The African American Collection, comprised of archives and museum artifacts located at the History Center, is dedicated to the preservation, dissemination, and interpretation of the life, history, and culture of Africans and African Americans in Western Pennsylvania.
In addition to the institutional operations, the African American Collection has a council of dedicated community volunteers, the African American Advisory Council, that assists with educational and public programming and serves as the History Center’s liaison to the African American community of Western Pennsylvania.
Mission Statement
The African American Collections are dedicated to the preservation, dissemination and interpretation of the life, history, and culture of Africans and African Americans in Western Pennsylvania.
This work is accomplished through research, artifact and archival collecting, consulting, educational programming, exhibitions, and public outreach.
The emphasis of the African American Collection is to collect historically and culturally significant materials written, owned, generated by, created, used and/or related to African American people, living or deceased.
To donate materials to the African American Collection, please contact Samuel W. Black, director of African American Programs, at 412-454-6391 or swblack@heinzhistorycenter.org.