Smithsonian Lecture Series: Freedom Seekers
Join us for the next installment of the Smithsonian Lecture Series.
Join the Heinz History Center on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the enduring history of freedom, resistance, and the pursuit of justice by African Americans.
The program, presented in partnership with the Smithsonian and America250PA, will feature renowned curator Mary Elliott from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, and Samuel W Black, director of the History Center’s Museum of African American History and curator of the acclaimed exhibition, From Slavery to Freedom.
Elliott and Black will explore how changing laws, landscapes, and social movements transformed ideas of freedom over time, and the critical role African Americans played in influencing the nation’s understanding of liberty.
The program will highlight Western Pennsylvania’s unique place in this history as both a destination and a crossroads for freedom seekers, and how our region’s history continues shape conversations about civil rights and freedom today.
Guests are encouraged to explore the History Center’s long-term exhibition, From Slavery to Freedom, before the program. The immersive exhibition traces highlights the enslavement of Africans and its impact on the American economy, the history of the anti-slavery movement, the Underground Railroad, and the impact of 19th-century activism on the modern quest for civil and human rights in Pittsburgh.
Admission
Tickets are $10 for non-members and $5 for members.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available upon request. Please contact us at [email protected] in advance to request accommodations.
About the Speaker
Mary Elliott, Curator, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Mary Elliott is the Curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), where she co-curated the museum’s inaugural exhibition, “Slavery and Freedom.” In addition, Elliott co-conceptualized and served as the inaugural curator and content developer for NMAAHC’s digital initiative, the Searchable Museum and was the lead community engagement coordinator for the Slave Wrecks Project in St. Croix, USVI, and Africatown, AL.
With over 30 years of experience in researching and presenting African American history and culture, Elliott is a respected figure whose work spans multiple cultural mediums. She has served as an elected Council member of the American Historical Association and as chair of the Smithsonian Congress of Scholars. She is a contributing writer for the Smithsonian and The Metropolitan Museum of Art publications, and her work has been featured in major media outlets, documentary films, and publications, including the New York Times “1619 Project”, where she curated and authored the Broadsheet section. She is frequently invited to speak at universities such as Harvard, Northwestern, and Howard, as well as institutions worldwide.
Mary is a graduate of Howard University and the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.
America250PA and Lecture250
This program is part of the History Center’s year-long commemoration of the U.S. Semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, in partnership with America250PA.
The Lecture250 Series, hosted at partner locations across the Commonwealth in 2026, examines the forces that shaped Pennsylvania’s role in the American story—from the founding ideals of independence and equality to the development of industry, culture, community identity, and global connections. Each event will include a public discussion following the lecture to deepen civic engagement and invite community reflection.
Heinz History Center programs commemorating America’s 250th anniversary are supported by Nimick Forbesway Foundation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Visit PA, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) .
