Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
This House resolution (H. Res. 766), introduced by Representative Espaillat and referred to the Judiciary Committee, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a unit of The New York Public Library. The measure is ceremonial in nature, recognizing the Center’s role as a leading archive and research library dedicated to preserving, studying, and sharing Black and African life, history, and culture, with a long history of community engagement in Harlem and international influence in African Diaspora studies. The resolution highlights the Center’s historical origins and milestones—its roots in the 135th Street Branch, the creation of the precursor Division of Negro Literature, History, and Prints, the leadership of Arturo Alonso Schomburg, and its ongoing programs such as Scholars-in-Residence and the Junior Scholars Program. It notes notable exhibitions and designations (including UNESCO-supported programming and National Historic Landmark status) and reiterates the Center’s continued educational, cultural, and research impact. The bill does not authorize funding or alter policy; instead, it publicly commends and honors the Center’s contributions.
Key Points
- 1Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and its status as a leading institution for preserving, studying, and celebrating Black and African life, history, and culture.
- 2Highlights the Center’s role as a Harlem community anchor and an internationally renowned research library, with a history of supporting writers, scholars, artists, and activists.
- 3Traces history from the 1905 opening of the 135th Street Branch library, through the 1920s integration efforts and the creation of the Division of Negro Literature, History, and Prints, to Arturo Schomburg’s acquisition and naming of the Center.
- 4Notes major milestones, including the 2000 UNESCO-backed exhibition Lest We Forget, designation as a National Historic Landmark in 2016, and the Center’s extensive collection of artifacts (over 11,000,000 items) and its notable holdings related to figures like Garvey, Toussaint Louverture, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Malcolm X.
- 5Commends the Center’s ongoing educational and public programs, including the Scholars-in-Residence fellowship and the Junior Scholars Program for youth.