100 Years of the Schomburg Center
This year, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding! A national landmark and world-renowned research center located in the heart of Harlem, the Schomburg Center stewards a collection of 11 million items and is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of Black history and culture.
Join us all year long for a wide array of special events, exhibitions, and more as we celebrate this milestone and continue the legacy of Arturo Schomburg.
Centennial Festival | Exhibition | Book Giveaway | Special-Edition Library Card
In 1925, The New York Public Library opened the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints—the forerunner to today’s Schomburg Center—as a special collection of the 135th Street Library. The division grew greatly the following year with the purchase of the personal collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, the distinguished Puerto Rican–born Black scholar and bibliophile. Schomburg had spent decades collecting books, manuscripts, and art that illustrated Black contributions to global history.
Today’s Schomburg Center is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the preservation and study of materials focused on African American, African Diasporic, and African experiences. Its wide-ranging collections illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture, and continue the tradition of its namesake.
Schomburg Centennial Festival
Sat, Jun 14 | 11 AM–7 PM
Join us at 135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem for the official Schomburg Centennial Festival! This daylong celebration will feature authors, creators, and artists including Roxane Gay, David Crownson, Vinson Cunningham, Glory Edim, Imani Perry, Ibi Zoboi, Kiese Laymon, Chukwuebuka Ibeh, and more. Plus, don’t miss our old-school block party featuring DJ D-Nice, Slick Rick, and The Soapbox Presents, and more.
Note: In the case of significant rain, indoor programming will continue as planned and some outdoor programs will be moved inside to the Schomburg Center (515 Malcolm X Blvd.) and Countee Cullen Library (104 W. 136th Street). Other programs and activities may be rescheduled for a later date. Please see our Centennial Festival site for additional updates on Saturday.
100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity
Now on View
Join us for a major new exhibition showcasing some of the many extraordinary items from the Schomburg Center’s collections! Curated by Schomburg Center Director Joy L. Bivins, the exhibition surrounds visitors with the sights, sounds, and objects that have shaped this historic institution’s first century.
Centennial Exhibition Audio Guide
Hear the story of the Schomburg Center as told by its staff in the audio guide for 100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity. Hosted by actor, director, and author LeVar Burton, the guide explores the incredible objects in the Schomburg’s collections, librarians and curators who left their mark, and how the Schomburg Center became a world-renowned steward of Black history. Listen and explore more with our full guide on Bloomberg Connects.
Bloomberg Connects is developed by Bloomberg Philanthropies and is not owned or operated by NYPL. See privacy policy below.
Centennial Celebrations: Be the First to Know & Register for Events
We’re celebrating the Schomburg Center’s 100th anniversary all year long! Be the first to know about everything coming up, including programs, exhibitions, events, and more.
Discover the Past, Define the Future
Celebrate 100 years of the Schomburg Center—from the establishment of its roots in Harlem in 1925, through the expansion of its collections to over 11 million items today.
Book Giveaway for Kids!
Pick up your own copy of Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library to take home! Featured on our "It Happened in Harlem: Recommended Reading" list, this picture book tells the story of the man who established one of the world’s most extensive collections of books, music, and art documenting the experience of the African Diaspora: Arturo Schomburg. Get one at a branch near you—while supplies last!
It Happened in Harlem: Recommended Reading
Explore a new list of recommended books for all ages to learn more about the extraordinary moment in time a century ago when Harlem became the epicenter of global Black culture. Selected by Schomburg Center staff, the books on this list reflect on life in Harlem, key figures of the Harlem Renaissance, and the Schomburg Center’s collections.
Available Now! Special-Edition Schomburg Centennial Library Card
Take home a piece of history with a special-edition library card commemorating 100 years of the Schomburg Center! The card features imagery from Rivers, the brass cosmogram and public art installation located in the Schomburg Center’s lobby that honors both Arturo Schomburg and poet Langston Hughes.
This card gives you access to the Schomburg Center’s collections—and everything NYPL has to offer! Available at all NYPL locations—apply online to get started.
Watch Now: Schomburg Centennial Kickoff Celebrations
On May 8, Centennial festivities officially kicked off 100 years to the day after the opening of the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints at the 135th Street Library. Experience the historic day by tuning in to a series of conversations about the past and future of the Schomburg, Black placemaking in Harlem, and an iconic Schomburg moment between Dr. Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka.
New for Educators! Arturo A. Schomburg’s Life & Legacy: Curriculum Guide
Part of a series from the Schomburg Center in partnership with NYPL’s Center for Educators and Schools, dive into the life and legacy of Arturo A. Schomburg with our latest curriculum guide for educators.
Designed to support educators in teaching Black history, experience, and culture through the Schomburg Center’s collections, themes of this curriculum series include the Black Power movement and Black activism, slavery and abolition, and Black women’s stories.
Explore the History of the Schomburg Center
Go back in time to learn about the first 100 years of the Schomburg Center, from its origins through the present day.
Who Was Arturo Schomburg?
Arturo Schomburg was a collector of books and manuscripts pertaining to Black history and culture whose collection formed the basis of the Schomburg Center. Learn more about his life, career, and collections.
Digital Schomburg
Experience the Schomburg Center's vast collections through a wide array of specially curated online zines, digital exhibitions, minute-histories, and more—featuring digitized collection items that are available for everyone to enjoy.
Visit the Schomburg Center
Open to the public Monday–Saturday, the Schomburg Center is both a home for researchers and a cultural institution hosting programs, events, exhibitions, and more. Please note that division hours may vary, and some research divisions require or recommend an appointment.
Discover Schomburg Center Events
From film screenings and performances to author talks and community conversations, explore all events happening this season at the Schomburg Center.
The Schomburg Center Through the Years
1 of 14 Slides
The Schomburg Center Digital Guide
Delve deeper into the Schomburg Center’s world-renowned research collections, diverse exhibitions, and resources with our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects. Explore Arturo Schomburg’s writings, take a self-guided tour of the building, and discover more highlights. Use the free app or web version to explore the Schomburg Center on site, or from anywhere!
Please note: Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile application. See privacy notice below. Photo by Manuel Inoa.
Collection Highlights
1 of 10 Slides
Get Updates from the Schomburg Center
Don’t miss the latest news, events, and programs during the Schomburg Center’s special centennial year. Sign up to receive updates straight to your inbox!
Support the Schomburg Center
Are you passionate about the Schomburg Center’s mission to celebrate and preserve Black culture and history? Join the Schomburg Society today for discounts, invitations to exclusive Centennial events, and more. Receive a limited-edition Centennial tote when you join.
Schomburg Shop
Shop our selection of books, gift items, and more in person or online! All purchases support the Schomburg Center.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Leadership support for the Schomburg Center's Centennial is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Andreas C. Dracopoulos.
Additional support is provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, and The Fullgraf Foundation.
The Home to Harlem Initiative is made possible by the Mellon Foundation.
Privacy Notice
Bloomberg Connects is developed by Bloomberg Philanthropies and is not owned or operated by NYPL. We encourage you to review the Bloomberg Connects privacy policy here or on the Bloomberg Connects app on your mobile device. If you download the app, we also encourage you to review its specific privacy settings, found in the “Settings” menu on your mobile device.
For more information about NYPL’s third-party partners and vendors in general, please see Section 3 of NYPL's Privacy Policy describing “Third-Party Library Services Providers.”