Pittsburgh City Archives

09/08/2026

In honor of Labor Day, we look back at a list of workers, a union card, and blueprint for the corner stone that were found inside the time capsule in the Moore Park Bathhouse.

The Moore Park Pool and Bathhouse Cornerstone Collection includes items placed in a time capsule within the cornerstone of the pool building on Feb. 12, 1940. Moore Park, located on Pioneer Ave in Brookline, opened in 1933. The park was named after Joseph F. Moore, a long-time principal and advocate for the park. In March 1939, City Council passed Ordinance 137 approving eight PWA projects, including the Moore Park Pool and Bathhouse, which was designated as PWA project No. PA 1634. Contractors recovered the time capsule during renovations to the building in February 2023.

Source: Moore Park Pool and Bathhouse Cornerstone Collection, 1939-1940, RG-05-002

09/03/2026

We are excited to announce a new collection! 📣

The East Street Valley Redevelopment Area Property Inventories collection (RG-11-005) contains photographs, building and lot descriptions, maps, property ownership information, and real estate valuations of parcels located in the East Street Redevelopment Area from c. 1968 to c. 1971. The reason for the redevelopment, the I-279 highway, cuts through the historic East Allegheny, Fineview, and Spring Hill-City View neighborhoods, connecting Pittsburgh with the North Hills and beyond.

Avery College, shown in these photos, was opened by Reverend Charles Avery in 1849 originally as the Allegheny Institute and Mission Church. Located at the corner Avery and Nash St, Avery College was one of the first co-ed schools for African Americans. As with most of the parcel files within the collection, this building was photographed and floor plans were made, providing a glimpse into what the East Street corridor looked like prior to demolition.

Visit the link in our bio to access the finding aid for this collection. To view records from the East Street Valley, email us [email protected]. We’re open by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Source: Parcel 98: Corner of Nash and Avery St, Avery Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, c. 1968. Box 5, Folder 16. East St Valley Redevelopment Area Property Inventories, c. 1968-1971, RG-11-005

08/19/2026

05/04/2026

An “Out of this World” Star Wars themed City Independence Day Celebration from 1978. May the fourth be with you!

03/18/2026

“An Act to incorporate the City of Pittsburg” - March 18, 1816 📜

Our Act of Incorporation by the Commonwealth’s General Assembly notably leaves our “H” off by accident.

It turned a rapidly growing Borough into a City & structured what is roughly Pittsburgh’s government today.