Stephen Foster Memorial

Infobox nrhp
name = Stephen Collins Foster Memorial
nrhp_type = cp

---

imagesize = 300px
caption = Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh.
location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 40
lat_minutes = 26
lat_seconds = 37.59
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 79
long_minutes = 57
long_seconds = 9.68
long_direction = W
area = Schenley Farms Historic District
built = 1937
architect = Charles Klauder
architecture = Gothic Revival
added = July 22, 1983cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-09|accessdate=2008-03-12|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 83002213
governing_body = University of Pittsburgh

Stephen Collins Foster Memorial is a Pennsylvania state and Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historical Landmark [http://www.flickr.com/photos/arejay/397259024/in/pool-phlf/] [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/DOH/markerresults.asp?secid=31&namesearch=Stephen+C.+Foster+Memorial&Submit=Search+by+Marker+Title] and is a contributing property to the Schenley Farms National Historic District [http://www.arch.state.pa.us/pdfs/H050656_01B.pdf] [http://mac10.umc.pitt.edu/u/FMPro?-db=ustory&-format=d.html&-lay=a&-sortfield=issueid%3a%3aissuedate&-sortorder=descend&keywords=bellefield%20hall&-max=50&-recid=38544&-find=] along Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

It houses the Stephen Foster Memorial Museum, the Center for American Music, as well as two theatres: the 478-seat Charity Randall Theatre and 151-seat Henry Heymann Theatre, performance spaces for Pitt's Department of Theatre Arts. The left wing of the building houses the University of Pittsburgh's Foster collection, including manuscripts, several musical instruments, including one of Foster's pianos; copies of over 200 of his musical compositions, examples of recordings, songsters, broadside, programs, various memorabilia, and books. [http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?xc=1;g=imls;sid=f3e36cbef4eb6bab58c122aaec63ff65;q1=oakland;rgn1=dc_su;size=20;lasttype=boolean;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;subview=detail;cc=trim;entryid=x-msp80.b003.f09.i02;viewid=TRIM1502.TIF;start=341;resnum=353]

It is one of two buildings, the other being Heinz Memorial Chapel, designed by Charles Klauder to accompany his Cathedral of Learning. The building was conceived and initiated by the Tuesday Musical Club as a tribute to Pittsburgh native and composer Stephen Collins Foster. The building was completed in 1937.

In 2003, a $2 million renovation of the Stephen Foster Memorial was completed. Seating and lighting in the Charity Randall Theatre was reconditioned replicating the intimate grandeur and features of the original Foster auditorium, including the restored 1930s seats that are identical to those first installed New York's Radio City Music Hall. [http://www.play.pitt.edu/about/facilities.html] In addition, state-of-the-art sound, lighting and production equipment was added. Lobby improvements included memorabilia from the life of Fred Kelly, an influential choreographer and television producer/director and older brother to Gene Kelly. The lobby also commemorates outstanding Pitt Theater alumni who are recipients of theatre-arts department's annual Fred Kelly Award. [http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20030330randall3.asp]

References

*cite book | author=Alberts, Robert C. | title=Pitt: The Story of the University of Pittsburgh 1787-1987 | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press | year=1987 | id=ISBN 0-8229-1150-7
*cite book | author=Kidney, Walter C. | title=Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation | year=1997 | id=ISBN 0-916670-18-X

External links

[
thumb|right|100px|Stephen Foster]
* [http://www.pitt.edu/~amerimus/museum.htm Center For American Music homepage]
* [http://www.pitt.edu/~play/ University of Pittsburgh Department of Theatre Arts]
* [http://www.pitt.edu/~play/facilities.htm Stephen Foster Memorial Facilities]

Panoramic tours
* [http://www.library.pitt.edu/images/tours/fostermainroom.mov Stephen Foster Museum Main Room]
* [http://www.library.pitt.edu/images/tours/fosterreadingroom.mov Foster Hall Reading Room]

Gallery