Gumberg Library Digitizes ‘Pittsburgh Catholic’ Newspapers from the Past

More than 150 years’ worth of America’s oldest Catholic newspaper, the Pittsburgh Catholic, is now available online as part of a digitization project recently completed by Gumberg Library.

The digitization project, which began in 2008 after microfilm reels of the newspaper showed signs of deterioration, provides access to issues published between 1844 and 2001. Issues from 2001 to present day are available through the Pittsburgh Catholic’s online archives.

Dr. Laverna Saunders, who retired in December as University librarian, said the library has supported preservation of the newspaper for nearly 40 years and views digitization as a natural progression. “By digitizing the newspaper, Gumberg has been able to support the Diocese of Pittsburgh as well as individuals researching parish and family histories because all issues are freely available online and are keyword searchable,” said Saunders.

Patrons from around the world can now retrieve the information faster and easier than ever before.

According to Tom White, University archivist and curator of special collections, the digitization of the newspaper has helped safeguard the region’s Catholic history while providing greater access to a rich local resource. “The Pittsburgh Catholic will be extremely useful to social and religious historians, genealogists and anyone researching the history of the church in western Pennsylvania,” said White.

As a premier chronicle of Roman Catholic life in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Catholic collection represents a significant contribution to the growing body of primary documents covering the Roman Catholic Church in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Gumberg Library funds, a Library Services and Technology Act grant and a capstone gift from The Ann and Frank Cahouet Foundation supported the digitization project. University archived issues of the Pittsburgh Catholic can be accessed at http://digital.library.duq.edu/.