History Department, Dollar Bank Collaborate on New Series About Pittsburgh History

The Department of History and Dollar Bank have partnered to create the annual Pittsburgh History Speaker Series, which will feature expert discussions of local history.

The inaugural event, Pittsburgh’s Early Immigrants and Their Legacy: Building and Integrating Communities, will examine the ways in which immigrants transformed the region throughout its history. The free, public event will be held Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

The event also highlights the continued collaboration between Dollar Bank and Duquesne’s Department of History to support new local history research. As Pittsburgh’s oldest bank, Dollar Bank is heavily invested in preserving the history and legacy of both the bank and the Pittsburgh region.

“The story of immigration is critical for understanding the development of our region,” said Assistant History Professor Dr. Andrew Simpson, who is one of the event organizers. “Local history tells us more than just what happened in the past. It provides the context we need to build a better future. We are proud that this partnership is actively linking the past and the present to shape the future of the Pittsburgh region.”

Speakers for the event include:

• Anna Samuels, archivist and librarian at the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, who will talk about immigration as it relates to architecture on Pittsburgh’s South Side
• Michael Tusay, museum facilitator at Bushy Run Battlefield, who will address early Italian immigration to Pittsburgh
• Cassidee Knott, an M.A. candidate in public history at Duquesne, who will discuss early Irish immigration to Pittsburgh.

“As Pittsburgh’s oldest bank, our history is deeply tied to the early immigrants of this city,” said Dollar Bank Archivist Robert Presutti. “Since 1855, we have grown with this region, and our open-door policy has led to a long list of diverse and impressive customers shaping who we are today.”

While this event will center on early European immigrants to Pittsburgh, Presutti said that future events in the series will focus on immigrant groups from China, Syria and Latin America.

“Quite a few of these stories presented will intersect with the fabric of our own families and communities, and we are looking forward to continuing this collaboration for many years,” Presutti said.

For more information, visit the speaker series website or email the history department .