Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library

This lyrical picture book biography, told in arresting poems and luminous paintings, introduces young readers to Arturo Schomburg, a pivotal figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Schomburg, an Afro-Puerto Rican, embarked on a lifelong quest to collect and preserve the history and culture of the African diaspora, challenging historical omissions and celebrating Black achievement. His personal collection eventually formed the foundation of what is now the renowned Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Ideal for ages 4-11, this book beautifully conveys the power of libraries, education, and cultural identity, making it a powerful tool for discussing history, representation, and perseverance.

In luminous paintings and arresting poems, two of children’s literature’s top African-American scholars track Arturo Schomburg’s quest to correct history. Where is our historian to give us our side? Arturo asked. Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro–Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk’s life’s passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburg’s collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny), he turned to the New York Public Library, where he created and curated a collection that was the cornerstone of a new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world.