Schomburg Research Guide: Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
"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)
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.
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, 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)
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.
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.
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 Collec
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.
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 - 19
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.