Charles “Teenie” Harris, an African American photographer, worked for the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the nation’s most influential Black newspapers.  Over several decades, predominantly from the 1920s to the 1960s, Harris photographed the daily life and major events of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, as well as important people and events in Pittsburgh history. Recently, the Carnegie Museum of Art acquired over 80,000 images representing much of Teenie’s professional career. Currently, museum staff is in the process of scanning the images and gathering information about the photographs from the community at large.

Through a partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Art, WT has access to the complete Teenie Harris photographic archive; there are 60,000 images currently catalogued. This wealth of work will be used to further the understanding of Harris’s work and provide an enriched understanding of Pittsburgh history by third grade classes at both campuses. Third grade teachers plan to develop an art and photographic component to the established Pittsburgh unit. Upper School photo classes will have an opportunity to do projects based on his work  and all art classes will have an opportunity to view Harris’ photography in a gallery show of his work. Student work will be added to the exhibit as it is completed.

The Teenie Harris Art Show, consisting of 42 prints of Harris’s work, will be in the Art Gallery through April 5.

There will be an opening reception on March 10 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.