PITTSBURGH (PTTP) — Hillman Library is hosting an archive dedicated to the life of renowned playwright August Wilson. The family of the late playwright contributed artifacts, records, and documents to create a collection that dives deep into his life and his work. Some of the featured displays include his handwritten notes, letters, sketches, photographs, awards, and more. The archive also features a digital interactive display that connects settings in August Wilson’s plays to their corresponding locations in Pittsburgh.
The acquisition of these resources is a great step forward for the university. It will serve as a resource for students and the Pittsburgh community at large.
“The end goal is to share this collection as broadly as possible, whether that’s with the Pitt community, the students and faculty here, whether that’s the broader community of Pittsburgh, or internationally,” said Bill Daw, curator of the Curtis Theatre Collection.
This archive represents Pittsburgh’s Hill District on an international level as its history lives on in August Wilson’s works. His plays capture its authentic and vibrant cultural voice as it evolved through the 20th century.
August Wilson Outreach and Engagement Curator Diael Thomas said that “For the people in the Hill District to be able to recognize themselves in his plays, to be able to have access to these materials, to see it celebrated, to see it brought to them, I think it’s really powerful.”
The August Wilson Archive is open on the third floor of the Hillman Library, accessible to students and the public. Learn more about the collection in person or online at https://augustwilson.library.pitt.edu/index.html