Ralph Proctor was born in the historic HILL DISTRICT of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. This was the largest Black enclave in the city and rivaled New York's Greenwich Village as an entertainment venue open to people of all backgrounds. He is a veteran of the United States Army. He was an active participant in the Southern and Pittsburgh-based Civil Rights Movement. He was a pioneer in the use of Oral History and used it as the basis for his PHD dissertation, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. He held an earned PHD from the University of Pittsburgh and was a nationally-known collector and lecturer in African Art. He was among the first Black producer/hosts of one of several local Black-oriented television shows that first aired during the turbulent 1960's. The program was called BLACK HORIZONS and aired on WQED, the Pittsburgh PBS station. He has also been the producer/host of other local television and radio programs in Pittsburgh.
Proctor has been a professor/lecturer at a number of local institutions of higher learning, including the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Carlow University, Chatham University, LaRoche College and Carnegie-Mellon University. A former Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Community College of Allegheny County, he was also a professor of Ethnic and Diversity Studies at CCAC. He received numerous awards for his community involvement including two Lifetime Achievement Awards. Dr. Proctor passed away on February 2, 2024.
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Racial Discrimination Against Black Teachers and Professionals in the Pittsburgh Public School System 1834-1973 by 
Voices from the FIring Line: A Personal Account of the Pittsburgh Civil Rights Movement. 3rd Edition by 
Song of the Hill: Life, Love, Legacy by 
