Brief Bio:

 

 

I am a senior at the University of Pittsburgh. I am a History major and Political Science minor with a Computer Science related area that I just found out about Friday. I do not know what I am going to do after graduation yet and that is part of the reason I took this internship. I hope to find out more Archives work and see if that is a direction, I would want to pursue after graduation. AP 01/21/08

 

Working Notes:

 

So far, the leading cause of death seems to be coronary occlusion (heart attacks) about 60-70 per box. I noticed that since the first box I looked at, 1953, up to the most recent box I looked at, 1956, that the number of deaths attributed to heart disease has gone up. I wonder if this is because classification techniques changed and heart related deaths that were not previously heart disease are now being classified as heart disease. AP 01/21/08

 

Excellent map included with the news article related to the girl who jumped from the Fern Hollow Bridge. (195801_163)  It is a picture taken from the bottom of the canyon looking up at the bridge with a dotted line from the bridge to the ground indicating the path of the fall. The shuttle from Hillman Library to the Archives Center crosses that bridge every day and I cannot help but to look out at the south side of the bridge and think about that girl. AP 01/29/08

 

Found first Coroner Jury Bonds (01/30/08)

 

Found a County Bail Bond, much different, little more specific than coroner's bond. (02/04/08)

 

Found a first edition Social Security card, issued December 1936. Different from today's card in that it included an issue date, the numbers were in much bigger red font, and the card was titled with "Social Security Act," instead of just "Social Security." (02/04/08)

 

 

XX deaths:

 

Found Drowned XX. (196005_64) 53-year-old man, unemployed was found in the river. According to his wife, he had been elliptic for the last 20 years and had very poor coordination. The last time she saw him was in bed the night of April 17, the night before, he told her she would never see him again. His body was found in the river nine days later.  AP 02/18/08

 

This man was Found Drowned XX, considered a suicide by police. He had been a paratrooper in the war and injured his head in a landing that left him mentally distribed. He had been in a local Veterens' Hospital since the war, and was signed out on a weekend pass by his parents. He went missing and was found two days later floating in the Allegheny River. (196009_28) AP 02/25/08

 

Found Drowned XX - 47-year-old man found in the Allegheny River, he was a tow boat pilot. He left work around 4:00PM and went drinking. He went to a friend's house to drink some more, as he was leaving he said he was going back to the boat, this was around 12:30AM. His body was found in the water near the boat the next morning. (196101_160) AP 02/25/08

 

A 67-year-old man is Found Drowned (Undetermined) XX. He was a sick man. He had 5 major operations and talked about killing himself. He said to a roommate if hw was not home in a day or so he would commit suicide. He was found in the Harmer canel. (196104_70) AP 02/29/08

 

A 32-year-old man dies in a vacant house fire, XX, undetermined. The body was found in a thrid floor attic. (196104_146) AP 02/29/08

 

A 26-year-old man dies from acute Barbiturate Poisoning XX, probably due to ingestion of Seconal (Cause Undetermined) XX. He had been in poor health since 1954 when his brother died. He had been taking Barbiturate and Narcotics to deal with the pain, and ended up becoming addicted. He tried to break the addiction on his own, but ended up in a coma. He was cured of the addiction at Mayview State Hospital, but ordered to stay on some presciptions by his doctor. (196203_82) AP 02/29/08

 

A 56-year-old man dies from drug intoxication due to a Barbiturate overdose (Nembutal) (Cause Undetermined) XX. He had been operated on for ulcers and was taking medication in the aftermath. (196203_85) AP 02/29/08

 

 

A 29-year-old white man, who owned a gas station, dies from inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from auto exhaust. (AUTO EXHAUST FUMES XX) He had a history of falling asleep on the job and requiring hospitalization for Carbon Monoxide poisoning. (196511_190) AP 03/21/08

 

Found Drowned:

 

I think I am going to start following these Found Drowned case. I would appreciate it if anyone who finds a Found Drowned case would write down the details of the case and the body of water the dead body was found in. Since we do not have a section yet just for drowning case, you can post them here or in your own working notes. Thanks AP

