Celebrating 100 Years of James Baldwin
Join The New York Public Library to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of writer and activist James Baldwin with special exhibitions, free programs for all ages, book giveaways, and more.
James Baldwin and NYPL
James Baldwin was born in Harlem on August 2, 1924, and was a patron of The New York Public Library from a young age. In the course of his groundbreaking career, his writing and activism propelled him to international prominence, and his novels and essays continue to be widely read today. His papers, manuscripts, and other historical materials are stewarded by the Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and form the basis of a celebratory special display at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, which features many materials that have never before been exhibited.
Just Released! Special Baldwin Centennial Edition of 'Teen Voices' Magazine
The New York Public Library asked teens to take inspiration from James Baldwin's work to create art or writing for our James Baldwin Teen Creative Contest. Download the latest issue of Teen Voices Magazine to read the winning entries!
'James Baldwin: Mountain to Fire'
Now on View | Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Explore the extraordinary rise of James Baldwin at the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures. Discover never-before-exhibited literary manuscripts from the early years of Baldwin’s writing career—including draft pages from Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni’s Room, and The Fire Next Time—alongside other remarkable items from the collection of James Baldwin stewarded by the Schomburg Center.
- Visit the exhibition
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Listen to the exhibition audio guide, narrated by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., on Bloomberg Connects—or on our website!
Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile app not owned or operated by NYPL. See privacy notice below.
Where to Start with James Baldwin
Baldwin was both a groundbreaking novelist, and an essayist and polemicist of great power. Discover his major works, starting with Go Tell It on the Mountain and encompassing titles including Giovanni's Room, If Beale Street Could Talk, Notes of a Native Son, The Fire Next Time, and more.
JIMMY! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth
Please note: This exhibition is now closed.
In his eulogy for James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka referred to him as “God’s black revolutionary mouth,” invoking Baldwin's enduring legacy of radical truth-telling. From August, 2024, through February, 2025, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture presented an exhibition of selections from Baldwin’s archive of personal papers that highlighted his literary career and legacy from childhood to death. On public display for the first time, these items were presented along with other Schomburg materials that illuminated the passion, brilliance, and courageous spirit of James “Jimmy” Baldwin.
- Listen to the exhibition audio guide, hosted by Meshell Ndegeocello, on Bloomberg Connects
- Learn more
Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile app not owned or operated by NYPL. See privacy notice below.
James Baldwin Walking Tour
Trace the footsteps of John Grimes, the protagonist of James Baldwin’s semi-autobiographical novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, with a self-guided walking tour bringing you from the Schomburg Center in Harlem to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Midtown Manhattan. Stops along the way include Harlem Hospital, Central Park, and James Baldwin’s residence on the Upper West Side.
Free Events
Come to the Library for free events celebrating the work of James Baldwin! From book discussion groups to film screenings and writing workshops, there’s something for patrons of every age.
Learn More About the Schomburg Center
Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 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.
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Support the Schomburg Center
Schomburg Society members receive discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and more!
Thank You
The James Baldwin Papers were acquired through the generosity of the Ford Foundation, Katharine J. Rayner, James and Morag Anderson, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and New York Life. Support for processing has been provided by the Arcus Foundation.
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