Not by gifts of libraries, galleries, technical schools, and parks, but by the cessation of toil one day in seven and sixteen hours in twenty-four, by the increase of wages, by the sparing of lives, by the prevention of accidents, and by raising the standards of domestic life, should the surplus come back to the people of the community in which it is created(12)."

22. What was the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers?

23. What was the Pittsburgh Survey?

24. Why was the formation of U.S. Steel called the age of "Big Steel?"

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Margaret Byington, Homestead: The Households of a Mill Town, (New York: Arno & The New York Times, 1969)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, editors, A Pittsburgh Album 1758-1958, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959)

Further Information

David Demarest, Jr. ed "The River Ran Red": Homestead 1892 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976)

Arthur Burgoyne, Homestead Strike of 1892 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1979)

Homestead Steel Works: 1883-1901
http://www.lucknow.com/horus/etexts/homestd1.html

At the turn of the century many changes began to occur. Pittsburgh was a settlement that had evolved into a metropolis. Despite attempts to keep up with the rapid growth of, well everything, much was still lacking. The balance of economics with the political and sociological factors of life in the region brought about a cry from the public and private sectors. After the turn of the century, businessmen and business organizations discovered that relationships between economic and community affairs were essential to the development of civic life(13).

Adding to the awakening of social consciousness was a period of time known as the Muckracking Era. This was brought about by the poor working and living conditions of many of the countries working class. This combined with the inexpensive cost of publications due to mass marketing, resulted in many magazines turning from their literary endeavors to being the voice for the common people. Authors such as Lincoln Steffens and Ida Tarbell were critically outspoken on this topic. The corruption and exposure of the "evils" of the ruling class were the popular subject of the content. Politicians in Pittsburgh as well as throughout the country were a source of corruption. They were commonly referred to as "political bosses." In Pittsburgh, the Magee-Flinn ring was an example of a powerful force that came under fire. Also in the fire of criticism were the owners and financiers of the big business. The stories of the muckrackers were heard and there was a public outcry for a more honest and moral form of government. This brought about state action (with Federal endorsement) that resulted in the Ripper Act, which took control of government away from the local machine. Although these times were "shameful," as Lincoln Steffens wrote, the blame extended beyond individuals and corporations. The rapid expansion of Pittsburgh (and the rest of the country) caused over extension of expenditures for governments and industries. The annexation of Allegheny City in 1907 instantly added to the size of Pittsburgh. "Hence rapid industrialization necessarily involves immense expenditures, and expenditures on that scale presuppose an immense accumulation of capital. If the necessary capital is not on hand, there are only three ways of obtaining it-by borrowing it, stealing it, or sweating it out of the people, first of all out of the labor force(14)."

This time also saw a boom in the building of public and private facilities such as banks, theaters and hotels, as well as parks and bridges. Institutions of higher learning (Carnegie Tech, expansion of University of Pittsburgh, Chatham College, Duquesne University), the Bell Telephone Building, the Jenkins Arcade and several railroad stations were built. Among these lavish residences also sprang up. The steel industry continued to grow as new and more extensive processes and technologies became available. As the industry started to thrive the strain on the workers continued to increase. The twelve-hour day continued and the working conditions were terrible. As a result impairment to employees’ health was common and many times considered just part of the job. Fatalities occurred all too frequently. During this time some industrialists were recognizing that pushing the workforce was not, despite traditional theories, the best way to run long range productive businesses. The dawning of this attitude combined with the outbreak of World War I, which reduced the availability of cheap foreign labor, began to see improved working conditions. When Henry Ford’s philosophy of the eight-hour day and a minimum daily wage saw his business explode with profit, the majority of industries began to follow suit. A new way of doing business seemed to taking place.

The First World War brought great prosperity to Pittsburgh. As was usually the case, it did not last for everyone. The post war year's production began to decline and many of the same old woes returned for the working class. Strikes returned in many phases of industry. Labor and management were at each other’s throats. During this time immigration laws were passed reducing the numbers allowed into the country. Old World traditions and customs gave way to the process of Americanization. Many millionaires were created as a result of the war, and a period of ostentation occurred. But the war also left its mark. At the end of the war Pittsburgh was not a beautiful place. Its buildings spread out, its streets were congested, and it rivers were polluted. Smoke and smog, the curse since earliest times, blackened the skies and everything it came in contact with. Flood waters inundated the streets at the Point at regular intervals(15). Nonetheless, prosperity led the Burgh into the roaring twenties.

