Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Locke, Alain, 1885-1954
2. Cunard, Nancy, 1896-1965

Description

1. .2 linear feet (1 box)

Summary

1. The Arthur Alfonso Schomburg Collection consists principally of nine undated typescripts authored by Schomburg primarily concerned with the history of Africans and people of African descent in Latin America and Spain from the 1500 to 1700's as well as in pre-Columbian times. One manuscript deals with ancient Egyptian culture; another pertains to the history of Africans in the Americas under Spanish rule; several are annotated. Two of the manuscripts, The negro brotherhood of Sevilla and Negroes in Sevilla, were published in Opportunity magazine. Versions of Cardinal Ximinez and Bishop Las Casas and The romance of corn are also present in the Arthur Alfonso Schomburg Papers. Additionally, there is a corrected typescript of Alain Lockes memorial essay on Schomburg written as a foreword to Negro history in outline, Schomburgs unpublished contribution to Lockes Bronze Booklet series, which Schomburg was working on when he died. There is also a brief biography of Schomburg and a list of Schomburg's memberships in various organizations.
2. The collection also contains material relating to Schomburgs life and family background, such as Schomburgs baptismal and death certificates, a Prince Hall Mason membership certificate, as well as a copy of a questionnaire completed by Schomburg concerning his family background. There is also genealogical research on the Schomburg family conducted by historian Herman Reichard on behalf of Susan Schomburg, a paternal relation of Arthur Schomburg; as well as correspondence from Arthur Schomburgs daughter, Dolores Schomburg Thomas, discussing her family history. Also present are two bookplates used by Arthur Schomburg featuring a Patrick Reason engraving, and a photocopy of a letter to Schomburg from British writer and activist Nancy Cunard discussing her book Negro: an anthology.

Donor/Sponsor

1. Home to Harlem Project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Alternative title

1. Legacy of Arthur Alfonso Schomburg: a celebration of the past, a vision for the future.

Subject

1. Schomburg, Arthur Alfonso, 1874-1938
2. To 1821
3. Puerto Ricans > New York (State) > New York > Biography
4. Book collectors > United States > Biography
5. Historians > United States > Biography
6. Librarians > United States > Biography
7. African diaspora
8. Africans > Spain > History
9. Africans > Central America > History
10. Book collectors
11. Civilization > African influences
12. Historians
13. Librarians
14. Puerto Ricans
15. Spain > History > 711-1516
16. Latin America > African influences
17. Central America > History > To 1821
18. Central America > Civilization > African influences
19. Egypt > Civilization > African influences
20. Central America
21. Egypt
22. Latin America
23. New York (State) > New York
24. Spain
25. United States

Genre/Form

1. Correspondence.
2. Genealogical research notes.
3. Typescripts.
4. Death certificates.
5. Baptismal certificates.
6. Marriage certificates.
7. Bookplates.
8. Biography.
9. History.

Call number

1. Sc MG 41

Note

1. Photographs transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

1. Acquired during preparation of 1986 exhibit, "The Legacy of Arthur Alfonso Schomburg: a celebration of the past, a vision for the future."

Author

1. Schomburg, Arthur Alfonso, 1874-1938.

Title

1. Arthur Alfonso Schomburg collection.

Production

1. 1874-2014 (bulk 1920-1938)

Type of content

1. text
2. still image

Type of medium

1. unmediated

Type of carrier

1. sheet

Biography

1. Arthur (originally Arturo) Alfonso Schomburg (1874-1938) was a collector of books and manuscripts pertaining to black history and culture whose collection formed the basis for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Schomburg moved to New York City in 1891, settling in Harlem and later, Brooklyn. As a young man, he was an active supporter of Cuban and Puerto Rican independence, cofounding the political club Las Dos Antillas; later, he was involved in several organizations devoted to promoting African American research and scholarship, including the Negro Society for Historical Research and the American Negro Academy. Drawing on his extensive collection of books and historical documents, Schomburg wrote articles on the history of the African diaspora for major black periodicals including The Crisis, Opportunity, Negro World, and The New York Amsterdam News. In 1926, Schomburg sold his collection to the New York Public Library, and served as curator of the Division of Negro Literature, History, and Prints from 1932 until his death in 1938.

Finding aids

1. Finding aid available in repository.

Connect to:

1. Finding aid

Chronological term

1. To 1821

Local subject

1. Black author.

Added author

1. Locke, Alain, 1885-1954, author.
2. Cunard, Nancy, 1896-1965, correspondent.
3. Schomburg, Arthur Alfonso, 1874-1938. Negro brotherhood in Seville.
4. Schomburg, Arthur Alfonso, 1874-1938. Negroes in Seville.

Added title

1. Legacy of Arthur Alfonso Schomburg: a celebration of the past, a vision for the future.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 41