Guide to the Department of Public Health Annual Reports, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1871-1916 AIS.1974.28

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Department of Public Health Annual Reports, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Collection Number
AIS.1974.28
Extent
3 microfilm_reels
Date
1871-1916
Abstract
A Bureau/Department of Public Health existed for the City of Pittsburgh beginning in 1852 through sometime in the mid-twentieth century. The Bureau/Department was charged with maintaining hospital/vaccination records, vital statistics, sanitation inspection, regulation and enforcement, as well as food inspection. Records included here consist of 30 volumes of Annual reports from the Bureau of Public Health for the years 1871-1907 (not inclusive), and the reports from the Department of Public Health for the years 1909-1916 (inclusive).
Language
English .
Author
Kyle Conway.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Scope and Content Notes

The records contain the Annual Reports of the Pittsburgh Department of Public Health, previously the Bureau of Public Health under the Department of Public Safety, for the years: 1871-1878, 1887-1899, 1907, and 1909-1916. Reports usually include annual statistics on the mortality rate, disease index and severity of major diseases such as smallpox and tuberculosis, birth and marriages, sanitation concerns and statistics regarding what nuisances were addressed that year, as well as the statistics of the food inspection services. Noteworthy are the following reports:

1877--which includes the first appearance of a report of the Municipal Hospital.

1895--which saw a legislative overhaul granting the branches of the Bureau with significantly more administrative and punitive ability and the new divisions of Bacteriology and Chemical Section.

1907--which includes several maps (one showing the location of every case of tuberculosis in Pittsburgh) and the first report from the Tenement Housing Inspection, which includes photographs of turn of the century working class housing.

1909--which was the inaugural report of the new Department of Health and its new organizational plan.

History

The Pittsburgh Department of Public Health traces its origins to 1852 with the creation of the Bureau of Public Health within the Department of Public Safety and began recording population health information (initially births, marriages, and deaths). The Bureau was managed by a Board of Health, which included several elected officials such as, a Health Officer, the Health Physician, and the Chief Inspectors of Sanitation and Food. The 1887 Annual Report includes an overview of statistics collected between the years of 1852-1887.

In 1909, the Bureau became the Department of Public Health. Through the years the Bureau/Department expanded its data collection to classify and investigate specific incidents such as significant outbursts of smallpox or typhoid fever in the city, the growing need for housing regulation and waste management, as well as a comprehensive inspection system for foods. Other reports include information on: vaccinations, mortality, cataloguing death statistics by disease, cause, location, age, ethnicity, etc. In later years, the department was divided into three Bureaus: Infectious Diseases, Sanitation, and Food Inspection.

At this time, it is not clear the exact date when the Pittsburgh Department of Public Health ceased to exists. But ultimately the functions it fulfilled were assumed by the Allegheny County Department of Health and other goverment agencies.

Arrangement

The reports are chronologically catalogued on three microfilm reels with Reel One encompassing the reports between 1871-1891, Reel Two containing the reports from 1892-1910, and the remaining six reports (1911-1916) on Reel Three.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright

No copyright restrictions.

Previous Citation

Department of Public Health Annual Reports, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1871-1916, AIS.1974.28, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Department of Public Health Annual Reports, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1871-1916, AIS.1974.28, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Related Material

Health and Welfare Federation of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pa., Records 1943-1950, AIS.1968.14a, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Civic Club of Allegheny County Records, 1896-1974, AIS.1970.02, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Allegheny County, Pa. Dept. of Public Health Birth and Death Records, 1870-1905, AIS.1975.06, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Pittsburgh Marriage Return Records, 1875-1909, AIS.1979.10, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Visiting Nurse Association of Allegheny County Records, Inc., 1918-2000, AIS.2000.13, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Dixmont Hospital Records, 1848-1918, AIS.2003.08, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

    Other Subjects

    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health and medicine
    • Mortality -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Waterborne infection
    • Sanitation -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Food Inspection -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Consumer protection -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Communicable diseases
    • Vital Statistics -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Public health -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List

Annual Report, 1871
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 1

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report.