 

A 40-year-old woman was found in the Allegheny River, washed up on Nine Mile Island. She had been under treatment for a nervous breakdown and was to have reported to a hospital bed at Citizens General Hospital on April 5. Early in the morning on April 5, she woke her husband wanting him to take her for a ride, he refused, a few minutes later she went downstairs on her own, he assumed she went for a cup of tea. According to the husband, about 15 minutes later he received a call from police that his car was parked in the middle of New Kensington Bridge. The cops came to get him and drove him to the bridge to pick up the car. Bare footprint led from the car to the bridge rails. It was assumed that she jumped from the bridge into the river. AP 02/18/08

 

195307.164- male, 49, unemployed, drinking more than usual recently, was found drowned, considered to be a suicide

 

195507.80- male, 39, drowned from jumping from a bridge (suicide). Been unemployed since Dec. 1954, mother said that he had been very nervous

recently.

 

195507.91- male, 21, Navy Vet, drowned in Monongahela while swimming. No explanation why.

 

195508.165- male, 70, drowned. Had been despondent and in poor health, but this not listed as a suicide.

 

195508.167- male, 28, drowned while swimming at Lock #2 Dam (no idea what that is)

 

195508.168- male, 40, drowned while swimming in the Monongahela. He was swimming out to middle of river when a barge was coming down the river. The barge called out for him to stop, but he showed no indication of stopping. So the pilot stopped the barge, but the guy struck it with his head and went under.

 

195508.194- male, 26, was drunk and would do crazy things when he was drunk, so he decided to jump off a bridge because he thought he could

survive

 

195509.01- unknown white male, abt. 60, found in Monongahela River at ft. of 6th Street Bridge

 

195509.25- male, 27, drowned due to jumping from 40th St. Bridge (suicide). Suffered with an ulcer condition for about 4 years, pain and vomiting, and was spitting up blood, but refused to see a doctor. He, his wife, and their neighbor were driving over the bridge. he stopped, got out of the car to vomit over the side, came back and gave his wife some money and lit a cigarette, then went back to rail and stepped over side.

 

195812.59- male, 70, found in a creek- nearly blind, suffered from severe cataracts. It is believed that he either fell off of bridge or wandered into the creek due to his poor eyesight. Ruled as accidental.

 

196103.147- male, 40, had been missing for five or six weeks, was found in Ohio River.

 

196103.215- female, 37, found drowned in Monongahela. Cause for her being there unknown.

 

This man was Found Drowned XX, considered a suicide by police. He had been a paratrooper in the war and injured his head in a landing that left him mentally distribed. He had been in a local Veterens' Hospital since the war, and was signed out on a weekend pass by his parents. He went missing and was found two days later floating in the Allegheny River. (196009_28) AP 02/25/08

 

A 42-year-old man was found floating in the Monongahela River. It was thought to be a suicide when the police found that he had been a heavy drinker and depressed. (196009_148) AP 02/25/08

 

196012_92 - A young man drowned in the Allegheny River while swimming.

 

Found Drowned XX - 47-year-old man found in the Allegheny River, he was a tow boat pilot. He left work around 4:00PM and went drinking. He went to a friend's house to drink some more, as he was leaving he said he was going back to the boat, this was around 12:30AM. His body was found in the water near the boat the next morning. (196101_160) AP 02/25/08

 

196102_146 - A guy from Detroit jumped from a bridge into the Ohio River.

 

A 67-year-old man is Found Drowned (Undetermined) XX. He was a sick man. He had 5 major operations and talked about killing himself. He said to a roommate if hw was not home in a day or so he would commit suicide. He was found in the Harmer canel. (196104_70) AP 02/29/08

 

Railroad-related Accidents:

 

65-year-old woman struck by train while crossing tracks. A man witnessed this while sitting in his car on the opposite side of the tracks. He tried to yell and warn her that the train was coming but she never responded. Crossing signals clearly indicated a train was coming, unknown as to how she did not notice it. (196008_116) AP 02/22/08

 

