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Pittsburgh Art and Architecture Collections

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Art and Architecture Special Collections

Pittsburgh Art Topics

An extensive clippings collection containing information about art events, art galleries, art festivals, art organizations, and other subjects which have some connection to Pittsburgh. The key to this file is on index cards. Consulting the index cards with a librarian is the first step to finding information about a particular topic.

The clippings file includes catalogs, mounted pictures, newspaper and magazine clippings, postcards, and other ephemera. Carnegie Library art librarians collected these documents before the development of the internet. This file includes rare and unique items not easily found in other places. Coverage generally begins in the 1930’s and continues to around 2000.

Click to view the index to this collection:


The Pittsburgh Artists Information File

This file consists of index cards listing names of over 2500 visual artists who have some connection to the Pittsburgh area, whether they were born or worked in the region. With coverage ranging from 1930-2000, the cards refer to entries in catalogs, local directories, citations in one of the Library’s reference resources or to a supplemental folder. These folders contain newspaper and magazine clippings, opening event announcements, exhibition catalogs, obituaries and other ephemera.

Click to view the index to this collection:


The Pittsburgh Architects Information File

This file consists of index cards with the names of over 1000 architects and firms with some connection to Pittsburgh. With coverage ranging from about 1930-2000, the cards point to specific information on an architect or company mentioned in the Library’s reference resources, local directories, catalogs, or folders containing newspaper and magazine clippings and other ephemera. This is not an index of architects currently working in the Pittsburgh area, but this information is also available at the library.

Click to view the index to this collection:


The Pittsburgh Architecture Information File

This file consists of index cards containing information about specific buildings, architectural styles, areas, building types, houses, and other structures built in the Pittsburgh region during the 20th Century. The index cards refer to journal articles, citations in books, the architect or designer, or folders containing newspaper and magazine clippings and other ephemera. Carnegie Library art librarians collected these documents before the development of the internet. This file includes rare and unique items not easily found in other places.

Click to view the index to this collection:


The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Collection

The library holds the complete set to date of the annual exhibition catalogs of The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, one of the country’s oldest artist organizations. A corresponding card index includes artists’ names and the years that their work was included in the Associated Artists’ annual exhibitions.


Bernd Collection of Architecture

Established in 1895 through a bequest to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh from the estate of successful Pittsburgh merchant Julius D. Bernd, this collection of books about architecture and related arts is still funded by his generosity today, well over 100 years later. Many of the earlier titles, ranging from 1540-1850, acquired by the Library through the Bernd fund can be found in the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room, while other Bernd titles can be found interfiled in the general collection.

For more information about these collections, contact the Reference Services Department.
Phone 412.622.3175
Email info@carnegielibrary.org

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