Images(5)

Seal

Object number2021.136.2

Manufacturer Bunting Stamp Company

MediumCast iron(?); Paint; Lead(?); Paint

Credit LineGift of Stanton Jonas

DescriptionCast iron(?) seal. Painted black with gold detailing on edges. Each side of the body has a painted gold star with red central circle; each star has three radiating lines above and below. Lever handle protrodes from top. Two silver metal circular seal heads bear Allegheny County Health Department seal comprised of Allegheny County coat of arms surrounded by organizational name.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 9.813 × 2.125 × 5.938 in. (24.9 × 5.4 × 15.1 cm)
InscriptionsSeal heads bear text around the perimeter "ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT".
MarksHandle has engraved "3" on front of base.

Top of top seal head has imprinted text "BUNTING / STAMP CO."
Historical NotesThis Allegheny County seal was found abandoned in a county building, and the donor, Stanton Jonas, took it home. Stanton Jonas, born in 1929, grew up in Hazelwood, and attended Taylor Allderdice High School. He went to the University of Pittsburgh for pharmacy from 1948 to 1951. He then joined the Air Force, enlisting with seven other Pitt classmates. He spent four years in the Air Force running the Air Force pharmacy in Miho, Japan. After Japan he managed a Thrift Drug Store for seven years in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, it was downtown in the center square/park area. He moved back to Pittsburgh after this to manage a pharmacy in Carlton House Hotel (the building was imploded in 1980) and take additional classes at Pitt. About two years after working at the Carlton his wife, Roda, noticed an advertisement in the Pittsburgh Press for a County Pharmacist and he applied. This is when “all hell broke loose” as he stated, because the paper advertised the job in the men’s section and the National Organization of Women brought a sex discrimination lawsuit against the Press. The lawsuit went all the way to the Supreme Court in 1973, which ruled in favor of Pittsburgh City ordinance that stated jobs could not be gendered in the newspaper. Jonas still received the job once the lawsuit was settled. He stayed in this position for around 12 years and then moved up to a position as one of the county district managers (there were six districts at this time). He attempted retirement three times before it stuck.

Related institution Allegheny County Health Department

Previous owner Stanton Jonas (born 1929)

Related institution Taylor Allderdice High School

Related institution University of Pittsburgh

Related institution United States Air Force

Related institution Thrift Drug Company

Related institution Carlton House (founded 1952)

Related institution The Pittsburgh Press

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