Guide to the Urban League of Pittsburgh Records, 1915-1963 AIS.1981.11

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Urban League of Pittsburgh Records
Creator
Urban League of Pittsburgh
Collection Number
AIS.1981.11
Extent
12.5 Linear Feet (10 boxes)
Date
1915-1963
Abstract
The records of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, founded in 1918, contain minutes, correspondence, department reports, photographs and Urban League Fellows theses from 1915-1963. The emphasis of the Urban League was on African-American employment and training; topics include federal housing projects, youth employment, worker discrimination and African-American welfare work. Digital reproductions of selected images are available online.
Language
English .
Author
Jeffrey Rollinson. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on August 30, 2004.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

History

In 1917, John T. Clark surveyed the needs of Pittsburgh's African-American community of the by bringing the National Urban League to Pittsburgh. In 1918, Dr. Francis Tyson and the Pittsburgh Council for Social Services Among Negroes asked that Clark establish an Urban League branch in Pittsburgh (505 Wylie Avenue).

The Board of the Pittsburgh Council became the first executive board members of the Urban League. Some of its active members were Dr. Francis Tyson of the University of Pittsburgh; Robert L. Vann, Editor of the Pittsburgh Courier and Walter A. May of the May Drug Company, who became the first board president.

During World War I, African-Americans migrated North to Pittsburgh seeking work in the mills and factories. The League helped to provide housing, sanitary conditions and work for the African-American masses. In the 1923 Directory of the Philanthropic Social and Civic Agencies of the City of Pittsburgh, the goals of the Urban League of Pittsburgh were cited as: "Renders social service to Negroes through work in Courts with delinquents; in homes with a Home Economics service; Girl's Clubs in various parts of the city; Home and School visiting service, and especially the Industrial problems of Negroes throughout the Pittsburgh District."

The Urban League expanded its activities through the Depression of the 1930's and World War II to include health, education, home economics and industrial welfare. In the 1933 edition of the directory, known in that year under the title, Directory of Social Agencies of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, the purpose of the organization was noted as: "Renders social service to Negroes through programs with junior and adult clubs in various parts of the city; home and school visiting service; and especially in dealing with the Industrial problems of Negroes throughout the Pittsburgh district; operates employment bureau; program largely educational, with speakers on current inter-racial matters furnished various groups; acts as consultant on matters regarding the relations between the races. In 1939, a summer camp for African-American youth was established, Camp James Weldon. The growth of government spending and programs led to one of the most active times for the League and provided new opportunities for Pittsburgh's African-American community. The League began to enroll African-Americans in government programs and assisted with overcoming the discrimination of unions and businesses."

The 1950 edition of the Directory of Social Agencies of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County gave as the organization's purpose: "To conduct a social service program including vocational guidance, employment, educational and recreational work and neighborhood groups designed to improve the conditions under which Negroes in Allegheny County may live, work and play." The League was especially concerned about the industrial problems faced by many African-Americans in Pittsburgh. As a way to confront the issue the League created a specialized employment bureau. This program was largely educational that involved speakers who spoke on current inter-racial matters common in the work-place. The bureau acted as a consultant to African-American workers on matters regarding race-relations and cooperated with governmental agencies to ensure African-American participation on the basis of equality.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of the collection are available electronically at http://historicpittsburgh.org/collection/urban-league-pittsburgh-records.

Scope and Content Notes

The records of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, founded in 1918, contain minutes, correspondence, department reports, photographs and Urban League Fellows theses from 1915-1963, with a concentration of materials between 1918-1945. Many of the records were destroyed in a fire that occurred in the League offices in 1945. The collection is divided into 8 series according to subject and are arranged chronologically and alphabetically. The strength of the collection concerns African-American employment and training. Topics such as federal housing projects, youth employment, worker discrimination and African-American welfare work. The records contain extensive material about the National Urban League, Negro Industrial Welfare Workers, National Vocation Opportunity Campaign and Camp Weldon Johnson. The photographs separated from the general collection maintain the file numbers present in this finding aid.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research but because of the fragile nature of the materials strict supervision on handling is required.

Acquisition Information

Donated by the Urban League of Pittsburgh in 1981.

Preferred Citation

Urban League of Pittsburgh Records, 1915-1963, AIS.1981.11, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Urban League of Pittsburgh Records, 1915-1963, AIS.1981.11, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Urban League of Pittsburgh, Records, 1917-1968, AIS 81:11, Archives of Industrial Society, University Library System, Hillman Library, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jeffrey Rollinson in August 1987.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Michael O'Malley on March 21, 2003. Further revision to the finding aid was done by Andy Newman on August 30, 2004. 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: 1381983

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.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • National Urban League
    • Urban League of Pittsburgh
    • Urban League of Pittsburgh. Executive Board
    • Urban League of Pittsburgh. Industrial Welfare Department

    Geographic Names

    • Pennsylvania -- Social conditions
    • Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Social conditions

    Genres

    • Programs (Documents)

    Other Subjects

    • African Americans -- Medical care -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • African Americans -- Pennsylvania
    • Education
    • Social action
    • Ethnic groups
    • Associations
    • African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations -- Pennsylvania
    • Housing -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Charities -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Public welfare -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Social service -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Unemployment -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Education -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Discrimination -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • African Americans -- Housing -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • African Americans -- Employment -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • African Americans -- Civil rights -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • African Americans -- Health and hygiene -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Societies and clubs
    • African Americans -- Social conditions
    • Race discrimination -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Medical care -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Home economics -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Industrial relations -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Recreation -- Pennsylvania
    • Sports -- Pennsylvania
    • Recreation -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Sports -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List