Celebrate 100 years of James Baldwin at the New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is honoring one of its most legendary patrons. Considered one of the best writers of the 20th century, and a key figure in the civil rights movement, James Baldwin discovered his love of reading at his local public library in Harlem. In celebration of what would have been Baldwin’s 100th birthday this month, NYPL will present two exhibitions featuring his papers, manuscripts, and other materials never displayed publicly, as well as host book giveaways and discussions on Baldwin’s work.
The two exhibits of “Celebrating 100 Years of James Baldwin at NYPL” include manuscripts of his most famous works, including draft pages, the literary magazine from his high school, and letters with friends like Maya Angelou and Lorraine Hansberry.
Now through Fall 2025, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building will display for the first time draft pages from works like “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Giovanni’s Room,” and “The Fire Next Time.” The exhibit is part of the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures.
At the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, “Jimmy! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth” includes the center’s collection of Baldwin’s archive of personal papers and materials from other collections highlighting the career and legacy of James “Jimmy” Baldwin.
“The James Baldwin papers open a window into Baldwin’s vibrant, masterful literary persona. As a child, Baldwin visited the 135th Street Branch Library, predecessor to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, at least 3 or 4 times a week,” Barrye Brown, Schomburg Center Curator of Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books and curator of “Jimmy! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth,” said.
“Today, we are honored to be home to his papers and legacy. By celebrating Baldwin in his centenary, we invite readers to engage with Baldwin, his rich inner life, and the way he used the written word to tell the truth about the world around him.”
More than 30 library branches are distributing 4,000 select Baldwin titles this summer and fall, while supplies last. Find a branch near you here.
The library also released a self-guided tour with stops at the 135th Street Library, now the Schomburg Center, to the Harlem Hospital on Lenox Avenue where he was born, to Central Park for a moment of solitude, his former residence on West 71st Street, and the flagship 42nd Street library.
This October, the Schomburg Center will hold a two-day symposium, “How to Start a Fire,” to discuss Baldwin’s work and its impact on the current fight for social justice.
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