A 48-year-old black man dies of "transection of body."  He was sitting on the railroad tracks as a train was coming. The train blew its whistle to warn him to move and begin hitting its brakes. His foot was apparently stuck in the rail as he struggled to get away, but was unable to. The train hit him and traveled about 600 feet before coming to a stop. His body was found about 50 feet from the point of impact, under the 12th car of the train. His head and thorax were found under the front wheels of the car, his abdomen and lower extremities were found 13 feet back in the middle of the tracks under the car. 197011_96

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 52-year-old man white man dies of a crushed chest, hemothorax, when he was run over by five train cars. He was an engineer working in a railroad yard. He saw something in the middle of the track and jumped on to the engine to stop the train was only moving at about 4 mph at the time. He slipped as he was climbing up to the control room and fell under the train. 197205_87

 

AP 25 April 08

 

Surgery:

 

A 68-year-old man dies of post-operative shock, following surgery for acute pancreatitis. 196203_129 

 

AP 29 Feb 08

 

A 45-year-old black man dies of cardiac arrest during hip replacement surgery. 196206_97

 

AP 29 Feb 08

 

A 62-year-old black man dies of cardiac arrest following severe toxemia due to post-operative shock. He had several surgeries in the past and it looked as though he would survive this one, right up until they begin to close the skin. At this point he begin going into cardiac arrest; the doctors did all they could to restore a heartbeat, but all their methods failed. 196207_131 

 

AP 29 Feb 08 

 

Undetermined Natural Causes:

 

34-year-old man dies possibly from a complication related to his asthma, received treatment from a doctor for it. (196008_93)

 

34-year-old man dies, relative said that his feet would swell up real bad. (196008_94)

 

40-year-old woman with an extreme nervous condition, complained of pain in her head. (196008_123)

 

80-year-old man dies, Christian Science. (196008_133) AP 02/22/08

 

71-year-old man dies, had a heart condition. (196009_01) AP 02/25/08

 

71-year-old man dies, had been gassed in World War I, received disability pension as a result, had a stroke 2 years proir to his death, returned home after a hospitalization, was on various medicines. (196009_20) AP 02/25/08

 

81-year-old man dies, kidney trouble (196104_01) AP 02/29/08

 

43-year-old man dies, had asthmatic condition (196104_07) AP 02/29/08

 

Suicides:

 

49-year-old white woman commits suicide by closing herself in a refrigerator and suffocating. Had been mentally ill for the last 2 years, a patient at St. Francis Hospital, 5 times was home only 2 months this time. Had a history of being found in iceboxes throughout life by her husband or sister. No note. (196008_108) AP 02/22/08

 

80-year-old white man hangs himself in a barn with a rope, no note. (196008_128) AP 02/22/08

 

47-year-old white man committed suicide by overdosing on an unknown amount of drugs, Barbiturate Poisoning, Had at least 5 other drugs around his room. Brother told police that his brother the deceased, had a severe nervous condition and attempted suicide 4 times in the last 5 years. No note. (196008_139) AP 02/22/08

 

49-year-old white man slashes his throat, had become depressed after his wife left him and his company had merged with another company. He would have had to take a worse job following the merger. He was also under the watch of a psychiatrist, who was away at the time of death. He had attempted suicide twice before. No note. (196008_148) AP 02/22/08

 

76-year-old white man commits suicide by hanging himself with a rope attached to a closet door. He had been operated on recently for a prostate problem. He was also under treatment for a nervous condition and had become increasingly despondent recently. No note. (196008_149) AP 02/22/08

 

75-year-old white man shot himself in the head. Had been suffering from asthma. No note. (196008_150) AP 02/22/08

 

47-year-old white woman commits suicide by overdosing on about 20 Nembutal capsules (Barbiturate Poisoning) Neighbor said she had a bad nervous condition that had her hospitalized for a time. Husband said she had the nervous condition since menopause. Left a note to her husband saying it is better this way. (196009_06) AP 02/22/08

 

49-year-old white woman commits suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from an automobile. She had been going through menopause and had a nervous condition. She had snapped at her husband the last time he saw her. She apparently killed herself over a relationship she was having with another man that had ended recently. Her note stated, "Chuck you and your lies" this "Chuck" being the other man, whose photo was on the seat next to her. 

