Ralph Ellison historical newspaper coverage Harlem (as described by Leo Gurley) in interview by Ralph Ellison June 14, 1939 Ralph Ellison Invisible Man 1952 Book Cover with curator's note Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man draft pages and portrait with curator's note Ralph Ellison, Reading from a Novel in Progress Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature March 28, 1983 Ralph Ellison, The Art of Fiction Paris Review Issue 8, Spring 1955 Library blog posts & articles Banned Books … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Race Riots/Protests
Wilmington, North Carolina 1898 1898 newspaper coverage Early African American Perspectives on the Wilmington Race Riots Documenting the American South 1898 Monument and Memorial Park Documenting the American South New York City 1900 August, 1900: select newspaper articles more 1900 newspaper coverage Atlanta, Georgia 1906 1906 newspaper coverage E. W. Evans oral history transcript Atlanta riot recollections Letter from Francis Jackson Garrison to Booker T. … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance primary source set, includes teacher's guide Harlem Renaissance primary source iBook Harlem Renaissance recollections: oral history Harlem Renaissance online exhibition Harlem Renaissance artists The Harlem Community Art Center and the WPA The Whites Invade Harlem WPA life history captured 1938 Harlem rent parties WPA life history captured 1939 Related resources Learning from the Source: The Negro Speaks of Rivers Learning from the Source: … [Read more...]
Learning from the Source: Amateur Night at the Apollo & Race Relations
Read an oral history excerpt or the full oral history account by an audience member who attended amateur night at the Apollo Theater in November, 1938. In this account from American Life Histories, 1936-1940, Federal Writer Dorothy West describes an event that happened [there]. What does this event suggest about race relations in the late 1930s? What is West's view of the actions of the audience and the emcee? What would you have done if you were the emcee? In the audience? What can … [Read more...]
Today in History: Orson Welles’ First Macbeth
Today in History–July 25–the Library of Congress features Macbeth, "The Play That Electrified Harlem". The closing night performance of Macbeth, produced by John Houseman and directed by Orson Welles for the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), was staged on July 25, 1936 and featured an all African-American cast. Find out more about this production by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access more primary source treasures … [Read more...]