Thursday, October 17

4:00 p.m. - Doors Open, Materials on Display / 4:30 - Program Starts

Archives & Special Collections Instruction Room, 340 Hillman Library

Free and open to the public.

RSVP below

Archives & Special Collections (A&SC) within the University Library System (ULS) is pleased to announce the opening of two recently acquired photograph collections by father (Frank Russell Hightower) and son (Frank Floyd Hightower). The photos of Pittsburgh-born Frank Russell document the activities of community organizations like the Urban League, the Pittsburgh chapter of the NAACP, the Catholic Diocese, and several local churches as well as professional portraits and weddings of the African American community from the 1940s through 1990s. His son, Frank Floyd, followed in his footsteps to also become a professional photographer as well as a playwright and artist. His photos from the 1960s to the present document Black Theater in Pittsburgh, including the work of August Wilson, Rob Penny, Bob Johnson, Maisha Baton and Hightower himself. Community activities such as Black arts festivals and meetings held by community organizations like the Manchester Citizen’s Corporation are also documented. Like his father, Frank worked as a professional portrait and wedding photographer too. As a whole, these collections provide a remarkable visual representation of the African American community in Pittsburgh over eight decades.

Miriam Meislik (A&SC Media Curator) will host a conversation with Frank Floyd Hightower to talk about his career and highlight significant photographs over the decades, including those taken by his father. Dr. Larry Glasco, Associate Professor of History, will provide comments about the Hightower collections and their place in Pittsburgh history. An exhibition will be on display during the event featuring the archives of both photographers. 

Hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Library System, in partnership with the Department of History. 

Hillman Library is located at 3960 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Free on-street parking is available after 6:00 p.m. on various streets surrounding the library. Paid parking is also available at Soldiers & Sailors Parking Garage (.2 miles from the library). Hillman is also accessible by public transportation. See the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website for planning your trip. 

The entrance to the library is located at the Forbes Avenue address, accessed by a ramp leading from street level to the First Floor plaza. Sidewalks around the library are closed as part of library renovation; follow signs to library entrance.

Please email uls-events@pitt.edu with any questions or accessibility accommodation requests.

RSVP