515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd)
New York, NY 10037
917-275-6975
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Monday 10 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–6 PM
Thursday 10 AM–6 PM
Friday 10 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday CLOSED
100 Schomburg logo on a green background.

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.

Visit the Schomburg Center

The front doors of the Schomburg Center. The words “Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture'' is written as a metal awning above the front doors.

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.

Women’s History Month | Centennial Spotlight: Women of the Schomburg Center

Left: Mid-length photo of Catherine Latimer, who is seated. Middle: A headshot of Dorothy Williams. Right: Jean Blackwell Hutson in partial profile

Photos: (left) Digital Collection Image ID: 58942159, (middle) Photographs & Prints Division, and (right) Digital Collections Image ID: 58220943

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

What’s On | Get a Preview of Our Upcoming Public Programs

Across the top third of the page, the words Schomburg Center’s Women’s Jazz Festival on the lime green background. Below are head shots of the artist featured on a pink background. The Schomburg Center logo is on the right side. It is gray on a white background.

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

‘The Negro Digs Up His Past’ | A Look at Arturo Schomburg’s Seminal Essay 100 Years Later

Left: A black and white illustration of Arturo Schomburg. Right: A copy of March 1925’s Survey Graphics magazine open to an essay titled: The Negro Digs Up His Past.

Photos: (left) Digital Collections Image ID: 58805806 and (right) Lisa Herndon

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

In the Spotlight

Current Exhibitions

  • Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined

    Through May 22, 2025
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Step into Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined, an extraordinary exhibition by the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program. 

  • Nellie Mae Rowe: Something From Nothing

    Ongoing
    Online Only
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Inspired by the premiere of a documentary film honoring the creative spirit of Nellie Mae Rowe, check out this curated selection of…

About the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Interior view of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. As a research division of The New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections spanning over 11 million items that illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture.

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