Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture > Collections > Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division

Manuscripts Collections

The Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division holds manuscript and archival collections of personal and family papers, organizational records, and miscellaneous manuscripts. These holdings focus on the history, literature, politics, and culture of peoples of African descent in the Americas and Africa, primarily in the twentieth century. The collections are strongest in the areas of the performing arts, women's studies, Harlem, civil rights and post-civil rights movements, cultural and political movements, African-American religion, and Haitian, Caribbean and Central African history. Geographic concentration within the manuscripts collection is primarily in the United States.

Catalog records for approximately two-third of the collections can be found in the Library's online catalog. In addition, links can be made to finding aids on the Library's Manuscript & Archival Finding Aids site. Not all of the finding aids are available via the Archives & Manuscripts webpage, nor do all of the collections have finding aids. For additional information concerning these collections contact the division via email (scmarbref@nypl.org) or telephone: 212 491-2224. Some collections are closed until processed.

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Padmore, George Letters
Pankhurst, Estelle Sylvia Letter
Parham, Bettie Esther Scrapbook Collection
Parrish, Richard Papers - Additions 2
Payne, Ethel Papers
Payne, John Civil War Documents
Payne/Wood Family Papers
Penn, Robert E. Papers (Additions)
Pettis Perry Papers, 1942-1967 - Finding Aid
Perryman, Al Papers
Peyser, Annette H. Papers
Phelps-Stokes Fund Records
Pickens, William Papers
William Pickens Papers (Additions), 1909-1950 - Finding Aid
Pinney, John Brooke Journals
Tyrone Pitts/National Council of Churches Papers, 1959-1989 - Finding Aid
Play Scripts Collection
Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ Records, 1896-1982 - Finding Aid
Porgy & Bess Collection
Porter, Kenneth W. Manuscripts - Finding Aid
Positive Youth Troupe Collection
Poston, Ted Scrapbooks
Powell, Isabel Washington Collection
Powell, Rafael Papers
Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Collections
Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Surveys
Price Melva Papers
Price, Gilbert
Price, Sammy Papers *
Programs and Playbills Collection
Puerto Rican Slave Documents

* Closed until processed