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For I was nineteen when I came to America and then I at once became an American Workman. John Kane Beechwood Boulevard (now Greenfield Bridge) construction crew with John Kane pictured in second row far left, 1923. Courtesy of The Leon A. Arkus Collection of John Kane, 1931-1987, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives & Special Collections By the mid-19th century, the broad swath of coal that cuts through this region provided fuel for burgeoning industries such as iron, glass, and eventually, steel. It created jobs as well, in the mines and coke works found throughout the area. Many imm ..read more

“I think music is a fantastic way of empowering people and giving them strength and energy. I’ve spent a good part of my life trying to find and write music that will empower people to resist and stand up for what’s right.”  ~ Anne Feeney in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette April 24, 2008.   In 2021, a collection of letters, photographs, tapes, and political T-shirts were donated to the Heinz History Center. The items belonged to the late Anne Feeney, a powerhouse musician and activist who called Pittsburgh her home.   Feeney, who passed in 2021 due to complications from ..read more

Separated by just 70 miles, feelings run strong in the football rivalry between the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University. Sept. 1, 2022 marks the first time in more than a decade that the two teams will clash in what fans affectionately refer to as the “Backyard Brawl.” Both teams sport blue and gold as their school colors, that, and an abiding dislike for the other may be all they share. The schools’ fledgling programs, Pitt’s (then Western University) football program began in 1889 and WVU’s in 1891, first played in 1895. West Virginia won that contest, 8-0, and took the nex ..read more

When he was young, David McCullough couldn’t decide if he would be a painter, an actor, an architect, or a writer. Eventually, he did it all. And he did it with a style and passion that engaged and inspired generations of Americans. Growing up in Pittsburgh, his father nightly regaled David and his three brothers at the dinner table with stories of people and events that shaped the city. David distinctly recalled bursting his mashed potato dam to release the gravy that inundated the unsuspecting peas below while exclaiming, “it’s the Johnstown flood!” He married Rosalee Barnes, who he had met ..read more

Publicity Shot of the Kinder Sisters, c. 1940s. The Kinder Sisters pose for a publicity picture. Top, Shirley Kinder, Elaine Kinder, middle, and Barbara Kinder MacCallum, bottom. Credit: The Almanac South Hills Community News, June 10, 2014. In the 1940s, three sisters, Barbara, Elaine, and Shirley, sang their way through programs on KDKA radio and toured the country selling war bonds. Known as the Kinder Sisters, these women were one of many sister musical acts that have captivated audiences throughout Pittsburgh’s history. These sister groups were not only hugely popular, they also highlight ..read more

A plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame credits the greatest slugger in Negro Leagues history, Josh Gibson, with “almost 800 home runs.” August 7, 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of the hall of famer’s induction.  See the Josh Gibson life-like museum figure at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Born in Buena Vista, Georgia, on December 21, 1911, Josh’s father Mark moved to Pittsburgh’s Pleasant Valley (now Charles Street Valley) neighborhood then later sent for Josh and his family to join him as part of the Great Migration in the 1920s. By 1929, the teenager began playing f ..read more

When my stepfather sent for me, I didn’t want to go to America. I was doing well in my own country and was becoming more and more in love with Scotland all the time. But Mother thought I ought to go.… And accordingly, I went.  The son of Irish Catholic parents, John Cain (later Kane) grew up in West Calder, Scotland. Around the time of his birth, shale oil was discovered nearby leading to a boom in the economy and providing work for laborers such as the Cain’s. IMAGE: Postcard, “Bird’s Eye View, West Calder,” 1900–10. The mines and factories ringing West Calder are visible in the backgrou ..read more

The Heinz History Center’s newest exhibition, Pittsburgh’s John Kane: The Life & Art of an American Workman, explores the story of a man who found artistic success late in life. But what if you had a career that you enjoyed since you were young, and it was taken from you? How would you feel if you got it back at 70 years old? Two History Center images illustrate such a moment for Gustav Fritz, brewmaster for Iron City Beer. The images show Mr. Fritz examining the output of foam-filled tanks at Pittsburgh Brewing Company around 1935. Taken for promotional purposes, these images would have b ..read more

“Title IX has done more for women than anything since the 19th Amendment…I thought from the very beginning the most valuable results of Title IX would come through academic equality, only a small part of the student body has a chance to play athletics.”               Former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh (1)  The enactment of Title IX 50 years ago today on June 23, 1972, impacted opportunities for females nationally and in our region. Though many people think of Title IX as a measure that only effects the participation of girls a ..read more