Scope and arrangement
The Arthur Alfonso Schomburg Collection consists of nine typescripts authored by Schomburg as well as biographical material about Schomburg collected by the New York Public Library.
The manuscripts by Schomburg, dating from approximately 1920-1938, are typewritten articles, some annotated, primarily concerned with the history of Africans and people of African descent. The articles discuss various aspects of the African diaspora across history and geography: from ancient Egypt to pre-Columbian Central America to seventeenth-century Spain to Jazz Age Harlem nightlife. Two of the articles—"The Negro Brotherhood of Sevilla" and "Negroes in Sevilla"—were published in Opportunity magazine. Versions of "Cardinal Ximinez and Bishop Las Casas" and "The Romance of Corn" are also present in the Arthur Alfonso Schomburg Papers.
The material about Schomburg contains papers relating to Schomburg's life and family background. There is a corrected typescript of Alain Locke's memorial essay on Schomburg, written as a foreword to "Negro History in Outline," Schomburg's unpublished contribution to Locke's Bronze Booklet series, which Schomburg was working on when he died. This is filed with a brief biography of Schomburg and a list of Schomburg's memberships in various organizations. The file of family background information includes documents such as Schomburg's baptismal and death certificates, a Prince Hall Mason membership certificate, and a copy of a questionnaire completed by Schomburg concerning his family background. There is also genealogical research on the Schomburg family conducted by historian Herman Reichard on behalf of Susan Schomburg, a paternal relation of Arthur Schomburg; as well as correspondence from Arthur Schomburg's daughter, Dolores Schomburg Thomas, discussing her family history. Also present are two bookplates used by Arthur Schomburg featuring a Patrick Reason engraving, and a photocopy of a letter to Schomburg from British writer and activist Nancy Cunard discussing her book Negro: An Anthology.
The Arthur Alfonso Schomburg collection is arranged in two series:
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circa 1920-19380.11 linear feet (9 folders)
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1874-20140.1 linear feet (2 folders)