 

Amusing side note, the suicide note was written on the back of a sign that was attached to the visor that said, "This car driven from left front seat ONLY!" "Anyone who don't like the way this car is operated, please observe the mistletoe on driver's coat tail." (196009_15) AP 02/22/08  

 

51-year-old white woman committed suicide via Carbon Monoxide poisoning from inhaling automobile exhaust. She had been suffering from a nervous condition the past four years (menopause related?) and was taking medicine from a doctor. She had not seen her doctor recently around the time of the suicide. In her note, she said, "You have asked for this. I still want you to leave me alone. Don't visit me ever." (196009_116) AP 02/25/08

 

36-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the abdomen. He shot himself following an argument he had with the woman who owned the trailer he was renting a room in. No note. (196009_108) AP 02/25/08

 

59-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. The family agreed with this assessment, but the coroner did not at this time. He listed the cause of death as "Gunshot wound to the Right Temple (Undetermined)." No note. (196009_109) AP 02/25/08 

 

77-year-old white man committed suicide by taking rat poison (Phosphorus poisoning). He had been despondent for some time over the lose of an eye. No note. (196009_144) AP 02/25/08

 

38-year-old white woman committed suicide by drinking hydrochloric acid. Her husband came home late and they argued over this. She handed him the baby and told him to feed it. While he was heating up a bottle, she went down the cellar, took a bottle of acid and drank it in front of him. She told him, she hoped he was satisfied. When he found that she had taken acid, he immediately went to a neighbor for help. She had been under severe mental stress over a recent family problem. No note. (196009_150) AP 02/25/08 

 

39-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting off the upper half of his head with a shotgun, was at his sister's house at the time. He had a nervous condition, a heart condition, and was a deeply religious man. In his note, he left behind two Bible passages regarding being embraced by the Lord. One of the officers who investigated the crime drew a very nice, detailed map of the room, what was in the room, and where the body was with proportion to the furniture in the room. (196104_35) AP 02/29/08

 

36-year-old white woman committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills (Seconal) (Barbiturate Poisoning). She had two nervous breakdowns that required hospitalization. She was found on the toilet with her head slumped into the sink. No note. (196104_47) AP 02/29/08

 

56-year-old white man committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from automobile exhaust. He was the former President of the Screw & Bolt Corporation of America. He had resigned the position about a month before. He had been in poor health and despondent since his wife died about a year ago. No note. (196104_74) AP 02/29/08

 

57-year-old white man committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from automobile exhaust. He had been unemployed for a year because he was in poor health. He had lung cancer surgery, was in constant pain, became despondent, but not obviously suicidal. No note. (196104_97) AP 02/29/08

 

67-year-old white man is Found Drowned (Undetermined) XX. He was a sick man. He had five major operations and talked about killing himself. He said to a roommate if he was not home in a day or so he would commit suicide. He was found in the Harmer canal. No note. (196104_70) AP 02/29/08

 

65-year-old white man committed suicide by jumping from a bridge on Beaver Road over Big Sewickley Creek, falling 30 feet into the shallow creek bed below. He had back pain, was not working and had just lost his pension. No note. (196104_140) AP 02/29/08

 

42-year-old white man committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from automobile exhaust. He had a nervous condition; he was an alcoholic and he had lost his job because of it. His Suicide note on a loose piece of cardboard read: "Sorry Pot/Jan / I AM NO GOOD / START OVER / MY OWN FAULT / GOD HELP US / L. BURKETT / NERVES / BOOZE / " (196104_154) AP 02/29/08 

 

34-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He had been in good condition until he was laid off from work. He had been brooding from that point on. (196104_163) AP 02/29/08

 

46-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the neck, bullet exited through his head, with his rifle. He was a heavy drinker and he was unemployed for about a year, living with his sister. After supper, he went upstairs to get ready for a visit to see his father in the hospital. He was heard talking to himself by his sister, moments before he pulled the trigger. (196104_180) AP 02/29/08