The following decades brought some interesting developments in Pittsburgh. America’s first radio broadcast took place on Election Day in 1920 from the roof of Westinghouse Electric, changing the world of communications forever. The Liberty Bridge and Tubes opened for automobile traffic. Prohibition was in full swing and bootlegging was ramped. US Steel expanded into in Duquesne, McKeesport and Braddock. Then in 1929 it happened. The Depression hit. Factories immediately cut back; workers either lost their jobs or suffered severe wage cuts. The ensuing decade arrived with a whimper. The always-optimistic Pittsburgh turned sour. In 1932 newly elected Franklin D. Roosevelt offered the New Deal. Government programs helped to spur the economy somewhat, but progress was slow. In 1934 unemployment was still high. To add insult to injury, on St. Patrick’s Day in 1936 Pittsburgh suffered its worst flood to date. On March 18 the rivers at the Point were at record crest of over 46 feet. More than 100 families were homeless. Thousands of others had no electricity, no radio, and no safe water to drink. Looting and vandalism added to their fears. The toll was estimated at 74 dead or missing and property damage was estimated at over $200,000,000(16). This brought about congressional action that resulted in a network of dams and locks to help control such occurrences. The spirit of Pittsburgh was rekindled once again and the rebuilding process was underway. In 1937 the employers and the worker of the steel industries were finally making headway, establishing a $5 minimum daily wage, a 40-hour week, paid vacations, seniority rights and grievance procedures(17). Ground was also broken for a new steel company in West Mifflin. The year 1941 brought the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the country was at war again. The industries and mills were once again at full force around the clock. Almost 100,000,000 tons of steel was produced during those war years.

25. What was the Muckracking movement? What articles did Lincoln Steffens and Ida Tarbell write and what were they about?

26. Who were Christopher Magee and William Flinn? Why were they called political bosses?

27. What two events brought Pittsburgh out of the Depression?

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, editors, A Pittsburgh Album 1758-1958, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959)

Arthur and Lila Weinberg, The Muckrackers, 1902-1912, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1961)

Further Information

Annie Dillard, An American Childhood (New York: Harper Perennial, 1987)

Rob Lubove, Twentieth-Century Pittsburgh, Volume Two: The Post-Steel Era (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1995)

Ethel Spencer, The Spencers of Amberson Avenue: A Turn–of-the-Century Memoir (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1983)

Although the economy was once again resurgent, the leaders and citizens were not content. The city continued to be dirty and run down and was the butt of jokes throughout the country. Once again Pittsburgh was out to remake itself. When David L. Lawrence took office as the 47^th mayor of Pittsburgh in 1946, he vowed to center his focus on the future of Pittsburgh. The Renaissance effort was the use of public powers and resources to bolster the economic vitality of the central business district and the competitive economic position of the Pittsburgh region(18). Richard King Mellon had appeared on the scene some decade prior to this to assume control in the Mellon family interests. He too had an interest in Pittsburgh’s revitalization. "When Richard King Mellon and David L. Lawrence joined hands to clean up, rebuild and improve their city, the cooperation of traditional rivals-the wealthy Republican industrialists and financiers with the Democratic city politicians-augured well for the future of Pittsburgh(19)." Although Pittsburgh was proud of its past, it had no regrets or lost sentiment while it pressed on into a new era. Along with Lawrence and Mellon were many others, such as Arthur Van Buskirk and Wallace Richards. Through the efforts of these men and countless others too numerous to mention, the Renaissance moved forward.

Many issues had to be dealt with. First was the smoke. Without better air quality the whole plan of renewal would be for naught. The fight to eliminate the abundance of smoke was not easy, as smoke was always associated with jobs. The implementation of a smoke ordinance in the city was passed and was enacted at the close of WWII. This ordinance required consumers to use smokeless fuel. It was essentially a ban on coal use in the home. To further help in the battle was the Allegheny Conferences push to limit smoke in the county as well. The State of Pennsylvania supported these measures, and after many corporate and political debates the measures were accepted and the legislation passed.

