Guide to the Kingsley Association Records, 1894-1980 AIS.1970.05
Arrangement
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Kingsley Association Records
Creator
Kingsley Association
Collection Number
AIS.1970.05
Extent
6.88 Linear Feet(14 boxes)
Date
1894-1980
Abstract
The Kingsley Association was formed in 1893 by George Hodges as a Pittsburgh settlement house. The collection includes: administrative and annual reports, books, brochures, budget information, case studies, clippings, correspondence, directories, minutes, photos and surveys spanning intermittent years from 1894-1980. Digital reproductions of the collection are available online.
Language
English
.
Author
Archives Service Center staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on August 28, 2002.
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
History
The Kingsley Association was named in honor of Charles Kingsley, English Christian Socialist and author. The Association was formed in 1893 and was the result of efforts by Reverend Dr. George Hodges to establish a Pittsburgh settlement house on Penn Avenue. In 1901, house operations were transferred to a mansion purchased by industrialist Henry Clay Frick in the Lower Hill District at Fulton and Bedford Streets. In 1903, the Kingsley Association opened a "fresh air farm" at Valencia known as Lillian Home on land purchased by industrialist Charles L. Taylor, which remains in operation today. By 1919, the Hill District experienced an African-American population growth as a result of wartime labor needs; settlement house operations were the responsiblity of the American Baptist Association and became known as Morgan Memorial House. The results of a 1919 survey conducted by the University of Pittsburgh recommended that the Association relocate its settlement house to East Liberty where it continues to operate.
Scope and Content Notes
The materials include various administrative (annual) reports, brochures, budget information, by-laws, case studies, clippings, constitution, correspondence, directories, inventories, minutes, publications, scrapbooks, and surveys; dates range from 1894 to 1980 and are intermittent.
Series I contains the administrative records of the Kingsley Association. The registration books in Series II offer family information about the children (name, age, address, religious affiliation, ethnicity and parent occupations) served by the settlement house when it was located in the Lower Hill District.
Series III contains correspondence to Director Charles C. Cooper from Francis Tyson and J. K. Folsom. There are also photocopies of letters from Andrew Carnegie pledging support of the Kingsley Association. Series IV contains solicitations for funds and case studies.
Series V contains an undated speech by Judge Joseph Buffington regarding the Association's history of service and a draft of meeting proceedings held in conjunction with a reunion circa 1950. Series VI contains the 1919 University of Pittsburgh East Liberty Social Survey.
Series VII consists of publications, for example, brochures that feature the settlement house, Lillian Home and convalescent rest. The Kingsley Association annual reports offer organizational and procedural information about the settlement house and the Lillian home.
Series VIII contains scrapbooks of Kingsley House clippings, brochures and forms. There are also bound volumes of press clippings of various Kingsley Association activities from Pittsburgh newspapers, 1911-1949.
For more information on the Kingsley Association, see also: Thirty Years at Kingsley House, by Phillip Rosen (MPub 200), Study of Social Settlement Workers in Pittsburgh, 1893 to 1927, by Elizabeth A. Metzger (Mms 30), Neighborhood Centers Association (ais 64:28), African Service Institute (AIS.1963.01) and Eliot Papers (AIS.1969.02).
The Kingsley Association photographs span 1900-1970. Early 20th century photographs are a vital part of the collection which depict many views of the Hill District and East Liberty. Portraits include Thomas Bigelow, Joseph Guffey and H. J. Heinz; a signed engraving of John A. Brashear, and a signed print of Judge Joseph Buffington. An album of photographs were taken by Kingsley House Director, William H. Matthews. Photographs and depict various activities and construction at the Lillian Home and Kingsley House. There are also photo albums from various Lillian Taylor Camp outings in the 1940's and 1950's. Photographs are housed in the Media Collections at the Archives Service Center; a selection are available online at http://historicpittsburgh.org/collection/kingsley-association-records.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Deposited by the Kingsley Association, East Liberty, in 1970 and 1980.
Existence and Location of Copies
Box 3, Folder 5, contains photocopies of correspondence from Andrew Carnegie; the originals have been retained by the Kingsley Association.
Kingsley Association Records, 1894-1980, AIS.1970.05, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Previous Citation
Kingsley Association Records, 1894-1980, AIS.1970.05, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Kingsley Association, Pittsburgh, Pa., Records, 1894-1980, ais 70:5, Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh Libraries
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Archives Service Center staff in 1970.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Michael O'Malley on August 28, 2002. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1408122.
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.
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