Guide to the Preservation Pittsburgh Records, 1985-2005 AIS.2005.03

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Preservation Pittsburgh Records
Creator
Preservation Pittsburgh
Collection Number
AIS.2005.03
Extent
7.25 Linear Feet (plus 3 cassette tapes and plaque)
Date
1985-2005
Date
1991-1998
Abstract
These records contain documents collected by Mary J. Paradise, founding president of Preservation Pittsburgh, a nonprofit organization devoted to the retention and creation of designated historic districts and buildings within the City of Pittsburgh. The records span 1985-2005 and consist of general correspondence of the organization, meeting minutes, bylaws, committees, reports, research, and specific projects that Preservation Pittsburgh undertook.
Language
English .
Author
Bryan M. Moll.
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

Founded by Mary J. Paradise in 1991, the nonprofit organization, Preservation Pittsburgh, was born out of an unsuccessful, although very significant, attempt to prevent the demolition of an Oakland landmark: the Syria Mosque. A performance venue located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Bigalow Boulevard in Oakland, the Syria Mosque was designed by Huehl, Schmidt & Holmes architectural firm of Chicago and constructed in 1912. As part of an official Master Plan, the University of Pittsburgh successfully lobbied (although perhaps illegitimately) the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission to raze the Syria Mosque to make way for an expansion of its medical facilities. Preservation Pittsburgh emerged out of the mobilization of concerned citizens in a very public protest and campaign known as the "Save the Syria Mosque Organization." Despite attempts by the Pittsburgh City Council to preserve the building, the Syria Mosque was torn down beginning in August 1991; today the site contains a parking lot.

This mobilization effort gave birth to Preservation Pittsburgh, which soon developed into a viable activist group with an advanced structure of bylaws, officers, a vast membership, and numerous committees in place, each with a prerogative concerning the retention and creation of designated historic landmarks, buildings, and districts. The organization's mission statement advocates for public awareness of local history and preservation, as well as the promotion of relevant goals to public officials, most notably the City Council. It has functioned to mitigate and instigate deliberations between government and development institutions, private groups, and citizen organizations in favor of its mission. It also has financially supported the creation and restoration of endangered historic landmarks, primarily buildings. Significant successful campaigns include the designation and restoration of Schenley Farms as a historic district as well as the Oakland Civic Center. Preservation Pittsburgh also supported the designation of the King Estate as a historic landmark, and other nineteenth-century mansions such as the former Victoria Hall, now the Waldorf School. Ascetic projects were also successfully undertaken to ban excessive billboard signs by recommending stringent regulations to the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission.

Scope and Content Notes

The Preservation Pittsburgh Records retained by Mary J. Paradise (founder) contain original drafts as well as final copies of correspondence, key contacts of influence, and institutional records such as committee reports, grants allocated by the city, membership lists, project files, meeting minutes, bylaws, composed document histories, newspaper clippings, and research. The bulk of the material dates from 1991, when Preservation Pittsburgh was officially formed, to 1998.

Arrangement

The records are arranged into the following three series:

Series I. Committee to Save the Syria Mosque, 1991-1995

Series II. Administrative Files, 1992-1999

Series III. Project and Relevant Organization Files, 1981-1998

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

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.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Bryan M. Moll during the fall 2010.

Previous Citation

Preservation Pittsburgh Records, 1985-2005, AIS.2005.03, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Preservation Pittsburgh Records, 1985-2005, AIS.2005.03, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Preservation Pittsburgh
    • Syria Mosque (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Pittsburgh (Pa.). City Planning Commission

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)
    • Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Buildings, structures, etc. -- Conservation and restoration

    Genres

    • Administrative records
    • Correspondence
    • Photographs
    • Minutes (Administrative records)
    • Bylaws (Administrative records)

    Other Subjects

    • Architecture -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Historic buildings -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Conservation and restoration
    • Historic preservation -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Historic districts -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Historic buildings -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Nonprofit organizations -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Associations
    • Architecture

Container List