Annual Report, 1872
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 2

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report.

Annual Report, 1873
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 3

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report.

Annual Report, 1874
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 4

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report.

Annual Report, 1875
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 5

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report.

Annual Report, 1876
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 6

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report, and two Appendices on Vaccination and Cremation.

Annual Report, 1877
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 7

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics/Mortality Index), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, and the Treasurer's Report. This year also saw the addition of the Municipal Hospital Report.

Annual Report, 1878
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 8

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Health Officer's Report, Sanitation/Nuisance Report, Physician's Report (includes Vital Statistics, Mortality Index, the Municipal Hospital Report), the Meat & Milk Inspector's Report, the Attorney's Report, the Treasurer's Report, and the Municipal Hospital Report. This year's Sanitation report includes Inspector by District, and Reports on Diphtheria and Health Laws.

Annual Report, 1880-1887
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 9

Scope and Content Notes

The 1887 Report contains a yearly summary for the years 1880-1886 and contain reports on Deaths (Diseases, Statistics, Nativity, Age, Location), Marriages, Births, and Still Borns. Also contains a record of all Births, Marriages and Deaths recorded since 1852. Also includes a Special Committee on Southside Water Supply & Typhoid Fever Epidemic.

Annual Report, 1888
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 10

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Report of Superintendent (Progress and Fiscal), the division of Vital Statistics (And Registrar), the division Milk & Meat Inspection, and the division of Sanitary Inspection.

Annual Report, 1889
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 11

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Report of Superintendent (Progress and Fiscal), the division of Vital Statistics (And Registrar), the division Milk & Meat Inspection, and the division of Sanitary Inspection, as well as a report from Crosby Gray (Chief Clerk at Department of Public Safety) titled, "The Past, Present, and Future of Sanitation of Pittsburgh."

Annual Report, 1890
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 12

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Report of Superintendent (Progress and Fiscal), the division of Vital Statistics (And Registrar), the division Milk & Meat Inspection, and the division of Sanitary Inspection. 1890 saw the addition of a Vegetable Inspector's report and a report by Crosby Gray (Chief Clerk at Department of Public Safety).

Annual Report, 1891
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 1, volume 13

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Report of Superintendent (Progress and Fiscal), the division of Vital Statistics (And Registrar), the division Milk & Meat Inspection, the division of Vegetable Inspection, and the division of Sanitary Inspection. The 1891 Report also contains the following appendices: "Committee of American Public Health Association on Disposal of Garbage and Waste, Collection and Transport of Garbage and Nuisance, Producing Waste in Cities, What is the Best Way to Collect/Remove Waste and What does it cost?, Report of Health Officers, Marz or Vienna System, Rider Garbage Furnace, and Engle Garbage Disposal in Europe.

Annual Report, 1892
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 1

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, the division of Sanitation, the division of Milk/Meat, the division of Vegetables, and an Appendix that consists of a paper on Collection, Removal and Disposal of Garbage and Dead Animals at St. Paul, Minnesota.

Annual Report, 1893
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 2

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, the division of Sanitation, the division of Milk/Meat, the division of Vegetables, and an Appendix that consists of a report entitled "A Few Needed reforms in the Health Services," by Crosby Gray (Chief Clerk at Department of Public Safety).

Annual Report, 1894
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 3

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, the division of Sanitation, the division of Milk, Meat, and Vegetables.

Annual Report, 1895
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 4

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the divisions of Vital Statistics, Executive Committee, Bacteriology, Chemical Section, Sanitation, and Food Inspection. Also includes a lengthy Appendices section including the new Health Laws introduced in 1895: Defining Powers/Duties of Bureau of Public Health; rules, regulations, and authorizing the imposition of fines and penalties for violations; Eventual Protection of Public Health in the Municipalities of the Commonwealth; Public Lodging Regulation and Licensing; Providing Against Adulteration of Food; Providing Against Adulteration of Milk; Better Protection of life/health by creation of a State Board of Undertakers; Inflicting Penalties on those neglecting Infants; Regulating House Drainage; Restrictions on Journeymen, plumbers and cesspool construction; Regulating plumbing/house drainage in cities of second class; and lastly an "Official Announcement", followed by two Ordinances creating Division of Bacteriology and providing regulation for waste management.

