Posts from the Schomburg Research and Reference Division

Learn more about Schomburg Center volunteer Virginia Allen who is one of the last surviving member of a group of nurses known as the “Black Angels.” They cared for patients at Staten Island’s Seaview Hospital, Rehabilitation Center, and Home during the tuberculosis outbreak in the early and mid-20th century after the white nurses walked off the job.

If you are watching the program 'Harlem' on Amazon Prime Video, you might have seen the Schomburg Center in episode nine, titled "Secrets." Emmy and Peabody Award–winner Neema Barnette directed the episode. Learn more about this trailblazing director and find out which one of our exhibitions inspired the set created for the program.

Learn about Arturo Schomburg's first bookplate.

Learn about comic book materials to explore in person and online at the Schomburg Center.

Activist and Black Comic Book Festival cosplayer Isake Smith looks back at her time at the festival and discusses the portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community in graphic novels and comic books over the past decade.

Writer and independent comic book publisher David Crownson discusses his initial struggles with getting 'Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer' to readers. He also looks back at how the Black Comic Book Festival supported his work as the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Hess, the creator of children's comic books and graphic novels for adults, uses her art and storytelling to encourage conversations about caring for the environment and spark the imagination, weaving tales of fantasy and adventure.

Actor Michael Flood shares his experiences as a Black Comic Book Festival cosplayer at the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary.

As the Schomburg Center celebrates the 10th anniversary of the BCBF in January 2022, Fielder shares what inspired him to first attend, what the festivals mean to him, and how they changed the trajectory of his career.

As the countdown to the 2022 Black Comic Book Festival begins, enjoy a look back with this seven-part blog series.The articles offer a glimpse into some of the many people who are part of BCBF’s history. Plus, get an overview of the Schomburg Center’s comic book and graphic novel collections to learn even more.

If the virtual conference Pandemic Legacies inspired further interest in learning about Black wellness, here's a list of some of our online and in-person materials to add to the conversation.

Two Schomburg Center volunteers, who took part in the grassroots efforts to save the African Burial Ground, look back at this historic effort 30 years later.

See our list of programs and speakers for our 2021 Conference Pandemic Legacies: Health, Healing, and Medicine in the Age of Slavery and Beyond

One of the Schomburg's most popular resources is a collection that has been built personally by the hands of librarians for almost 100 years.

We hope to see you at the programs happening (virtually and in-person) at the Schomburg Center in the upcoming months.

Many people of Hispanic descent also have African roots. Explore the Schomburg Center’s collections and Livestream archive to learn of the rich history, deep ties, and political challenges between both communities. Plus, learn more about materials once owned by Arturo Schomburg, which highlight his Puerto Rican and African heritages.

Inspired by the US Open to learn more about tennis champions Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe? They both have collections at the Schomburg Center. Consider making a research appointment to explore their materials.

Explore Schomburg Center collections and exhibitions which highlight the history, artists, leaders and events that have shaped Harlem and influenced the world.

Check out these suggestions of music-related materials you can see in-person when you make a research appointment at one of our five divisions, plus explore our exhibitions.