Arthur Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture
Encyclopedia
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a research library
and archive for information on people of African descent worldwide. Located in the Harlem
section of Manhattan
, it is a part of the New York Public Library
and is open to both scholars and other visitors.
The Center is located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard. It contains art, manuscripts, films, books and photographs. As of early 2010, the institution received 120,000 visitors a year. In addition to research services, the center hosts readings, theater and other types of performances.
In April 2010, Howard Dodson
, the director since 1984, announced he would retire in early 2011. Khalil Gibran Muhammad
, a former professor of history at the Indiana University
, and great-grandson of Elijah Muhammad was announced as Dodson's replacement.
, documents signed by Toussaint L'Ouverture
and a signed, first edition of a book of poems by Phillis Wheatley
. The center contains collections of archival material of Melville J. Herskovits
, John Henrick Clarke, Lorraine Hansberry
, Malcolm X
and Nat King Cole
.
, was added to the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints of the 135th Street Branch of The New York Public Library." Schomburg was curator of the collection from 1932 to his death in 1938. According to Dodson, Schomburg wanted to demonstrate through the collection that black people had a rich history and culture. In 1940 the collection was renamed in Schomburg's honor, and it continued growing afterward. In 1972 the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture was designated as one of New York Public Library's official research libraries.
In 1984, Dodson became the director. During his time as head of the institution, as of 2010, the Schomburg's collection grew from 5 million to 10 million items, and the center acquired the collections of Herskovits, John Henrick Clarke, Hansberry, Malcolm X and Nat King Cole. A scholars-in-residence program started at the center in 1986. In 2000, the Schomburg Center held an exhibition titled "Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery", which later went on tour around the world for more than a decade under the sponsorship of Unesco
's Slave Route Project. The center held an exhibition of letters, photographs and other material related to Malcolm X in 2005. In 2007, the building was renovated and expanded in an $11 million project. From 1984 to 2010, attendance grew threefold, to 120,000 visitors a year. Dodson said that when he first became the director, the Schomburg Center was known mostly to scholars but had become more of a cultural center visited by tourists, schoolchildren and others.
For eight years in the 2001-2010 decade, the center operated a 25-week "Junior Scholars" program for 11- to 17-year-olds in which they learned about black culture and history and met accomplished people. The program ended due to lack of funds.
Research library
A research library is a library which contains an in-depth collection of material on one or several subjects . A research library will generally include primary sources as well as secondary sources...
and archive for information on people of African descent worldwide. Located in the Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
section of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, it is a part of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
and is open to both scholars and other visitors.
The Center is located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard. It contains art, manuscripts, films, books and photographs. As of early 2010, the institution received 120,000 visitors a year. In addition to research services, the center hosts readings, theater and other types of performances.
In April 2010, Howard Dodson
Howard Dodson
Howard Dodson, Jr is the long-time director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.Dodson grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania where his family had moved from Virginia. His parents worked blue collar jobs in construction and textiles...
, the director since 1984, announced he would retire in early 2011. Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Khalil Gibran Muhammad, PhD, a native of Chicago’s South Side, is the Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library...
, a former professor of history at the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, and great-grandson of Elijah Muhammad was announced as Dodson's replacement.
Collection
The center's collection includes a rare recording of a speech by Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
, documents signed by Toussaint L'Ouverture
Toussaint L'Ouverture
François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture , also Toussaint Bréda, Toussaint-Louverture was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. His military genius and political acumen led to the establishment of the independent black state of Haiti, transforming an entire society of slaves into a free,...
and a signed, first edition of a book of poems by Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was the first African American poet and first African-American woman whose writings were published. Born in Gambia, Senegal, she was sold into slavery at age seven...
. The center contains collections of archival material of Melville J. Herskovits
Melville J. Herskovits
Melville Jean Herskovits was an American anthropologist who firmly established African and African American studies in American academia. The son of Jewish immigrants, he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago in 1923 and obtained his Master's and Ph.D...
, John Henrick Clarke, Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry was an African American playwright and author of political speeches, letters, and essays...
, Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
and Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
.
History
According to the Schomburg Center's website, "The Center's collections first won international acclaim in 1926 when the personal collection of the distinguished Puerto Rican-born Black scholar and bibliophile, Arturo Alfonso SchomburgArturo Alfonso Schomburg
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, a.k.a. as Arthur Schomburg, , was a Puerto Rican historian, writer, and activist in the United States who researched and raised awareness of the great contributions that Afro-Latin Americans and Afro-Americans have made to society. He was an important intellectual figure...
, was added to the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints of the 135th Street Branch of The New York Public Library." Schomburg was curator of the collection from 1932 to his death in 1938. According to Dodson, Schomburg wanted to demonstrate through the collection that black people had a rich history and culture. In 1940 the collection was renamed in Schomburg's honor, and it continued growing afterward. In 1972 the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture was designated as one of New York Public Library's official research libraries.
In 1984, Dodson became the director. During his time as head of the institution, as of 2010, the Schomburg's collection grew from 5 million to 10 million items, and the center acquired the collections of Herskovits, John Henrick Clarke, Hansberry, Malcolm X and Nat King Cole. A scholars-in-residence program started at the center in 1986. In 2000, the Schomburg Center held an exhibition titled "Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery", which later went on tour around the world for more than a decade under the sponsorship of Unesco
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's Slave Route Project. The center held an exhibition of letters, photographs and other material related to Malcolm X in 2005. In 2007, the building was renovated and expanded in an $11 million project. From 1984 to 2010, attendance grew threefold, to 120,000 visitors a year. Dodson said that when he first became the director, the Schomburg Center was known mostly to scholars but had become more of a cultural center visited by tourists, schoolchildren and others.
For eight years in the 2001-2010 decade, the center operated a 25-week "Junior Scholars" program for 11- to 17-year-olds in which they learned about black culture and history and met accomplished people. The program ended due to lack of funds.