The German Nationality Room Committee Collection contains documents related to the planning, funding and construction of the German Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. The majority of the records range from 1927 to the dedication of the room in 1938, though there is some material from 1939 to 1941. There are also records documenting the dedication of the fairy tale inspired stained glass windows in 1954. The collection includes the committee's minutes, member biographies, financial information, newspaper clippings, publicity materials, correspondence between the committee members, architectural correspondence, programs and booklets, and a running memo related to the German Nationality Room and German Nationality Room Committee. The collection also contains photographs on the design of the room and events it hosted, as well as dedication information on the stained glass windows. The material in this collection includes records in both English and German.
German Nationality Room Committee Collection, 1927-1954, UA.40.09, University of Pittsburgh Archives
German Nationality Room Committee Collection, 1927-1954, UA.40.09, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
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.
On March 11, 1927, a group of Germans and German-Americans in Pittsburgh appointed a small committee to plan and fundraise for the German Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. For political reasons, the committee did no go abroad for funding or architectural advice, unlike many of the other Nationality Room Committees. The German Room was dedicated on December 2, 1938, to 450 guests. At the time, the design of the room's windows had not been finalized. Fundraising continued, and stained glass windows based on traditional German fairy tales were installed and dedicated on February 7, 1954.
Reinhard Ullrich was the first chairman of the German Nationality Committee, serving as president from 1927 to after the dedication in 1938. The vice chairman of the committee was Henry Meuschke, who helped the committee until his death in 1940. Fritz Ueberle and John Evangelist Loibl were the committee secretaries, and Peter Fischer served as treasurer. The design for the room was drafted by Pittsburgh architect Frank Linder, and the details and construction were carried out under the direction of Gustav Ketterer of Philadephia. The committee also worked with Ruth Crawford Mitchell, the Advisor of the Nationality Rooms for the University of Pittsburgh.
The German Nationality Room is designed in the style of the 16th century German Renaissance, based on the Great Hall of the University of Heidelberg. The entrance bares the crest of the two oldest German Universities (Heidelberg and Leipzig), and the wall panels and window bare the names of famous German poets, musicians, scientists, and philosophers. The ceiling is painted with the crests of different German cities, and the floor is made of oak. The four corners of the room are decorated with characters from German literature. Since 1954, the windows contain stained glass panels that portray characters and events from German fairy tales.
As of 2015, the German Room Committee offers a scholarship for students with a working knowledge of German to study abroad.
No restrictions.
Transferred to the University Archives by the Nationality Rooms Program Office in 1999.
This collection was processed by Alexandra Hebda in October 2015.
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