Introduction
Western Pennsylvania is home to a significant amount of disability history, with a strong record of advocacy to ensure appropriate policies and services. The Consortium is building an inventory of collections that document this history. We are committed to maintaining a searchable resource for educators, museum professionals, scholars and the public. Please contact the Consortium or complete our survey if you are aware of collections and repositories that are not represented here.
The following links will download PDF documents that contain information about each collection, including collection name, number, dates, dates, contact information, description and keywords (assuming the information is available). In most browsers, PDF documents will open in a new window.
You will need the free program Adobe Acrobat Reader to open these documents. Download Reader here.
You may also download an Excel spreadsheet containing data on all collections listed below.
Explore all Western Pennsylvania collections:
- Allegheny County Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities information packet 1989 [manuscript]
- Allegheny County Institution District Books, 1940-1977
- Association for Mental Health Affiliation with Israel records [manuscript]
- Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh Records and Photographs
- Bob Nelkin Collection of Alleg. Co. Chap. of the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (ACC-PARC) Records
- Called to Welcome: a conference on people with disabilities in seminaries and congregations [sound recording]
- Carolyn Graffam Collection on the D. T. Watson Institute
- Cemetery diagram of the Allegheny County Home for the Insane and Tuberculosis Sanatorium, 1920
- Children’s Aid Society of Jewish Women Records
- Congregation Poale Zedeck Records, 1922-2006 1951-1969 [manuscript]
- Dick Thornburgh Papers
- Dixmont State Hospital Records and Photographs
- Dorothea Simon papers 1930-c1975
- Leonard C. Staisey Papers and Photographs
- Letter, 1977 Oct. 3 : to Edward Martin
- Marian Hershman Papers
- Ministry with the Handicapped [sound recording]
- National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section Papers
- National Wheelchair Games, 1985-1988
- Open Doors for the Handicapped of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Chapter Records
- PA Archives Polk Finding Aid
- Patricia Clapp Papers, 1947-2015: The Consortium and Heinz History Center collaborated to bring this important advocacy story to the museum. Learn about her critical role in developmental disability policy in Pennsylvania and across the United States.
- Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children, Allegheny County Chapter Records
- Polk Glass Negatives Finding Aid
- Ray Sprigle Papers and Photographs
- Register books of the Allegheny County Hospital for Insane Patients, 1900-1935
- Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives: Senator John Heinz History Center maintains a vertical file of Pennsylvania disability history news items through partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium.
- Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Dixmont Hospital Records, 1848-1918
- Woodville State Hospital population account ledger, 1922-1941
Collections that concern reporting of abuse in institutions:
- Bob Nelkin Collection of Alleg. Co. Chap. of the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (ACC-PARC) Records
- Ray Sprigle Papers and Photographs
Collections that concern people who are blind:
- Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh Records and Photographs
- Leonard C. Staisey Papers and Photographs
- National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section Papers
Collections that concern state institutions:
- Allegheny County Institution District Books, 1940-1977
- Bob Nelkin Collection of Alleg. Co. Chap. of the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (ACC-PARC) Records
- Cemetery diagram of the Allegheny County Home for the Insane and Tuberculosis Sanatorium, 1920
- Dixmont State Hospital Records and Photographs
- PA Archives Polk Finding Aid
- Patricia Clapp Papers, 1947-2015: The Consortium and Heinz History Center collaborated to bring this important advocacy story to the museum. Learn about her critical role in developmental disability policy in Pennsylvania and across the United States.
- Polk Glass Negatives Finding Aid
- Register books of the Allegheny County Hospital for Insane Patients, 1900-1935
- Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Dixmont Hospital Records, 1848-1918
- Woodville State Hospital population account ledger, 1922-1941
Collections that concern people with mental illness:
- Allegheny County Institution District Books, 1940-1977
- Association for Mental Health Affiliation with Israel records [manuscript]
- Cemetery diagram of the Allegheny County Home for the Insane and Tuberculosis Sanatorium, 1920
- Dixmont State Hospital Records and Photographs
- PA Archives Polk Finding Aid
- Patricia Clapp Papers, 1947-2015: The Consortium and Heinz History Center collaborated to bring this important advocacy story to the museum. Learn about her critical role in developmental disability policy in Pennsylvania and across the United States.
- Polk Glass Negatives Finding Aid
- Register books of the Allegheny County Hospital for Insane Patients, 1900-1935
- Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Dixmont Hospital Records, 1848-1918
- Woodville State Hospital population account ledger, 1922-1941
Collections that concern education of children and adults with disabilities:
- Allegheny County Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities information packet 1989 [manuscript]
- Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh Records and Photographs
- Congregation Poale Zedeck Records, 1922-2006 1951-1969 [manuscript]
- Leonard C. Staisey Papers and Photographs
- Patricia Clapp Papers, 1947-2015: The Consortium and Heinz History Center collaborated to bring this important advocacy story to the museum. Learn about her critical role in developmental disability policy in Pennsylvania and across the United States.
