Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt was Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s first Black librarian and worked at CLP from 1944-1949.  In addition to her pioneering work as a librarian, Hewitt loved, collected, and generously shared art and supported African American artists and collectors. As the introduction to her autobiography notes, Hewitt and her husband “saw art collecting as a way to create a public resource that would educate and engage others to appreciate and collect art.” While Hewitt’s rich and dynamic legacy—as well as her Pittsburgh and CLP ties—have been celebrated locally, nationally, and internationally, the Library has the opportunity to shape a series of initiatives in her name that we hope will add to her lasting impact.

The goal of these initiatives is to honor the work, legacy, and leadership of Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt by increasing CLP’s resources and capacity related to the following:

• Celebrating Black culture and the legacy of Black librarianship;
• Cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment for BIPOC staff and community members;
• And co-creating with community practices that increase accessibility to the library and the field of librarianship.

As an initial step in the development of this work, CLP participated in Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh, a multi-organization, juried art exhibition of art focused on expanding diversity consciousness and celebrating minoritized cultures and perspectives. Throughout February 2024, the Library shared the works of artists featured in Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh in our Main, Hill District, and Hazelwood branches.  

Additionally, CLP is pleased to offer each first-place Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh winner a three-month artist residency at one of our twenty locations centered on their various disciplines: visual, literary, performance and interdisciplinary art. The purpose of this project is to develop a community-based artist in residence series that will help CLP build collaboration with diverse artists, serve our communities well, and create additional justice-centered art experiences in branches.

The Library looks forward to welcoming the four artists in residence from late March through early June, with closing showcases in June. Our initial cohort of residences will be located at CLP-Main, CLP-East Liberty, CLP-Homewood, and CLP-Hill District. The artists include:

Cerrina Hagood is a dedicated artist committed to amplifying diverse voices and perspectives in the realm of filmmaking. With a passion for storytelling, Cerrina delves into narratives that give voice to marginalized communities.  

Mita Ghosal’s choreography utilizes tools from Contemporary Dance, Yoga, Theatre and familial and ancestral histories to guide her in artistic craft. Her work has been presented in New York, Los Angeles and her hometown of Pittsburgh through numerous professional venues. 

Emily Carlson is an adjunct poetry teacher at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 and directs Art in the Garden, an LGBTQ+ led, joy-centered arts and ecology program that addresses the impacts of childhood adversity and trauma. Their award winning poetry collections include Why Misread a Cloud,  and I Have a Teacher. 

Lee Price is a visual artist who takes inspiration from American cartoons, anime and the raw energy of graffiti street art. These influences add an urban, dynamic edge to the artworks, making each piece a statement in the intersection of culture and creativity. 

Finally, this April, during National Library Week, April 7 – 13, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is proud to announce the establishment of the annual Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt Lecture. The inaugural lecture will be presented in the CLP – Main Lecture Hall on Tuesday, April 9 via livestream by Dr. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, nominated to the position by President Barack Obama in 2016. Dr. Hayden, is the first woman and first African American to lead the national library. All attendees are invited to attend a reception following the lecture featuring hands-on activities and opportunities to learn about CLP’s career exploration resources.