Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries. A world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diasporic, and African experiences, the Schomburg stewards a collection of over 11 million items.  

This year, we're celebrating our 100th anniversary! Stay tuned for our official kickoff this spring, and join us all year long for a wide array of special events, exhibitions, and more as we celebrate this milestone and continue the legacy of Arturo Schomburg. Learn more.

To learn about the Center's research divisions, schedule an appointment, or find out about other services, see our resources for researchers. Please note: Division hours may vary.

Explore our in-person exhibition, Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined, through May 22. 

The Schomburg Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5:45 PM. The Shop sells books, clothing, jewelry, and more created by Black and Brown artists for all ages.

The Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute returns this summer! The four-week fellowship program is open to rising college seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The online application is open through Friday, March 28. 

Guided tours take place Monday–Friday from 11 AM through 2 PM. Visit our Schomburg Tours page. Confirmed reservations are required for all guided tours. 

Our 13th Annual Black Comic Book Festival will be part of a larger celebration during our Centennial Festival in June 2025. More information will be coming soon. 

Please note: Due to new Library policy, e-bikes, e-scooters, and electronic transportation devices are not permitted inside any NYPL location. This does not apply to mobility aids.

Learn about some of the extraordinary women who built our renowned research center dedicated to Black history and culture. This year, we spotlight Dorothy Williams, former head curator of the Schomburg Collection. 

Plus, discover the stories of Catherine Allen Latimer, whose campaign to collect items that document the Black experience helped contribute to the founding of the Schomburg Center and Jean Blackwell Hutson, who grew the Schomburg's collection and for whom our research and reference division is now named. Read more. 

See our schedule of upcoming public programs for the winter–spring 2025 season. Read more. 

March 2025 marks a century since the publication of one of Arturo Schomburg’s most famous essays, "The Negro Digs Up His Past" in Survey Graphic magazine’s issue "Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro." 

Five acclaimed scholars look back at our founder's essay, discuss excerpts that have special meaning to them, and reveal how his words influenced their work. Read more.