Schomburg Center Celebrates 100 Years of Black Culture and History

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located in Harlem and part of the New York Public Library, is marking its 100th anniversary. Established from the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, an Afro-Puerto Rican bibliophile who was once told that Black individuals lacked history, the center now boasts over 11 million items related to the African diaspora. The New York Public Library acquired Schomburg's library of 4,600 pieces in 1926. Current exhibitions include '100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity' (May 8, 2025 – June 30, 2026) and 'To Uncover and Reveal to the World' (running until December 5, 2026). The Schomburg's items are also part of the NYPL's 'Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond' exhibit at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building until January 10, 2027. Significant collections feature works by Harlem Renaissance artist Augusta Savage, over 840 boxes of Maya Angelou's manuscripts, and a small Qu'ran from the Ottoman Empire lent to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his inauguration. Curator Tammi Lawson has notably enhanced the collection of Black women artists, making the Schomburg the largest public repository of Savage's works. Additionally, the staff has curated a centennial playlist of 100 songs, including Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit.' Director Joy Bivins highlights the importance of understanding Black history as essential to grasping U.S. history.