 

54-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head, with his rifle. He said he suffered in terrible pain from arthritis in his legs. In four different notes on loose cardboard, he tells his wife he cannot take the pain anymore and says goodbye. (196104_198) AP 02/29/08

 

A 15-year-old white girl committed suicide by shooting herself in the head (left eye) with her father's rifle. According to the coroner's report, the girl had an argument with her boyfriend a week ago and has been quiet and despondent ever since. She arranged to be left alone with her brother on the night of her suicide and she shot herself in her bedroom. Her brother found her still alive and waved down a neighbor's passing car for help; she died two hours later in the hospital. 196207_82

 

AP 24 March 08

 

An 18-year-old white male committed suicide by shooting himself in the right temple. It was listed (While Temporarily Insane) Suicide.  He was a former high school honor student who was force to drop out of school following an illness acquired after a car accident. He had been seeing a psychiatrist for the last two years because of suicidal tendencies. He came home from work on the day of his suicide, appearing to be happy, but then went up to the bathroom and shot himself just before lunch. 196207_124

 

AP 24 March 08

 

A 27-year-old black man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in a men's' room stall. He had an argument with his girlfriend the night before and went down to her work place to rectify the situation. He made no threat of suicide when he talked to her. No note. 197011_60

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 51-year-old white woman committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from automobile exhaust. Her husband found her when he returned home from work. She left no note. Her husband stated that she had tried suicide a year ago with pills. According to him, she never got over her hysterectomy operation in February of 1970. 197011_87

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 20-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the stomach. He returned home from Vietnam two months ago. He was supposed to marry a girl who had his baby two years ago, but after he left for the war, she gave the baby up for adoption. Her parents were also against the marriage. His parents know that he saw her the day before he killed himself and believe they had a fight. In his note, he says he is sorry and asks to be buried with the two wedding rings and a picture of his former girlfriend and the baby. 197011_84

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 61-year-old white woman committed suicide by hanging herself in her cellar. In her note, she explains that she cannot handle he husband's illness and her first-born son has severed all ties with the family. She mentions that she loves her daughter and husband and tells them she is sorry. She asks that her attorney commit her husband to the Jewish home (nursing home?) and that her son be disinherited from the will. 197011_217

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 36-year-old white man committed suicide by overdosing on Carbutol and Seconal. (According to one of his suicide notes, he took 36 Carbutol and 30 Seconal.) Included is a copy of his will and six different suicide notes. He asks in his will foe his estate to go to his son and that his sister is appointed his guardian (likely the child will remain with his ex-wife). One note asks his ex-wife be notified of his death, leaves contact information. Another is to his ex-wife, he tells her he loves her and for her to take care of their son, asks that she not turn their son against him, mentions he has no money to help her with, and says that his suicide is her Christmas present so she can re-marry in the Church (Date of death 12/10/1970). Another note stated, "No Home, No Job, No Money, Mom & Lee & Eric I Love You." Another note stated, "Merry Christmas to All Goodbye." Another note asks his ex wife be notified of his death at work if possible, then he writes to his mother; says that he can not get over his break up with his ex-wife, thinking about his son only reminds him of her, asks for prays and forgiveness. On the second page he wants his ring and gold medal to go to his son, says that there is something wrong with him and that he does not want to go to prison, in a p.s. he tells his mother that if his ex-wife does not comply with his wishes, that his mother should threaten he with jail and to bury him as cheaply as possible. Last note, he details the drug he took "36 Carbutol and 30 Seconal capsules." 197101_153

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 59-year-old woman committed suicide by poisoning herself. She had been sad for a while before hand. A green substance was found near her later identified as Paris green. 189706_117

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 36-year-old man committed suicide by drowning himself in the river. He did not tell his brother, but did a friend’s wife he might do this. That friend then went after him, but could not save him because he could not swim. 189706_133

