Chatham College
Preserving Pittsburgh's Past

Chatham College, founded in 1869 as Pennsylvania Female College, is located along historic Woodland Road. Chatham College is one of the oldest women's colleges in the U.S. and the oldest private institution of higher education in Pittsburgh.

Built just before or slightly after the start of the 20th century, the mansions along Woodland Road were home to Pittsburgh's most prominent families - the Mellons, Reas, Benedums and Laughlins. The houses, many of which were donated to the college and form the heart of campus today, are important for their historic significance as well as their architecture and beauty.

In the last two years, Chatham College has been recognized by local and national organizations for the preservation of historic buildings and art treasures on its campus. Chatham is committed to preserving its piece of Pittsburgh's history through the college's historic structures and landscape.

Save America's Treasures 2000 Official Project Designation for Chatham College's Howe-Childs Gate House. A partnership between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Save America's Treasures is an initiative created by President and Mrs. Clinton in 1998 to celebrate and preserve our nation's threatened cultural treasures. Chatham's is one of 700 Official Projects designated throughout the United States, the only one in Pittsburgh and one of only 24 in Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation 2000 Recognition for restoring and re-installing the Alumnae Memorial Window created by Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1889 in the new Science Complex on campus.

American Institute of Architects 2000 Design Award given to Einhorn Yaffee Prescott of Boston for their renovation of Chatham College's Louise C. Buhl Hall of Science (circa 1939) and addition of the Science Laboratory Building. "The jurors noted that this project didn't succumb to the impulse to design in a neo-historical manner as is the case with much campus architecture. They successfully incorporated a contemporary language that seems sympathetic to the older architecture without trying to mimic it." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/25/00)

Historic Review Commission 1999 Preservation Award to Chatham College for the excellent renovation of Beatty House in 1998. The house formally known as Sunset Hill was built in 1896 by William Holdship and Mary Childs Rea. It was purchased by the college in 1948. Following a decade of non-use, the house was renovated and reopened in 1998. It serves as the college's Alumnae House.

1999 Paul Mellon Bequest to Chatham College for the preservation of the home formerly belonging to his father, Andrew W. Mellon. Andrew Mellon lived in the house from 1917 to 1937. Paul Mellon, who also lived in the house, donated the house to the college in 1940 upon the death of his father.

Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic District designation given to Woodland Road, the private road on which Chatham College is located, in 1982.

Chatham College Arboretum was established in 1998 and is recognized by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, the U.S. association that sets arboreta criteria. The historic 32-acre campus - designed in part by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted - serves as a laboratory for Chatham programs and as a regional educational center.