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History Of Pittsburgh Courier Chronicled In New Exhibit

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Heinz History Center will showcase a new exhibit honoring the Pittsburgh Courier's 100 years of service to the African-American community.

Samuel W. Black is the curator of African-American collections at the Heinz History Center.

The exhibit is called America's Best Weekly: A Century of the Pittsburgh Courier. It will chronicle the history of the newspaper from 1910 to present and its impact on Pittsburgh.

Researchers dug deep and plan to unveil some new information about the founding of the paper.

"This paper was a real crusader for Black equality – everything from World War I to anti-lynching campaigns," Black explained.

The paper was printed in the city on Center Avenue and in the 1940's employed more than 400 people.

The Courier wasn't just read locally.

"The Pullman porters helped distribute the newspaper especially through southern states," Black said. "These papers were not welcomed in those states and were often times were confiscated and destroyed to keep African-Americans from reading newspapers."

"This is very indicative of the Pittsburgh Courier as being a real chronicler of African-American history," he added.

The exhibit will be open to the public from Feb. 11 through Oct. 2.

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