- Creator
- Bowser, Aubrey Howard, 1886-1979
- Call number
- Sc MG 287
- Physical description
- 1.42 linear feet (2 boxes)
- Language
- English
- Preferred Citation
- [Item], Aubrey Howard Bowser papers, Sc MG 287, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
- Sponsor
- Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project
- Repository
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
Aubrey Howard Bowser was a writer, editor, and educator. Bowser was born in La Mott, Pennsylvania, a town founded by African American Civil War veterans that were led by his grandfather. He was a 1907 graduate of Harvard College, and later worked at the New York Age where he met and subsequently married Jessie Fortune, the daughter of T. Thomas Fortune, editor of the Age. Bowser's writings included book reviews and literary criticism for the New York Amsterdam News; poetry; and an unpublished novel entitled "Black Pilgrim: A Novel of Harlem's Early Life". Bowser also taught in the New York City public schools, including at New York Vocational High School, eventually becoming dean of that school. He died in 1979. The Aubrey Howard Bowser papers consist primarily of writings, academic and school related papers, and letters. Bower's writings include a manuscript for "Black Pilgrim: A Novel of Harlem's Early Life"; a short story, "Maryelle Rose"; poetry; book reviews; and critiques. There are also two full runs of The Rainbow, a weekly literary magazine that he edited, 1919-1920. Academic papers consist of a Harvard College notebook; course lecture notes; papers written for courses taken for his Master's degree and to qualify for a New York City high school teacher's license, 1943; and the publication, "Harvard College Class of 1907 Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Report" (1935) in which his picture appears. Included are T. Thomas Fortune's book of poetry, Dreams of Life (1905).
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Gift of Elizabeth Bowser, March 1990.03/20/90
Revision History
Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark. (2021 September 23)
Processing information
Accessioned by Diana Lachatanere, March 1990.
Related Material
T. Thomas Fortune scrapbook, Sc MG 287, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Using the collection
Location
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor