Schomburg Research Guide: Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) by Alexsandra Mitchell, Reference Librarian and Archivist, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureNovember 10, 2016

"I have been for a visit to Mr. Schomburg's library. It is a marvelous collection when one considers that every volume on his extensive shelves is either by a Negro or about a Negro."

—Zora Neale Hurston, "Mr. Schomburg's Library", (1922) African Fundamentalism: A Literary and Cultural Anthology of Garvey's Harlem Renaissance (1991)

 

Marcus Garvey, Eminent Scholar
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Marcus Garvey, Eminent Scholar" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1941. 

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has a long standing history of and commitment to preserving and making accessible materials related to the the Black experience throughout the African Diaspora.  We are continuing this commitment with the creation of research guides on various subjects related to our collection holdings.  

With this series of research guides, researchers will find materials from all five divisions here at the Schomburg Center: Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, Art and Artifacts Division, Moving Image Recorded Sound, Photographs and Prints Division, and the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.

This guide is an overview of materials held across our five divisions here at the Schomburg Center related to publisher, entrepreneur, orator, and early Pan-African leader  Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940) and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).  Marcus Garvey immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1916, and created the Harlem branch of the UNIA, originally created in Jamaica in 1914, shortly thereafter. Garvey formed the Harlem branch of his UNIA, a benevolent fraternal organization founded on the principles of economic self sufficiency, racial pride and uplift, as well as an independent Black nation in Africa to escape the pressures and realities of racial oppression and colonial domination.  

Please review the materials listed, and contact the specific divisions listed for more information regarding access to the materials.

Note: this list is not all inclusive.  Please view our catalog and/or Archives Portal to find additional materials related to Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

 

Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division

Archival Collections

Universal Negro Improvement Association. Central Division, New York. Records, 1918-1959

Universal Negro Improvement Association miscellaneous collection, 1918-1948 [bulk 1920-1929]

Garvey Club collection, 1927-1948

Universal Negro Improvement Association Philadelphia Division records, 1919-1920

John Edward Bruce papers, 1872-1927

*Note: this division provides research services by appointment only.  To make an appointment, please visit this link.

 

Marcus Garvey
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Art and Artifacts Division, The New York Public Library. "Marcus Garvey" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1987. 

 

Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

Books

The life and times of Marcus Garvey, 1887-1940   

Marcus Garvey, life and lessons : a centennial companion to the Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association papers

Marcus Garvey, hero : a first biography   

Marcus Garvey : the centennial exhibition, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture August 8,1987 -March 5, 1988: gallery guide.

The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association papers

 "The Marcus Garvey Papers is an internationally acclaimed project compiling volumes of letters, speeches, pamphlets, and other documents penned by the noted Pan Africanist, Marcus Garvey, throughout the history of his movement."    from UCLA publisher.

Reference Guides

Guide to the microfilm edition of the FBI investigation file on Marcus Garvey : a microfilm publicat

Marcus Garvey : an annotated bibliography  


Microfilm, Microform, Microfiche

Marcus Garvey: F. B. I. investigation file, 1921-1940.  

Trials and triumphs of Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey : research studies   

Minutes of proceedings of the speech by Marcus Garvey at the Century Theatre, Archer Street, Westbou   

The trial of Marcus Garvey : the complete official transcript of Marcus Garvey's mail fraud trial

 

Newspapers

Negro World (microfilm)

Negro World (online PDF copies through the Schomburg's Black New Yorkers web site)

Note: Negro World has been digitized and is available onsite through African American Newspapers (Readex)

UNIA Parade, organized in Harlem, 1920
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "UNIA Parade, organized in Harlem, 1920" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1920. 

Photographs and Prints Division

Marcus Garvey portrait collection [graphic]  

Amy Jacques Garvey portrait collection [graphic]

Arthur Alfonso Schomburg collection [graphic]

UNIA Portrait collection

Amy Ashwood Garvey portrait collection [graphic]
 

"Your obedient servant."
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Marcus Garvey: "Your obedient servant."" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 

Arts and Artifacts Division

Buttons
Accession # BU.X.261, "U.N.I.A.-A.C.L. centennial 1887-1987 ; Marcus Garvey Centennial Committee," 2.25 diam.
Accession # BU.89.023, "Marcus Garvey," 2.25 diam.
Accession # BU.X.202.1, "Provisional President of Africa: Hon. Marcus Garvey," 1.25 diam.
 
Medals: Approximately 200 
Accession # AR.76.004.143-218, "African Redeption Medals" U.N.I.A.
Accession # AR.76.004.01-36, "African Redemption Silver Medals" U.N.I.A.
Accession # AR.76.004.01-192 "African Redemption Bronze Medals" U.N.I.A.
 
Painting
Accession # PA.99.014, "Marcus Garvey" by artist Bernard Hoyes, Oil on Canvas, 51 7/8 x 37 1/4"
 

Due to renovations, this division is temporarily closed.

Mrs. A. Jacques Garvey viewing the bust of Marcus Garvey. Erected Jamaica, B.W.I., November 4, 1956.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Mrs. A. Jacques Garvey viewing the bust of Marcus Garvey. Erected Jamaica, B.W.I., November 4, 1956." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 

Moving Image Recorded Sound
 

Marcus Garvey [videorecording] : Black-nationalist leader   

[Oral history interviews with the wives of Marcus Garvey] [videorecording]

Marcus Garvey and his time (Motion picture) WCBS-TV and Columbia University,   

Missing pages, a moment in Black history. Marcus Garvey [videorecording]   

Introduction of Ralph Bunche and Mary McLeod Bethune on Etta Moten Barnett's radio show, "I Remember When"

William Greaves' documentary First World Festival of Negro Arts 

Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters  1956 Negro History Week program


This division is by appointment only.  To make an appointment, visit here.   

 

Front page of Negro World; Volume 8, Number 24, July 31, 1920.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, The New York Public Library. "Front page of Negro World; Volume 8, Number 24, July 31, 1920." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1917 - 1933. 

 

Digital Collections
 

Marcus Garvey's wedding photograph, Christmas 1919

Marcus Garvey, accompanied by U.S. marshals, on the way to federal prison in Atlanta, 1925

Stock certificate for one share (five dollars) of the Black Star Line, Inc. dated November 21, 1919

Mourners at the grave of John E. Bruce, 1924, including Mrs. John E. Bruce, Marcus Garvey [third from right] and Authur Schomburg [second from right]

Garvey Memorial flyer

Shine on Eternal God shine on the U.N.I.A and the Red, Black and Green
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Shine on Eternal God shine on the U.N.I.A and the Red, Black and Green" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1890 - 1950. 

Outside of NYPL

The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project

Universal Negro Improvement Association Philadelphia Division records, 1919-1920.

Robert A. Hill papers, 1933-2001.

Interview with W.A. Deane, Universal Negro Improvement Association (U.N.I.A.)

 
View all posts by Alexsandra Mitchell