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Voices of the Harlem Renaissance within the Schomburg Center: Schomburg Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division Materials

This guide will navigate researchers through materials documenting the Harlem Renaissance at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

The Schomburg Center's Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division

The Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture provides access to primary source materials created by and about Black people. This page will highlight collections and rare books created during the Harlem Renaissance. 

Personal Papers

Still photograph of Arturo Schomburg

Arthur Alfonso Schomburg

Arthur Alfonso Schomburg papers 1724- 1939 Sc Micro R-2798

Arthur Schomburg Papers additions SC MG 952

Artur Schomburg Collection SC MG 41

Arturo (Arthur) Schomburg Research Guide

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Portrait of Arthur Alfonso Schomburg, bibliophile" New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Still photo of Augusta Savage admiring an art sculpture

Augusta Savage

Augusta Savage Papers SC MG 731

Augusta Savage Research Guide

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Augusta Savage with her sculpture "Realization"" New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Image of Claude McKay looking to the left

Claude McKay

Claude McKay Letters and Manuscripts SC MG 19 / Sc Micro R-1233

Claude McKay Collection (Additions) SC MG 623

Claude McKay Research Collection SC MG 750

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, The New York Public Library. "Claude McKay." New York Public Library Digital Collections. 

Publicity portrait of Fredi Washington for the play

Fredi Washington

Fredi Washington Papers Sc Micro R-5002

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Publicity portrait of Fredi Washington for the play "Mamba's Daughters" New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Still portrait photo of Gwendolyn Bennet

Gwendolyn Bennett

Gwendolyn Bennet Papers SC MG 77/ Sc Micro R-4846

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Gwendolyn Bennett" New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Still portrait photo of Regina Andres

Regina Andrews

Regina Andrews Papers SC MG 275

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Portrait of Regina Andrews" New York Public Library Digital Collections. 

Photo of Langston Hughes smiling and looking at the camera

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes collection SC Micro-977

Langston Hughes collection : additions SC MG 129

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Portrait of writer Langston Hughes with his typewriter" New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Image of a man sitting down playing the piano and a second man leaning on the edge of the piano

Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson collection: Sc MG 170; Sc Micro R-5956

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Paul Robeson, accompanied by pianist Lawrence Brown, in Moscow, Soviet Union" New York Public Library Digital Collections. 

Image of three people sitting down at a round table. Two women on the left and a man on the right

Schuyler family papers

Schuyler family papers Sc MG 63; MssCol 21140

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Philippa, Josephine and George Schuyler at home, playing dominoes, circa mid-1940s." New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Rare Periodicals

The following Black Periodicals were written and created during the Harlem Renaissance and have volumes available to view in the reading room.

Black Opals

The Crisis: A Record of the Darker Races

The Crusader

Fire!!: Devoted to younger Negro Artists

Harlem: a forum of Negro life

Harlem, Mecca of the New Negro

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, The New York Public Library. "Invincible music. The spirit of Africa" New York Public Library Digital Collections. 

Archival Materials in MARB

Some times, looking at a specific copy of a text can provide surprising and interesting insight to the life of the person who owned the book. In the case of the Schomburg Center, several of the books written and acquired during the Harlem Renaissance were given directly to Arturo Schomburg, who was well acquainted with the authors. Below are a few examples of texts that were personalized for Schomburg.

 

"To my dear friend, Arthur A. Schomburg, valued collaborator in this and other projects, Alain Leroy Locke. December 3, 19[25]

 

"For Arthur A. Schomburg, with deep appreciation of his zeal in the interest of Negro writers and Negro books. Sincerely, Countee Cullen." 

 

 "To Arthur A. Schomburg. For my good friend and co-worker in the bringing of Negro literature to the world's attention. With sincere regards, James Weldon Johnson. Sept. 9, 1935." 

 

"I write this after a very pleasant and profitable visit to the Schomburg Collection of Material relating to the Negro and his achievements in Literature and History. Aug. 7. 1934. Oscar Wegelin."

 

"For Arthur Schomburg, to whom every Negro writer is exceedingly indebted Eric Walrond. Sept. 21, 1926."