Next was the rebuilding of Pittsburgh’s business center, the "Golden Triangle" with a special emphasis was on some type of historical park. Point State Park was proposed and several ideas and designs were offered and hotly debated. The park took many years from conception to reality, and at times the delays were almost comical if not so embarrassing. But finally in 1974 it was completed. In 1950 the Redevelopment Authority moved to undertake an aggressive plan. Through the urban redevelopment laws enacted after the war, many parcels and properties were acquired to rebuild the downtown area. Gateway Center, Mellon Square, the Alcoa and U.S. Steel buildings, not to mention the Gateway Towers and the Hilton Hotel are but a few projects undertaken in the fifties and sixties. The city’s public parking program was one of the grandest projects undertaken. The effort caught on and spread to other areas of the city. The North Side, the Lower Hill district and Oakland all took on major redevelopment. Much of this was controversial and in hindsight some say did more harm than good. Vital neighborhoods (such as the Lower Hill) were destroyed. Older programs such as public housing, flood control and the Sanitary Authority were strengthened or restructured. New organizations were developed to address civic problems. Action Housing for better housing, the Regional Industrial Development Corporation for economic development, and the County Port Authority for mass transit to name a few. All of these programs and more where the result of hard work, compromise and bipartisan relationships by the political parties. Millions of dollars were donated by private individuals and by family foundations. They were in the forefront, granting funds to worthy projects with unprecedented generosity. The key to progress was commitment and unity. In the 1970s the frenzy of development leveled off. Although this pace of development could not last forever, the Renaissance left its mark on the city and its people.

Much has happened in Pittsburgh in the last 30 years. As improvements were being sought, the population was decreasing rapidly. The downturn of the steel industries hurt the economy and produced a loss of over 100,000 jobs. Even this may be a conservative figure. There are many reasons why this occurred, including the failure of companies to reinvest in established facilities, the decreased demand for steel as new material became available, the increased cost of labor and the dumping of cheaper foreign steel. New technologies decreased the number and skill of employees needed that were used with the older processes. Although no one problem can account for its downfall, it has occurred nonetheless. A Renaissance II occurred during the 80s. Under the tenure of Mayor Richard Caliguri several new projects were taken on to improve civic and community life. As the city continued to grow the designers and builders of the new Pittsburgh worked to capture the old spirit of what made Pittsburgh a great city.

General Knowledge Questions

28. What was unique about Pittsburgh’s Renaissance? Why was it so successful?

29. Who was David L. Lawrence? What did he do when he left Pittsburgh?

30. What vision do you have for Pittsburgh? What do you think in important for the success of Pittsburgh as the city enters the twenty-first century?

Suggested Resource Bibliography

Robert C. Alberts, The Shaping of the Point, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1980)

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999)

Further Information

Michael Weber, Don't Call Me Boss: David L. Lawrence, Pittsburgh's Renaissance Mayor (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988)

Historic Pittsburgh, a joint project of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. June 2000.

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh/

The last chapter of Pittsburgh is far from being written. Once again, the spirit that has always kept Pittsburgh a rebounding, growing and thriving city is once again being displayed. An emphasis on high technology, medicine and the growth of educational facilities are replacing what was once a predominately blue-collar base. Manufacturing has made a comeback, but in the form of small high tech specialty companies. It will never be the giant it once was, but it still has an important place in our economy and community. Pittsburgh boasts a new international airport and is undertaking several new building and renovation projects in downtown Pittsburgh. Our sports teams still live on despite some financial scares of the modern sports world. The Pirates, Steelers and Penguins still draw crowds and cheers. Once again major expansion of the North Shore is planned beginning with the construction of two new stadiums already underway, an expansion of the Convention Center and several other developments. Several organizations are finding ways to preserve Pittsburgh’s heritage while promoting tourism. Although many neighborhoods still struggle, grassroots community organizations armed with dedicated volunteers are making a difference in the places they live. Corporations are looking at Pittsburgh as a home base once again, not to mention the many Pittsburghers who are returning home to live and raise families. Pittsburgh continues to be the City of Champions.

