Guide to the Thomas C. Brogan Papers on the Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorders, 1968 AIS.2017.06
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- Thomas C. Brogan Papers on the Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorder
- Creator
- Brogan, Thomas Cyril
- Collection Number
- AIS.2017.06
- Extent
- 0.42 Linear Feet
- Date
- 1968
- Abstract
- Thomas C. Brogan, a student of political science, was a member of the Task Force on Civil Disorder created by Pittsburgh Mayor Joseph M. Barr following the civil unrest in April of 1968. This collection of papers includes reports, memo's, interviews, and statistics used by the Task Force in their fact-finding mission.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Access Restrictions
Folder # 45 entitled, "Confidential list of names of people interviewed" is restricted and sealed until 2040. There are no other restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Thomas C. Brogan, Ph.D on March 14, 2017.
Scope and Content Notes
The first series consists of topical files that contain an assortment of reports, memo's, lists and academic papers that where presumably used by the Mayor's Task Force as source material for a final analysis of the events leading up to the civil unrest that happend in Pittsburgh between April 4th and 12th in 1968. The second series contains findings from interviews conducted by Dr. Brogan on behalf of the Task Force. Only one interview contains an actual transcript, all the rest are abridged findings. Unfortunately, the papers do not include the final report of the Task Force.
Biography
Dr. Thomas C. Brogan is a retired professor of Political Science at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. Brogan graduated from LaSalle College with a Bachelors Degree in 1966, followed by a Master's Degree in 1970 from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a National Defence Education Act Fellow. He completed his Doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh in 1976.
In 1968, while at the University of Pittsburgh, Brogan was awareded an American Political Science Association Fellow in local government, enabling him to work in the administration of Pittsburgh Mayor Joseph M. Barr. During that time Pittsburgh, like many cities around the United States, experienced a period of civil unrest following the assination of Dr. Martin Luther King. From April 4 through April 12 rioting broke out in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods including Manchester, Homewood-Brushton, and Hazelwood, but the Hill District was perhaps the area that experienced the most violence and distruction. Following the unrest, Mayor Barr created a Task Force on Civil Disorder.
While working in the Mayor's office, Brogan was assigned to work with Kenneth Mason, a brother of City Councilmen Louis Mason, to research the causes of the unrest and recommend actions that local government could take to address priority issues in the Black community, as part of the Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorder. The Task Force was chaired by Burrell Cohen, the executive secretary to Mayor Barr, and included two members of Pittsburgh City Council and four city employees. Research began within a few weeks of the riots and would continue into the summer of 1968. In July of 1968, a final report was issued. Ultimately, the main issues that were recommended for local government to address were centered around housing, business opportunities, and jobs.
According to articles in the daily newspapers the report was met with some very vocal opposition. Perhaphs the most well-know opponents were Byrd Brown, President of the Pittsburgh Branch of the NAACP, and William Rodd of the Neighborhood Centers Association in Manchester. Pittsburgh Civil Rights attorney and noted activist, Eric Springer was serving as the Chair of the Mayor's Commission on Human Relations. Although, Springer was interviewed concerning the Task Forces' findings, his comments in the press were not disaproving nor passing judgement.
Related Material
Governor Dick Thornburgh Papers, AIS.1998.30, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Series II: Early Legal Career, Box 12 Folder 27 -- "Administration of Justice during Civil Disorders in Pittsburgh," A report by Public Service Committee May, 1968.
Charles Owen Rice Papers, 1935-1998, AIS.1976.11, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 4 Folder 36 -- "A Commentary on the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders," by Arden E. Malzer (University of Pittsburgh), Prepared for the Human Relations Commission of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Allegheny Conference On Community Development (Pittsburgh, PA), Records, 1920-1993, MSS# 285, Detre Library and Archives, Heinz History Center, Box 311 Folder 6 -- "Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorder, 1968."
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David R. Grinnell on March 15, 2017.
Previous Citation
Thomas C. Brogan Papers on the Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorder, 1968, AIS.2017.06, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
Thomas C. Brogan Papers on the Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorder, 1968, AIS.2017.06, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged in two series.
I. Topical Files
II. Interviews by Brogan
Subjects
- Mason, Kenneth W.
- Barr, Joseph M.
- Brogan, Thomas Cyril
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Race relations
- Civil disobedience
- Mayor's Task Force on Civil Disorder (Pittsburgh, Pa.)