The Origins and Reasons for the Nationality Rooms (the early years—1920s through 1940s)
The Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh are unique classrooms like no other classrooms at any university. Created in 1926, the Nationality Rooms Program (now called the Nationality & Heritage Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program) was designed to show the achievements of the immigrant nationalities in Pittsburgh. The rooms were all community/committee fundraised and built, and given as gifts to Pitt over the years.
This presentation will focus on what decisions were made to create the program, the process by which the rooms were chosen and constructed, and how that has laid a foundation for nearly 100 years of continuing to add and develop this local treasure.
Presenter: Michael Walter, Manager of Education Programs, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program.