PITTSBURGH HOME PAGE

http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/

 

1. Laura C. Frey, The Land in the Fork: Pittsburgh 1753-1914, (Philadelphia: Dorrance & Company, Inc., 1956) p.11

2. Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, A Pittsburgh Album: 1758-1958 (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959) p.4

3. Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970) p.219

4. Sarah H. Killikelly, The History of Pittsburgh, (Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1906) pp. x-xvi

5. Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970) p.222

6. Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999) p.178

7. Ibid. p.241

8. John Bodnar, Roger Simon, and Michael P. Weber, Lives of Their Own: Blacks, Italians, and Poles in Pittsburgh, 1900-1960, (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1982) p.23

9. Ibid. p. 24

10. "Pittsburgh," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

11. Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, A Pittsburgh Album: 1758-1958 (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959) p.32

12. Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999) p.216

13. Rob Lubove, Twentieth Century Pittsburgh, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1969) p.20

14. Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999) p.268

15. Ibid. p327

16. Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, A Pittsburgh Album: 1758-1958 (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959) p.81

17. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "A Pittsburgh Century" http://www.post-gazette.com/newslinks/1999pghcentury.asp

18. Rob Lubove, Twentieth Century Pittsburgh, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1969) p.106

19. Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999) p.378

 

Robert C. Alberts, The Shaping of the Point, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1980) History of the building of Point State Park during the Renaissance.

Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The Story of a City, 1750-1865, 1937. (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970) Layman’s history from an 18^th century outpost to the age of industrial expansion.

Virginia Bartlett , Keeping House: Women's Lives in Western Pennsylvania, 1790­1850, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1994) Lives and hardships endured by women following the French and Indian War.

Thomas Bell, Out of This Furnace (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976
A  fictional (but factual) account of three generations of Slovak steel workers. Classic!

John Bodnar, Roger Simon, and Michael P. Weber, Lives of Their Own: Blacks, Italians, and Poles in Pittsburgh, 1900-1960, (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1982)
Contrasts urban experiences of black migrants with that of European immigrants

Arthur Burgoyne, Homestead Strike of 1892 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1979) The violent events of 1892 during the Homestead strike- heavily illustrated.

Margaret Byington, Homestead: The Households of a Mill Town, (New York: Arno& The New York Times, 1969) A republished primary source-a community’s dependence on industrialization.

Marcia Davenport, The Valley of Decision (New York: Scribner's, 1943) Fictional story of four generations of owner/operators of a Pittsburgh steel works.

David Demarest, Jr. ed "The River Ran Red": Homestead 1892 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976) Anthology of news clippings, sermons, photographs, cartoons, and other sources relating to Homestead Steel Strike.

Annie Dillard, An American Childhood (New York: Harper Perennial, 1987)
Annie Dillard's vivid memoir of growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s.

Randolph Downes, Council Fires on the Upper Ohio, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1989) History of the relationship between the Indian tribes and the white settlers.

Leonore R. Elkus, editor, Famous Men & Women of Pittsburgh, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, 1981) Bios of many noted individuals in and from Pittsburgh and their contributions.

Laura C. Frey, The Land in the Fork: Pittsburgh 1753-1914, (Philadelphia: Dorrance & Company, Inc., 1956) A basic and easy to read historical narrative of Pittsburgh. (Out of print)

R. Eugene Harper, Transformation of Western Pennsylvania, 1770­1800, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1991) A study of frontier history and early industrialization in southwestern PA.

Walter C. Kidney, Pittsburgh Bridges: Architecture and Engineering, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, 1999) Areas historic & architecturally impressive bridges and their construction/design.

Walter C. Kidney, The Three Rivers, (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, 1982) Relates significance of Pittsburgh’s three rivers to historical development of city.

Sarah H. Killikelly, The History of Pittsburgh, (Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1906)
(Reprint available: (Reprint Services Corporation: March, 1993)  Comprehensive history up to 1900s.

Stefan Lorant, Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City, 1964. (Pittsburgh: Esselmont Books, LLC, 1999) Excellent comprehensive resource! Used extensively in this project. Maps, Ills.

Rob Lubove, Twentieth Century Pittsburgh, Volume One 1969. (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1995) Pittsburgh’s post-WWII urban renewal.

Rob Lubove, Twentieth-Century Pittsburgh, Volume Two: The Post-Steel Era (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1995) Transformation of regions structure and economy from 1970 to present.

Scott Martin, Killing Time: Leisure and Culture in Southwestern Pennsylvania, 1800­1850, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1995) Excellent view of leisure in small geographic area over a 50-year period.

Arthur Parker, The Monongahela: River of Dreams, River of Sweat, (University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999 History associated with Western expansion during the colonial & industrial eras.

Ailon Shiloh, director, By Myself I’m a Book: An Oral History of the Immigrant Jewish Experience in Pittsburgh, collected by the Pittsburgh section, National Council of Jewish Women (Waltham, MA: American Jewish Historical Society, 1972)

Ethel Spencer, The Spencers of Amberson Avenue: A Turn–of-the-Century Memoir (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1983)

Life in the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh in the 1890s.