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 54-year-old man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He left a very dramatic suicide note explaining to his son that he did not want to live anymore. The note went on to explain the difficulties he was having with his wife and the debt he was in and leaving to his son. He shot himself as his son was reading the note. 189706_133

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 26-year-old white woman committed suicide by setting herself on fire. She had a fight with her husband when he came home late again. At the end of the fight, she said she was going to do away with herself; she picked up a can of oil, poured it over herself and set herself a blaze. He husband managed to put out the flames, but not until after she was severely burned, she lived until the police arrived at which time she died of shock. 189810_147

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 115-year-old white man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He was a carpenter most of his life. He had survived typhoid fever twice and had a problem with his leg, but was otherwise in good spirits. He was recently upset over being unable to collect his source of income anymore. 189811_153

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 52-year-old black man committed suicide by shooting himself in the left side of his chest. He was very sick and depressed over the loss of his wife six months prior. He was a heavy drinker as well. 197101_18

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 22-year-old white woman committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes automobile exhaust. She worked at a nightclub and apparently told her friends not to be surprised if she turned up dead. She had attempted suicide twice before using once with an aspirin overdose and once by slashing her wrists. Photos included. 197101_49

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 58-year-old white man committed suicide by hanging himself in his attic. The deceased had been discharged from St. Francis Psychiatric Ward only 7 days before; he had been there 12 days. He had been despondent lately and wished he were dead, but never tried to kill himself before. 197202_180

 

AP 17 Apr 2008

 

A 22-year-old white man committed suicide by overdosing on seconal tablets. He took seven or eight and then began to drink heavily. He was brought into the hospital with no pulse and straight lined. He was a drug abuser who had been to the South Side Hospital many times before for drug overdoses. 197309_118

 

AP 17 Apr 2008

 

A 51-year-old white man committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from his automobile exhaust. He sought treatment from a doctor for an upper respiratory infection a few months back. The doctor noticed his depression and he told the doctor he was seeing a psychiatrist for it. In his note, he claims he never stole anything in his life and that the accusations against him were completely unfound. He finally asks his girlfriend to love him anyway. 197309_173

 

AP 17 Apr 2008

 

A 19-year-old white woman committed suicide by inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from automobile exhaust. Most people in her life described her as being in good health and spirits. In her suicide notes, she first asks her family to check the basement, (where they will find her body). She then says that she loves her mother and brother and that she could not live in fear anymore, (of what she does not say). Finally, she leaves a will. 197309_193

 

AP 17 Apr 2008

 

Fire-related/Burns:

 

A 63-year-old man dies from second-degree burns and smoke inhalation when his clothing caught fire while he was smoking in bed. Wife said it was a nightly habit. (196009_118) AP 02/25/08

 

A 78-year-old man dies from third degree burns and complications due to catching fire while smoking in bed. (196009_120) AP 02/25/08  

 

A 7-year-old girl (196009_128) and a 13-year old girl (196009_129) die of third degree burns and smoke inhalation in a house fire. The mother had plugged in their TV and lamp, for a visitor, into an outlet known to sputter sparks and it is assumed that is where the fire started. She was able to save three of her five children before the smoke became too much for her. AP 02/25/08  

 

An 81-year-old woman dies of burns from clothes catching on fire off a candle. Turned away at Magee Women's' Hospital because they were too busy, taken instead to Presbyterian. (196104_08) AP 02/29/08  

 

A 32-year-old man dies in a vacant house fire, XX, undetermined. The body was found in a third floor attic. (196104_146) AP 02/29/08  

 

A 20-year-old man and his friends, a 19-year-man (196104_166) and an 18-year-old man (196104_167), all die in a fiery car crash. The car hit a tree and exploded into flames feed by the gas tank. The bodies were charred so bad by the fire that authorities at the scene were unable to identify the bodies as anything other than males. (196104_165) AP 02/29/08 

 

A husband and wife (196110_223) die due to asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation from a burning mattress - Undetermined. They were found lying in bed; the wife had a burned cigarette in her hand. (196110_222) AP 02/29/08

 

A 38-year-old white male dies of second and third degree burns when the gas can he was transporting in the back of his car exploded. The explosion was due to him lighting a cigarette in the car, igniting the fumes. (196511_151) AP 03/21/08

 

A 70-year-old man dies of cardio-respiratory failure, septicemia, and burns to both legs following a gas explosion at a gas station. (196511_154) AP 03/21/08

 

A 58-year-old white woman accidentally burned herself when she lit a cigarette her nightgown caught fire. She died of second and third degree burns to 30-35% of her body in the hospital. Contributing to her death was right lung cancer with Metastases.

