LEFT: CHARLES “TEENIE” HARRIS, PHOTO VIA HEINZ FAMILY FUND, © 2006 CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART | RIGHT: ROGER HUMPHRIES, PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Two Black Pittsburgh artists — Charles “Teenie” Harris and Roger Humphries — have been recognized with permanent tributes in the city. 

The late photographer Harris captured Black history through his pictures of everyday life. Most of his images were shot for The Pittsburgh Courier — at one time the most widely circulated Black newspaper in the country — over several decades in the mid-20th century. These images are housed in the permanent collection of the Carnegie Museum of Art. 

On Friday, Sept. 27, Preservation Pittsburgh honored Harris posthumously with a state historical marker erected outside his former house in Homewood where he lived for decades. His darkroom was in his basement. 

PRESERVATION PITTSBURGH ERECTED THIS SIGN IN FRONT OF 7604 MULFORD ST. IN HOMEWOOD, TEENIE HARRIS’ FORMER HOME. | PHOTO BY SONE EKUKOLE-SONE

Dozens of onlookers attended the short ceremony outside the house on Mulford Street, including Harris’ children who had grown up in the now-vacant, two-story structure. 

Charlene Foggie-Barnett, community archivist for the Carnegie Harris Collection, was quoted by WESA-FM: “If it weren’t for Tennie, a lot of our stories as African Americans would not have been possible. His images are the proof of the African American existence in the country, especially in Teenie’s era.” 

Harris was born in 1908 and died at age 89 in 1998.

His photos documented celebrations like birthday parties and parades, sports events like baseball games and political rallies, protests, church events and more.

Matthew Falcone, president of Preservation Pittsburgh, a community-based advocacy organization, said the historical marker is the group’s first step in gaining historical landmark status for Harris’ former home, according to the WESA report.

Jazz artist Roger Humphries was honored with a different kind of tribute — the City of Pittsburgh renamed a North Side street after him. 

Pittsburghers know they’re in for a treat when they see Humphries sitting behind the drum. The Pittsburgh native has been drumming since the age of 3. On Friday, Sept. 27, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey re-named East Jefferson Street in the Mexican War Streets as Roger Humphries Way. The ceremony occurred at the intersection of East Jefferson and Arch streets.

A NEW STREET SIGN HONORS JAZZ ARTIST ROGER HUMPHRIES IN THE MEXICAN WAR STREETS. | PHOTO BY SONE EKOKOLE-SONE

Humphries, 80, has toured the world and provided rhythm for the likes of Ray Charles, Stanley Turrentine, Dizzy Gillespie, Dwayne Dolphin and dozens of other jazz artists. 

He’s a former teacher at Pittsburgh CAPA and has formed ensembles including Roger Humphries & the RH Factor Band and the Roger Humphries Big Band. 

Roger Humphries was born on Jan. 30, 1944, the youngest of 10 children and was raised on Pittsburgh’s North Side. He never took drum lessons, but he learned by listening. 

When he was 12, his uncle introduced him to another legendary Pittsburgh drummer Art Blakely. Humpries became a regular performer in Hill District jazz clubs, turning professional by the age of 14. 

When Humphries was 16, he achieved the distinction of leading a quartet at the proverbial Carnegie Hall. He went on to form his jazz group called R.H. Factor, which has become a fixture on the Pittsburgh jazz scene.