Witness to the Fifties: The Pittsburgh Photographic Library, 1950-1953

Initially commissioned to record the progress of Pittsburgh’s renaissance, photographer Stryker’s b&w photographs capture the city in a state of flux and reveal a number of contrasts (such as the downtown businessman with the construction worker, and the isolation of planned housing with expansion and renewal). They also document the activities of the Community Chest, the planning agency for many of the area’s social welfare agencies. The essay by Schulz (professor of history and director of the Public History program at the U. of South Carolina) discusses the background of the Pittsburgh Photographic Library. The accompanying narrative by Thomas (editor and author) offers an eclectic range of facts about the city’s history, neighborhood lore, important political and economic episodes, and the lives of minorities and women in the region’s development. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)