Live from the Reading Room: Correspondence is a podcast series that aims to share interesting and engaging letters written by or to key historical figures from the African Diaspora.

Each episode highlights a letter from popular collections housed in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.

Today’s episode features a memorable love note from leading Harlem Renaissance painter, illustrator, and graphic artist Aaron Douglas to his wife and life partner, Alta Sawyer Douglas, an esteemed educator and Harlemite. 

Aaron Douglas Papers, Box 1, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.

*Special Note: All text is represented as originally written by the correspondent.  

Image: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Art and Artifacts Division, The New York Public Library. "Aspects of Negro Life: Song of the Towers." Image ID: psnypl_scf_003. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1934.

Today’s correspondence is read by Linden Anderson, Library Technical Assistant III in the Photographs and Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.