John F. Sweeny Collection

Collection — Box: 5 (Small Alumni)

Identifier: 2005-01

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The collection is entirely of objects with no paper records accompanying. The items pertain to Sweeny's time as a CIT student as well as his concurrent tenure in the Merchant Marines during WWI.

The items have been divided into three series: CIT, WWI, and Personal Items. Each series is contained in a separate envelope.

Dates

c. 1917

Restrictions

None.

Biographical Sketch

John "Mike" Sweeny, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Shady Side Academy, attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology (CIT) in the early 1900s. His senior yearbook citation in the 1920 Thistle says he attended CIT for eight years but there is no evidence in the early school records to confirm this claim. His attendance can be confirmed between 1916 and 1920, during which time it appears he took off a year to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine. He graduated in 1920, at age 25, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Mike Sweeny was a student leader and was very involved with the social life of CIT. He was a founding member of the CIT Musical Clubs, worked on the Interfraternity Council, was on the Track team and the "Mech. Football Squad." The relative who donated his items to the CMU Archives said that her "Uncle Mike" played music and sang all his life.

Extent

0.15 Linear feet (3 envelopes)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

John Sweeny graduated from CIT in 1920 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His collection contains items from his time at CIT as well as his tenure in the Merchant Marines during WWI.

Physical Location

Provenance

These items were sent to the CMU Archives by HSWP Accessions Archivist David Grinnell in January of 2005. The CMU Archives contacted the original donor, Janet Howell, who agreed to placement of the items within the CMU Archives. Items not pertaining to CMU were sent back to the donor in January of 2005.

Related Material

Student Activities Collection; WWI Collection;

Separations

The items comprising this collection were from a slightly larger group of items sent to CMU from HSWP. Those items within this smaller group not pertaining to CIT/CMU, notably items of Masonic jewelry, were sent back to the donor in January of 2005.