Roy Stryker and Mel Seidenberg, A Pittsburgh Album: 1758-1958 (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1959) Snap shot of key events of Pittsburgh’s first 200 years. Illustrations

Michael Weber, Don't Call Me Boss: David L. Lawrence, Pittsburgh's Renaissance Mayor (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988) Biography of the former mayor of Pittsburgh and governor of Pennsylvania.

Arthur and Lila Weinberg, The Muckrackers, 1902-1912, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1961) Collection of writings that sparked social reform in the early 1900s.

J. E Wright & Doris S. Corbett, Pioneer Life in Western Pennsylvania, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1979) Excellent portrayal of early lifestyles.

Videos

Out of this Furnace: A Walking Tour of Thomas Bell's Novel. Dir.Steffi Domike. VHS. Pittsburgh, 1990. Connects books characters to real peole and their community.

WQED-TV: Pittsburgh History Series: Dir. Rick Sebak. VHS.
http://www.wqed.org/tv/pghist/

Complete line of videos (currently over 20) on Pittsburgh and the region.

Websites

"Pittsburgh," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Typical encyclopedia reference to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "A Pittsburgh Century" http://www.post-gazette.com/newslinks/1999pghcentury.asp

Key events of the 1900’s in Pittsburgh-was part of a Millennium edition.

Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA http://www.buildingtechnology.com/bcba/bridges/  
This site seeks to document the "City (and County) of Bridges (and Tunnels).

Bridging Urban Landscape. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. June 2000.

http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/exhibit.html

Online exhibit of some 600 historical photographs, images and text.

Western Pennsylvania Civil War Resources
http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~jw3u/round/table.htm
Everything related to Pittsburgh and the Civil War, then and now.

Homestead Steel Works: 1883-1901 
http://www.lucknow.com/horus/etexts/homestd1.html
Descriptions, pictures, and historical resources during Carnegie’s reign.

Historic Pittsburgh, a joint project of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. June 2000.
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh/

Search the catalog of the Library and Archives of the Historical Society.

PITTSBURGH HOME PAGE
http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/

Pittsburgh’s Homepage-Click "Pittsburgh Links & Facts" for good sites.

Project Suggestions

• Using the information given in the sources below (or ones you choose), write a short story (PAGES?) on what it would be like to live in Pittsburgh during these early times. You could portray yourself as a man, women, child, soldier or Indian. Although you might be a fictional character, please use some of the factual information (dates and events) as part of your story.
• Write a 4-5 page paper (or teacher directed criteria) or create a video tour on your neighborhood. Discuss how and when did it begin. What changes has it gone through over the past generations? What might you tell your grandchildren when they ask you what it was like in the year 2000?
• Do a background study on your family. Use the "Basic Oral History Questionnaire of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission" found in Lives of Their Own: Blacks, Italians, and Poles in Pittsburgh, 1900-1960, by John Bodnar, Roger Simon, and Michael P. Weber
• Read and prepare a book report or a 5-7 minute oral presentation (book talk) on one of the books from the Further Information recommendations in each section, or if you find some other related book have your teacher approve it.

 

Achieving National Standards

The Pittsburgh Board of Education has adopted 62 Academic Standards representing state and local standards in ten subject areas. These Standards are part of the districts Core Curriculum Framework. See the complete list in Appendix A. This completed project addresses the following Standards as presented by the District.

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARD 1: All students use effective research and information management skills, including locating primary and secondary sources of information with traditional and emerging library technologies.

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARD 2: All students read and use a variety of methods to make sense of the various kinds of complex texts.

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARD 3: All students respond orally and in writing to information and ideas gained by reading narrative and informational texts and use the information and ideas to make decisions and solve problems.

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARD 5: All students analyze and make critical judgements about all forms of communication, separating fact from opinion, recognizing propaganda, stereotypes and statements of bias, recognizing inconsistencies and judging the validity of evidence.

CITIZENSHIP (SOCIAL STUDIES) 1: All students demonstrate an understanding of major events, cultures, groups and individuals in the historical development of Pennsylvania, the United States and other nations, and describe themes and patterns of historical development.

CITIZENSHIP (SOCIAL STUDIES) 4: All students examine and evaluate problems facing citizens in their communities, state, nation and world by incorporating concepts and methods of inquiry of the various social services.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 4: All students explain the relationships among science, technology, and society.