 

AP 25 April 08

 

Infant/Abortion-related Deaths:

 

10-minute old baby dies, immature. Evidence of a catheter found in afterbirth indicating the mother had attempted an abortion. She later admitted to it. (196008_138) AP 02/22/08 

 

 

15-month-old baby boy dies from overdosing on aspirin tablets. The mother found the boy eating the aspirin tablets, but did not call a doctor until the next day when he got sick. (196104_60) AP 02/29/08

 

2-month-old baby girl suffocates in her bedclothes. (196104_88) AP 02/29/08

 

Stillborn black baby boy, no reason as to why. He was delivered at home prematurely; the mother was only 5 months pregnant. (196104_120) AP 02/29/08

 

39-year-old mother dies of cardiac arrest during childbirth. She was also being treated for a ruptured navel. She was 6 months pregnant with a baby girl who was stillborn (196104_127). (196104_128) AP 02/29/08

 

6-month-old baby girl dies from broncho pneumonia. (196104_149) AP 02/29/08

 

1-year-old black baby girl dies from broncho pneumonia. She had been sick about 2 weeks and was being treated at Children's Hospital. (196104_195) AP 02/29/08

 

2-month-old white baby boy suffocates/smothered by his bedclothes. (196104_199) AP 02/29/08

 

A 1-day-old white male was murdered by his mother shortly after she gave birth to him. She threw the baby into a cesspool behind her house, her father recovered the body a while later. 189801_221

 

AP 25 April 08

 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (accidental):

 

A 79-year-old man accidentally inhales Carbon Monoxide fumes from a gas stove. His niece told him many times to do something about the unvented gas stove in the apartment; the apartment stank of gas as well. He refused to do anything about it. His roommate, (196203_193), a 69-year-old white male died in the apartment too. 196203_192

 

AP 29 Feb 08

 

A 45-year-old man and a 79-year-old man, (196206_196), die of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in their home. It was at first thought to be a suicide by police, but later discovered to be the result of a gas leak in many of the house's gas appliances. 196206_196

 

AP 29 Feb 08

 

A 47-year-old white man dies from accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning from sleeping near a gas space heater. Also known to be a chronic drinker. 196512_27

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 76-year-old white woman dies from inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from her home furnace. Police broke into her home when she did not respond to their calls; they immediately noticed the fumes, considered a possible gas leak.  196512_58

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 46-year-old white man, who worked as a mechanic, died from inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from a faulty overhead space heater. He was working late at night the garage and turned on the heater. He apparently fell asleep in the back of the car he was inspecting. 196512_116

 

AP 21 March 08

 

A 20-year-old white male dies from inhaling Carbon Monoxide fumes from an unvented gas heater. At first, it was thought to be a drug related death until an autopsy revealed a 60% Carbon Monoxide reading in his blood. Police investigated his bedroom and found an unvented single burner gas heater without a safety pilot. 197202_202

 

AP 25 April 08

 

A 59-year-old white man dies of accidental inhalation of Carbon Monoxide fumes from automobile exhaust. He was trying to repair his car on a cold day; he turned the car on in an unventilated garage to stay warm. 197101_73

 

AP 25 April 08

 

Quick Hits:

 

Undetermined Baby Death in which police find the body of a baby wrapped in blankets, when they find the body its vital organs are absent and the body is skeletonized. Apparently, the mother found the baby dead in his crib a month prior to the police finding the body. Panicked, got scared, couldn't deal with the death, removed the body from the crib wrapped him in blankets, left him on the bed, closed the bedroom door and just refused to deal with it for a month until the police came to investigate the location of the baby and found him in this room. (195412_114)

