The Collection

The October 27 Archive currently contains 1579 objects and is regularly being expanded with more material. The archive includes flyers and programs from community gatherings held since the October 27 attack, a comprehensive collection of news coverage about the day of the event, oral history recordings reflecting a diverse array of experiences, and historical documentation about the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania.

Using this archive

You can view all the materials currently included in the archive using the browser below. Each object has been described and cataloged to help you discover materials, learn about these materials, understand the context in which these materials were created, and draw connections between different materials. You can refine the browsing experience using various filters, including creator, type, and subject. Some of these filters have already been used to create preset galleries, each organized around specific aspects of the archive. You can also look for specific words and phrase found in the archive using a keyword search.

 

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MSS1297_B008_F008_I001_P001.jpg
MSS1297_B008_F008_I001_P002.jpg
text

"154 Mass Shootings this Year" sign

White posterboard with handwritten messages on either side. The front side reads: "154 mass shootings this year alone. How many lives are worth your assault rifle?" An asterisk connects to the following sidebar: "None committed by black men, illegal aliens, or women." 154 tally marks appear above. The back reads: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Historical Notes

In the days after the October 27 attack, people began leaving objects at two locations outside the Tree of Life synagogue--one at the corner of Wilkins and Shady avenues in front of the Zittrain Gardens, and the other on a private lawn at Wilkins and Murray avenues, just beyond police barricades. Community volunteers moved the entirety of these two memorials inside the Tree of Life building on November 14, 2018, for preservation purposes. Most of these objects including this one were moved to archival preservation over the following year, but a small number were arranged in public display in the windows of the Hailperin Sanctuary Rauh Jewish Archives staff and volunteers dismantled this display on February 16, 2023, and the objects were brought to the archive for preservation. It is not clear where the maker of this sign obtained this statistic; the FBI identified 27 active shooter incidents in 2018.

Use and Reproduction
Donor Information
Item
MSS1297_B008_F008
Donor
Tree of Life Congregation, New Light Congregation, Congregation Dor Hadash, Tree of Life Inc., The 10.27 Healing Partnership
Subjects

Full metadata

Metadata

"154 Mass Shootings this Year" sign

Object Identifier
MSS1297_B008_F008_I001
Object Date
2018
Member of Item
MSS1297_B008_F008
Primary Type
text
Secondary Type
Sign
Donor
Tree of Life Congregation, New Light Congregation, Congregation Dor Hadash, Tree of Life Inc., The 10.27 Healing Partnership
Description

White posterboard with handwritten messages on either side. The front side reads: "154 mass shootings this year alone. How many lives are worth your assault rifle?" An asterisk connects to the following sidebar: "None committed by black men, illegal aliens, or women." 154 tally marks appear above. The back reads: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Member of Collection
October 27 Tribute Collection [MSS 1297]
Event
Wilkins Avenue Memorial
Location
5898 Wilkins Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217
Group
Gifts
Creator
Unknown
Dimensions
27.5 x 21.75 in.
Language
English