Guide to the Cathryn Irvis Papers, 1978-1980 AIS.2006.02
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Cathryn Irvis Papers
Creator
Irvis, Cathryn
Collection Number
AIS.2006.02
Extent
6.25 Linear Feet(13 boxes)
Date
1978-1980
Abstract
The papers of Cathryn Irvis, a local advocate of health and children's rights, are heavily focused on the United Nation's International Year of the Child (1979). Information about planning and organizing the conference at the state and regional levels are demonstrated through Irvis' role as chairperson of the Pennsylvania Committee for the International Year of the Child. This collection documents activities and projects and includes correspondence, programs, and pamphlets. A small amount of material about Irvis' interests, arranged as subject files, include African American and minority organizations, health care, education, the arts and politics.
Language
English
.
Author
Carrie Smith and Jessica Mirasol.
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
Biography
Cathryn (Cathy) Irvis was born in Athens, Georgia, on April 7, 1934. She attended the National School of Nursing in Chicago and was on the Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association. She was married to the late civil rights leader and former Pennsylvania House Speaker K. Leroy Irvis. Like her husband, she was concerned with bettering the community and served on several committees in western Pennsylvania, including Black Women in Health, the Review Committee for the United Way of Allegheny County, Women in Urban Crisis, Inc., the Governor's Council on the Arts, and the Pittsburgh Opportunities Industrialization Center Auxiliary. As co-chair of the Pennsylvania Committee for the International Year of the Child (1979), Mrs. Irvis was involved with many children's concerns, particularly health issues.
In 1978, Pa. Governor Milton Shapp appointed Mrs. Irvis chairperson of the Pennsylvania Committee for the International Year of the Child (IYC). She invited doctors, social workers, professors, and other specialists on children's concerns in Pennsylvania to participate in the planning of IYC studies and activities which would both celebrate children and address the issues most critical to them. Education and health were especially important, and many of the materials cover school lunch programs, nutrition, teen pregnancy, and early childhood special education.
Mrs. Irvis was later joined by co-chairperson Malcom Lazin and Honorary chairperson Ginny Thornburgh and shifted her focus to the IYC Western Pennsylvania Sub-Committee. Over the course of the year, the committee identified possible troubles in the region and prepared a survey on drug abuse, handicaps, school teachers, emotional concerns, and other topics. The data and evaluation was presented in "Assessment of the Current Health and Educational Status and Needs of Children in Western Pennsylvania", which was presented to Mrs. Irvis in 1980.
Mrs. Irvis was also associated with IYC-Pittsburgh, which planned a Read-A-Thon at the Carnegie Public Library, a fashion show, an art show, workshops on teen pregnancy and teenage parenting, and a children's festival, among other events. The materials include background on IYC and its committees as well as information on some children's issues addressed by the event.
Scope and Content Notes
The bulk of the Cathryn Irvis Papers pertain to her activities as co-chair of the Pennsylvania Committee for the International Year of the Child (IYC). The United Nations (UN) designated 1979 as The International Year of the Child, and coordinated activities, workshops, and events around the many issues faced by children worldwide. The IYC (1979) marked the 20th anniversary of the UN's Declaration of the Rights of the Child and was organized and overseen by UNICEF. In the United States, IYC became the incentive for programs ranging from young children's festivals and art shows in individual towns to changes in legislation and the creation of new child welfare groups.
Folders 16-32 contain pamphlets and correspondence relating to some of Mrs. Irvis' other activities. These activities and interests are arranged as subject files and include information on the health field, the arts, organizations focused on African Americans and other minorities, education, and politics. Although political matter is limited in this collection, there are some materials relating to K. Leroy Irvis' campaign for Pittsburgh City Council and Pennsylvania State Representative for the 19th District. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Cathryn Irvis on May 5, 2006.
Previous Citation
Cathryn Irvis Papers, 1978-1980, AIS.2006.02, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
Cathryn Irvis Papers, 1978-1980, AIS.2006.02, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Carrie Smith and Jessica Mirasol in March 2006.
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Related Material
Further information on Cathryn Irvis may be found in the following additions of the K. Leroy Irvis Papers, 1865-2007, AIS.1971.06, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System:
Series IV. 1995 Addition, Subseries 7. Mrs. Cathryn Irvis and Subseries 18. Photographs
Series VII. 2010 Addition, Subseries 4. Cathryn Irvis (Cathy) and Subseries 19. Photographs
Subjects
Corporate Names
UNICEF
United Nations
United Way of Allegheny County (Pa.)
American Diabetes Association
Opportunities Industrialization Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Auxiliary
Personal Names
Irvis, Cathryn
Geographic Names
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh (Pa.)
Other Subjects
Personal papers
Women
Education
Campaign paraphernalia
Career education
Nutrition
Health
Early childhood special education
Teenage pregnancy
Family violence
International Year of the Child, 1979 -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
International Year of the Child, 1979 -- Pennsylvania
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