Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864), known as "the father of American music", was an American songwriter known primarily for his parlor and minstrel music. Foster wrote over 200 songs; among his best-known are "Oh! Susanna," "Hard Times Come Again No More," "Camptown Races," "Old Folks at Home" ("Way Down Upon the Swanee River"), "My Old Kentucky Home," "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," and "Beautiful Dreamer."

The Foster Hall Collection, the principal repository for materials related to Stephen Foster, is housed in the Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh.

Center for American Music

106A Stephen Foster Memorial

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: 412-624-4100

Email: kmill@pitt.edu

by appointment only