 

Food Poisoning case in which a teenager died from eating home canned green beans over a prolonged period. His mother and sister also ate the green beans and got sick, but did not die. (195512_262)

 

OUCH! Massive Hemorrhage into Gastrointestinal Tract from ruptured varicose veins of Esophagus. (195601_90)

 

Interesting suicide I found the other day, a gunshot wound victim found in a fraternity house was thought to have killed himself in a game of "Russian Roulette" (195601_93)

 

Drunk, wife-beater chases his wife to the apartment building of her family/friends, gets to the top of the steps and attacks two friends who won't let him pass, one push him backwards down the steps, he falls and lands on his knife killing him. (195601_104) 

 

AP 01/21/08

 

66-year-old man burned to death by igniting lighter fluid both on his clothes and in an open can in his pocket after refilling his lighter and igniting it. (195801_199)

 

"Found Frozen"

66-year-old man found near an armored truck, had women’s wallet on him with ID in it. (195801_98)

 

44-year-old man jumps down a six-story elevator shaft (195802_06)

 

31 year old dies of coronary occlusion. The woman also had jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, nephritis, and a kidney condition. (195802_17)

 

34-year-old man hung self after sawing the Christmas tree in half destroying the decorations, ruining Christmas. Apologized in suicide note. (195701_72)

 

Prank That at No Point in Time Seems Even Remotely Funny:

13-year-old boy left home babysitting his 2-year-old sister thinks it would be funny for his parents to come home and see him hanging off the stairway. Unfortunately, he succeeds in making the prank look very real by actually killing himself and instead of his parents discovering him; his 10-year-old brother arrived home first and was undoubtedly traumatized for the rest of his life.

 

AP 01/29/08

 

60-year-old man burned to death when oily rags he was cleaning with spontaneously caught fire. (195905_85)

 

47-year-old man is hit over the head with a chair and beaten to death with a chair leg. (195905_182)

 

76-year-old woman dies from scalding hot water burning her buttock. Apparently, warm water is an old remedy to relieve constipation, she was unable to communicate that the water was too hot. (195809_94)

 

AP 02/08/08

 

"Mrs. Cain was age 49, and had apparently asphyxiated following a choking spell, brought on by swallowing a wiener whole."

            -Doctor's Note (195906_124)

 

45-year-old man accidentally shot himself while cleaning his shotgun, planned to go groundhog hunting the next day. (196001_42)

 

AP 02/15/08

 

Reflection on the Coroner Case File Project

 

 

Working on Allegheny County Coroner Case File Project has been a valuable and informative experience for me. I learned about working in archives and the job archivists do. I benefited from firsthand experience working with historical documents. I learned about how to use 21^st century technology like Wikipedia to post information on my finding in the case file documents and see what information the other interns were finding. There were other good and bad experiences working on the project as well.

On the positive side, I received valuable firsthand experience handling documents ranging from forty to over one hundred years old. Since I did not get a chance to take a History of Pittsburgh class in my time at the University of Pittsburgh, I got a chance to learn about Pittsburgh’s history through these documents. I made many new friends and enjoyed many conversations on the finding in the documents. I learned how to use Wikipedia as a means to post data finding and communicate with the other interns on trends I was finding.

On the negative side, I found the oldest documents from the 1890s to be very difficult to work with. The script style of writing was very difficult to read and at times impossible to decipher. Some of the documents would fall apart immediately as they were being opened, and would have to be pieced back together again like a puzzle. Apart from that, I often had difficultly figuring out what to contribute to the chronology section. My lack of background on Pittsburgh history early on, and the disjointed nature of only being able to work one or two months, usually non-consecutively, in a year, made it difficult to find trends that could be linked back to something in Pittsburgh’s history.

Overall, this internship was an enjoyable experience. I made some new friends and learned more about the history of the city I have spent the last four years in. I now know enough about archives work to able to consider it as a career option in the future. This was certainly a different way of learning about the past, but definitely much more fun than simply reading a book or looking up a website.