In 1925, The New York Public Library opened the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints—the forerunner to today’s Schomburg Center—as a special collection of the 135th Street Library. The division grew greatly the following year with the purchase of the personal collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, the distinguished Afro-Puerto Rican scholar and bibliophile. Born in Puerto Rico in 1874, Schomburg collected books, manuscripts, and art that illustrated Black contribution to global history.
Today’s Schomburg Center is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the preservation and study of materials focused on African American, African Diasporic, and African experiences. Its wide-ranging collections illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture, and continue the tradition of its namesake.
Centennial Celebrations: Be the First to Know & Register for Events
We’re celebrating the Schomburg Center’s 100th anniversary all year long! Be the first to know about everything coming up, from new major exhibitions and program highlights to a special centennial festival and more.
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Explore the History of the Schomburg Center
Go back in time to learn about the past 100 years of the Schomburg Center, from its origins through the present day.
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Who Was Arturo Schomburg?
Arturo Schomburg was a collector of books and manuscripts pertaining to Black history and culture whose collection formed the basis of the Schomburg Center. Learn more about his life, career, and collections.
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Visit the Schomburg Center
Open to the public Monday–Saturday, the Schomburg Center is both a home for researchers and a cultural institution hosting programs, events, exhibitions, and more. Please note that division hours may vary, and some research divisions require or recommend an appointment.
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Discover Schomburg Center Events
From film screenings and performances to author talks and community conversations, explore all events happening this season at the Schomburg Center. Plus, stay tuned for our centennial events launching in May!
The Schomburg Center Through the Years
The Schomburg Center Digital Guide
Delve deeper into the Schomburg Center’s world-renowned research collections, diverse exhibitions, and resources with our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Explore some of Arturo Schomburg’s correspondence and see how he earned his reputation as “the Sherlock Holmes of Negro history.”
Please note: Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile application. See privacy notice below. Photo by Manuel Inoa.
For Educators! Teaching with the Schomburg Center’s Archives: Curriculum Series
Explore a new curriculum series from The New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools designed to support educators in teaching Black history, experience, and culture through the Schomburg Center’s collections. Themes include the Black Power movement and Black activism, slavery and abolition, and Black women’s stories.
Collection Highlights
Explore a selection of the Schomburg Center's 11 million collection items.
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Get Updates from the Schomburg Center
Don’t miss the latest news, events, and programs during the Schomburg Center’s special centennial year. Sign up to receive updates straight to your inbox!
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Support the Schomburg Center
Are you passionate about the Schomburg Center’s mission to celebrate and preserve Black culture and history? Join the Schomburg Society today for discounts, invitations to exclusive Centennial events, and more. Receive a limited-edition Centennial tote when you join.
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Schomburg Shop
Shop our selection of books, gift items, and more in person or online! All purchases support the Schomburg Center.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Leadership support for the Schomburg Center's Centennial is provided by Andreas C. Dracopoulos and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
The Home to Harlem Initiative is made possible by the Mellon Foundation.

Privacy Notice
Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile application (app) developed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The app is not owned or operated by NYPL and therefore we encourage you to review the Bloomberg Connects privacy policy here. The policy can also be reviewed within the app on your mobile device. Once you have downloaded the app, we also encourage you to review the app’s specific privacy settings, found in the “Settings” menu on your mobile device.
For more information about NYPL’s third-party partners and vendors in general, please see Section 3 of NYPL's Privacy Policy describing “Third-Party Library Services Providers.”