City Planning Department Library Collection, c.1910-2018 [bulk 1921-2004]
Scope and Contents
The City Planning Department Library Collection is housed in 244 archival boxes and is arranged in 16 series. The collection consists of planning reports, planning studies, numerous types of project proposals, census tract information, and annual reports from multiple city departments and organizations from Pittsburgh and other major U.S. cities. Particular series of note include the Pittsburgh Planning, Redevelopment, and Renewal series, which includes hundreds of redevelopment reports and projects from several Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and the Point Park Commission series, which includes reports and transcriptions of deeds for every parcel comprising the land that would become Point State Park.
Dates
- Creation: c.1910-2018 [bulk 1921-2004]
Biographical / Historical
The Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, under guidance from the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission and the American Society of Planning Officials, conducted a study in 1961 to reassess their planning department. The study highlighted the Planning Department’s lack of an “adequate planning library,” stating that “there is no acquisition program for either books or planning publications from other agencies, and no one specifically made responsible for the maintenance of a library.” In 1963, soon after the study was completed, Marlene Rosenblum, a research planner, became the first librarian of the Planning Department’s library.
The Planning Department actively maintained its library over the next three decades, collecting reports on a wide variety of subjects ranging from art and architecture to zoning. The city’s own planners were the primary users of the collection, but members of the public were encouraged to contact the office for research appointments and assistance. Over time, turnover in knowledgeable staff resulted in inconsistencies in accessioning, cataloging and reference procedures. Maintenance of the collection was eventually absorbed by interested staff, particularly historic review planners who found the reports useful to their work, and later to office clerks.
Extent
273 Cubic Feet : 218 archival boxes and 26 oversize boxes.
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The City Planning Department Library Collection is arranged by subject in the following 16 series:
Series 1. Architecture, Engineering, Design, and Preservation, 1928-2012
Subseries 1. General Architecture
Subseries 2. Architectural Designs and Drawings
Subseries 3. Buildings and Construction
Subseries 4. Historic Preservation
Series 2. Education and Recreation, 1925-2014
Subseries 1. Educational Facilities and Functions
Subseries 2. General Cultural Facilities and Functions
Subseries 3. Parks and Recreational Facilities
Subseries 4. Foundations and Civic Organizations
Series 3. Point Park Commission, 1936-1943
Subseries 1. Historical Reports
Subseries 2. Deeds
Subseries 3. Appendices
Subseries 4: Maps and Plans
Series 4. Census and Statistics Data, 1921-2002
Series 5. Business, Economics, Finance, 1940-2013
Subseries 1. General Economics
Subseries 2. Economics of Industry
Subseries 3. Business and Commerce
Subseries 4. Labor and Employment
Subseries 5. General Finance
Series 6. Sociology and Social Planning, 1934-2012
Subseries 1. General Sociology
Subseries 2. Social Services
Series 7. Geology, Natural Resources, and the Environment, 1925-2018
Subseries 1. Geology
Subseries 2. Natural Resources
Subseries 3. Pollution and Assessments
Series 8. Housing, 1932-1999
Subseries 1. General Works and Reports
Subseries 2. Housing Codes
Subseries 3. Housing Market and Economics
Subseries 4. Social Aspects of Housing
Series 9. Government and Legislation, 1929-1997
Series 10. Land Use, 1934-1998
Series 11. Planning, Urban Analysis, and Redevelopment
Subseries 1. General Planning
Subseries 2. General, Comprehensive, and Master City Plans and Studies
Subseries 3. Redevelopment
Series 12. Reference, 1952-2010
Series 13. Public Safety, Utilities and Health, 1925-2013
Subseries 1. Crime and Criminal Justice
Subseries 2. Fire Safety
Subseries 3. Utilities, City Services, and Communication
Subseries 4. Public Health
Series 14. Transportation, 1910-2002
Subseries 1. General Transportation
Subseries 2. Air Transportation
Subseries 3. Water Transportation
Subseries 4. Rail Transportation
Subseries 5. Motor Vehicle and Bike Transportation
Subseries 6. Infrastructure
Subseries 7. Parking
Subseries 8. Mass Transportation
Series 15. Pittsburgh Planning, Redevelopment, and Renewal, 1910-2012
Subseries 1. Pittsburgh Planning
Subseries 2. Community Renewal Program (CRP) in Pittsburgh
Subseries 3. Redevelopment Projects
Series 16. Zoning and Land Development, 1919-2012
Subseries 1. General Works
Subseries 2. Land Subdivision
Subseries 3. Zoning Ordinances
Subseries 4. Zoning Administration and Enforcement
Processing Information
The processing of this collection was funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a grant program of the National Archives.
- Title
- City Planning Department Library Collection, c.1910-2018 [bulk 1921-2004]
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Brianna Facciani
- Date
- December 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- The processing of this collection was funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a grant program of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Repository Details
Part of the City of Pittsburgh Archives Repository
414 Grant St.
Pittsburgh PA 15219 United States