Annual Report, 1896
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 5

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, Bacteriology, Chemical Section, Physician, Sanitary Inspection, Food Inspection, Plumbing/House Drainage, and the Plumbers Examining Board.

Annual Report, 1897
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 6

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, Bacteriology, Chemical Section, Physician, Sanitary Inspection, Food Inspection, Plumbing/House Drainage, and the Plumbers Examining Board.

Annual Report, 1898
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 7

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, Bacteriology, Chemical Section, Physician, Sanitary Inspection, Food Inspection, Plumbing/House Drainage, and the Plumbers Examining Board.

Annual Report, 1899
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 8

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: Reports from Superintendent, the division of Vital Statistics, Bacteriology, Chemical Section, Physician, Sanitary Inspection, Food Inspection, Plumbing/House Drainage, and the Plumbers Examining Board.

Annual Report, 1900-1907
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 9

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: US Geological Survey Map: Pittsburgh and Vicinity (1904); Map showing Tuberculosis Cases & Deaths (1907); Reports from: Superintendent (By district) and the divisions of Vital Statistics, Sanitary Inspection (Includes Disposal of Waste), Tenement House Inspection (including Working-Class Housing), Milk, Plumbing, Meat, and Bacteriology. Also contains a Special Report of Medical Inspector on the Occurrence of Smallpox in the city.

Annual Report, 1909
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 10

Scope and Content Notes

May of 1909 saw the formation of the Department of Public Health of the City of Pittsburgh. The new Department consisted of three Bureaus. The Bureau of Infectious Diseases consisted of the following divisions: Registration, Transmissible Diseases, Bacteriology, Tuberculosis Commission, and the Municipal Hospital. The Bureau of Sanitation consisted of the following divisions: Sanitary Inspection, Plumbing/House Drainage, Smoke Inspection, Tenement House Inspection. The Bureau of Food Inspection consisted of the following divisions: Dairy and Milk Inspection, Meat Inspection, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection. The Department Report consisted of the Director's Report, followed by the Individual Bureaus' Reports by division.

Annual Report, 1910
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 2, volume 11

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the Director's Report, the Chief Clerk's Report, followed by reports of the Bureaus of Infectious Diseases (which now contained the division of School Medical Inspection), Plumbing and Sanitation, and Food Inspection (which now contained the division of Miscellaneous Food Inspection).

Annual Report, 1911
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3, volume 1

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the General Office Report, the report of the Tuberculosis Commission, the report of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases (which now contained the Division of Disinfection, the Chief Medical Inspector's Report, and a Tabulation of Births), and the reports of the Bureaus of Sanitation and Food.

Annual Report, 1912
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3, volume 2

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the General Office Report, the report of the Tuberculosis Commission, the reports of the Bureaus of Infectious Diseases, Sanitation and Food.

Annual Report, 1913
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3, volume 3

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the General Office Report, the report of the Tuberculosis Commission, the reports of the Bureaus of Infectious Diseases, Sanitation and Food (the Bureau of Food Inspection added the Food Laboratory).

Annual Report, 1914
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3, volume 4

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the General Office Report, the report of the Tuberculosis Commission, the report of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases (Which now contained the Division of Child Welfare and the Division of Smoke Regulation), and the reports of the Bureaus of Sanitation and Food.

Annual Report, 1915
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3, volume 5

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the General Office Report, the report of the Tuberculosis Commission, and the reports of the Bureaus of Infectious Diseases, Sanitation, and Food.

Annual Report, 1916
Containers
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3
microfilm-cabinet 1, reel 3, volume 6

Scope and Content Notes

Includes: the General Office Report, the report of the Tuberculosis Commission, and the reports of the Bureaus of Infectious Diseases, Sanitation, and Food.