Notes on Selected Resources Commentary on selected resources mentioned above. The built environment of the Pittsburgh region is the prototypical urban American industrial landscape, overlaid with an architecture of strength, variety, and invention. Much work remains to be done. This guide is intended to promote and facilitate architectural research in Pittsburgh and its region by introducing the researcher to methods and resources key to the research process. No guide can supply a universally applicable description of the process of architectural research.
Every researcher has a different starting point and a different goal.
Architectural research is a sometimes complex but rewarding process, akin to assembling a puzzle, or doing detective work. Use this guide to identify resources that may have information about your topic. Many potentially useful repositories and resources are not listed here including local governments, local libraries, utility companies, and census records. Look for articles in local newspapers and magazines from key dates associated with an important building, for example its dedication or demolition. Often overlooked sources for information about individual buildings include the building itself, and the people associated with it.