Guide to the Marilyn Skolnick Papers, 1952-2009 AIS.2001.01

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Marilyn Skolnick Papers
Creator
Skolnick, Marilyn
Collection Number
AIS.2001.01
Extent
100.3 Linear Feet (72 records center boxes, 3 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box)
Date
1952-2009
Abstract
Marilyn Skolnick, an avid environmentalist, was successful at pushing for change in transportation issues due to her participation in numerous environmental and transportation organizations throughout the western Pennsylvania area. The papers of Marilyn Skolnick mainly focus on material she collected from various organization and committee meetings. These papers include reports, correspondence, news clippings, memos, agendas, minutes, notifications, legal transcriptions, environmental information, and audio-visual material.
Language
English .
Author
Shelley Byron.
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

Marilyn Skolnick was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925. While in New York, she received her bachelor's degree in Geology at Brooklyn College, the University of the City of New York. Skolnick later received a master's degree in Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma and participated in additional post-graduate work at the State University of Iowa and the University of Texas. By 1998, Skolnick was listed in Marquis' Who's Who of American Women.

Skolnick began her career as an environmental and transportation activist when she moved to Houston, Texas, earlier in her life. The cause for her move was a job transfer on behalf of her husband, Herbert, at the Gulf Oil Corporation. Upon her arrival, the city of Houston had no public transportation system. On behalf of the Houston League of Women Voters, Skolnick advocated for one. In return for her transportation advocacy, the Houston mayor appointed Skolnick to a transit liaison committee. Unfortunately, she had little time to serve on this committee as her husband was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1971.

Upon her arrival in Monroeville, Pa., Skolnick continued pursuing her interests in transportation issues. Beginning in 1971, she acted as an advocate for public transportation. She was able to do this through her active participation in the League of Women Voters as an observer to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission. In particular, Skolnick focused on issues relating to the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County region.

Skolnick can be considered an avid environmentalist. This can be seen in her participation in organizations such as the Sierra Club, the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), the Allegheny County Health Department, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission, the Allegheny County Transit Council, and the Division of Air Quality. In addition to her participation in these environmental organizations, Skolnick was also an ardent reporter for causes related to air quality, hazardous waste, land use, clean water, and recycling. In relation to her desire to report, Skolnick hosted and produced a local Pittsburgh television show, "Focus on Issue." It was not uncommon for her to compose several articles in issues for the Allegheny Sierran (the newsletter of the Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club) i.e., "Is There a Maglev in Our Future?"

Skolnick was able to remain close to the causes by chairing various committees on air quality, conservation, and transportation. Her constant public involvement allowed for her to push for change in the areas of environment and transportation that she saw as necessary. Skolnick was president of the League of Women Voters in Monroeville from 1973 to 1975, and director of the League of Women Voters Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1985. Skolnick served as both a board member and Consumer Relations Chair for the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT). She served a a member of the Executive Committee (Excomm) for the Sierra Club as well as the chair of Transportation and Growth Management. She also served on committees and as chairperson for organizations such as the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Small Business Assistance Program, the Transportation Research Board, Allegheny County Hazardous Waste Task Force, and the Monroeville Planning Commission.

Marilyn Skolnick was the recipient of numerous awards for her contributions in the environmental and transportation arenas. These awards include a Certificate of Recognition from J.C. Penny Golden Rule Award, the American Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award, YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh's "A Tribute to Women for Leadership in Community Service," Woman of the Year by the Monroeville Jaycees, Citizen of the Year by the Monroeville Times-Express, and the National Sierra Club Environmental Hero for Transportation. In addition, in 2002, Marilyn Skolnick was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brooklyn College Alumni Association.

Marilyn Skolnick resided in Monroeville until her death in December 2016.

Scope and Content Notes

These papers document the efforts of Marilyn Skolnick to change the face of Pennsylvania transportation systems, mainly in the Pittsburgh, Allegheny County region. With a strong backing in environmentalism, Skolnick focused on changing transportation for the benefit of the environment and for the benefit of those in the community. Much of the materials contained in this collection come from Skolnick's participation in organizations and committees attempting to participate on behalf of the public for change. The collection mainly focuses on Skolnick's public involvement in the environmental and transportation spectrum and little on her life aside from these two issues.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Previous Citation

Marilyn Skolnick Papers, 1952-2009, AIS.2001.01, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Marilyn Skolnick Papers, 1952-2009, AIS.2001.01, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Shelley Byron in 2010. Audio-visual material was added in 2013 by Ashley Taylor.

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.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Marilyn Skolnick in 2000. Additional material (audio-visual) donated in July 2013.

Related Material

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) Records, 1971-1976, AIS.1979.21, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter Records, 1970-1997, AIS.2000.16, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following seven series:

Series I. Environmental Issues, 1970-2002

Series II. Transportation, 1961-2004

Series III. Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission, 1979-2005

Series IV. Organizations, 1977-2002

Series V. Governmental Issues/Legislation, 1983-2006

Series VI. Correspondence/Notes, 1952-2001

Series VII. Audio-Visual Material, 1987-2009

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Allegheny County (Pa.). Local Emergency Planning Committee
    • Allegheny County Transit Council
    • Allegheny County (Pa.). Health Department
    • American Public Transit Association
    • Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental Protection
    • Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental Resources
    • Pennsylvania. Department of Transportation
    • GASP (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh
    • National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board
    • Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
    • Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission
    • Sierra Club. Pennsylvania Chapter. Allegheny Group
    • Port Authority of Allegheny County
    • Pennsylvania Environmental Council

    Personal Names

    • Skolnick, Marilyn
    • Kochankowski, Robert
    • Millar, William
    • Pollack, Rita

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)
    • Allegheny County (Pa.)

    Occupations

    • Activists

    Genres

    • Newsletters
    • Correspondence

    Other Subjects

    • Personal papers
    • Women
    • Environment
    • Local transit -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Women environmentalists -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Environmentalists -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Transportation -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Land use -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Pollution -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Air quality management -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Air quality -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Refuse and refuse disposal -- Pennsylvania
    • Sanitary landfills -- Pennsylvania

Container List