Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture - Early History - Countee Cullen Library

Countee Cullen Library

After the extension was built, the library became known as the Countee Cullen Library, and the 135th Street Library is still considered the original location of the Countee Cullen library by the New York Public Library.

Homers created a room of books just for young adults and created the American Negro Theatre in the basement that spawned the play Anna Lucasta, which was moved to Broadway. She kept the emphasis on building a community center for art, music and drama. She put on art exhibits that favored unknown, young artists of all races.

After the outbreak of WWII, Homer started a program of monthly concert recitals in the auditorium to enhance public spirit, but the demand by performers and audience members to continue the practice made it permanent.

In 1948, Jean Blackwell, later Jean Blackwell Hutson, was named the director of the Center.

In a 1966 speech, Hutson warns of the perilous status of the Schomburg collection.

In 1971, the Center began being supported by the privately funded Schomburg Corporation.

In 1972, funds by New York City were allocated to renovate the building at 103 West 135th, and it was renamed the building of the Schomburg Collection for Research in Black Culture.

Simultaneously, the entire Schomburg collection was rounded up from various branch libraries and transferred to the Center.

In 1972, it was designated as one of NYPL's research libraries.

In 1973, a building on the west side of Lenox ave between 135th and 136th was bought so that it could be demolished and a new building could be constructed. The location was chosen due to its proximity to other community agencies and because it was the "scene of the Harlem Renaissance."

In 1978, the building which was on 135th between Malcolm X Blvd. and 7th Avenue was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1979, it was formally listed in the NRHP.