Black arts exhibit at 135th Street Library
Catalog of the Negro arts exhibit held at the New York Public Library, 103 West 135th Street, August 1st to September 30th, 1921 . New York: New York Public Library, 1921. Microfilm p.v. 66.9.
One hundred years ago today … the 135th Street branch of the New York Public Library was holding its first Negro Arts Exhibit–the first iteration of what was to become an important yearly event. The most acclaimed artwork was the painting “Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples,” by Henry Ossawa Tanner, a French Black artist. It was loaned to the library by Rodman Wanamaker.
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Study, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples, ca. 1905, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
New York Age, 27 August, 1921, p. 2.
The rest of the exhibition had a more local flavor, featuring work by Black artists mostly from the NYC area. Included are two we have posted about in the past: Laura Wheeler, and Wilfred Russel (the “Russell” who was the New York Age editorial cartoonist). Of particular note is “A.A.Schomburg” (Arturo Schomburg) being listed as exhibiting materials, books, manuscripts, and engravings from his private collection, a collection which would eventually lead to the creation of the Schomburg Center.
The New York Age took an interest in Schomburg’s contribution:
The pictures and historical documents of famous Negroes throughout the world that is being loaned by Arthur A. Schomberg is one of the most interesting attractions of the exhibit. This collection includes copies of Phillis Wheatley's poems, prints and engravings of Dumas, Pushkin, Toussaint L'Ouverture. Frederick Douglass, and other prominent Negroes, as well as a number of original copies of magazines and pamphlets by many of these people.
“Negro Arts Exhibition Draws Large Number of Sightseers.” New York Age, 20 August, 1921, p. 2.
The Age goes on:
In order to keep record of the people inspecting the exhibit, a registration book was placed in the exhibition room on August 11th. Those registered in this book include a large number of out of town people, especially many of the teachers who were attending summer school at Columbia University, Another interesting fact shown by the registration of visitors is that the attendance is increasing daily, and that many white people are coming to see the exhibit. In fact so much interest has been shown by the white race in the exhibit that all of the daily papers have sent reporters to view the exhibition, and a number of these papers have commented favorably upon it.
The catalog does not seem to be easily accessible in print or online. We at NY1920 decided to scan the New York Public Library’s microfiche version in its entirety and post it here for scholarly use.
Augustus Dill was credited as directing the exhibit, but it is clear from a couple of newspaper items that branch head librarian Ernestine Rose, listed as General Secretary in the catalog, was handling much of the logistical work. The list of organizers includes pivotal figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Nella Larsen is listed (as “Nella Larsen Imes”) as executive secretary. The committee includes W.E.B. Du Bois, James Weldon Johnson, and some of the exhibiting artists.
New York Public LibraryCatalog of the Negro arts exhibit held at the New York Public Library, 103 West 135th Street, August 1st to September 30th, 1921 . New York: New York Public Library, 1921. Microfilm p.v. 66.9.
The 135th Street library, opened in 1905, by 1921 was a crucial space for the burgeoning Harlem Renaissance. Here is the site in 1924 and today.
New York Public Library.
Photo by the author, taken August 1, 2021.
– Jonathan Goldman, August 30, 2021
TAGS: Black history, African American art, painting, sculpture, archives, library, Harlem Renaissance