The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is celebrating its centennial in a unique way by offering New Yorkers the opportunity to trade in their red public library cards for a special edition honoring the occasion. Designed by the New York Public Library (NYPL) and Morcos Key, a Brooklyn-based studio, the limited-edition library card features a terrazzo art installation called “Rivers” by sculptor Houston Conwill.
The “Rivers” artwork is located at the Schomburg Center and serves as a memorial to both the poet Langston Hughes and the center’s namesake, Arturo Schomburg. The cosmogram design of “Rivers” pays homage to Hughes’s famous poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” which reflects on the deep connection between the poet’s soul and various rivers. The special edition library card showcases a version of the artwork within the number “100,” symbolizing the center’s century of existence.
As part of the centennial celebrations, the Schomburg Center has launched a series of programming and exhibitions, including “100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity.” This exhibition features notable items like an inscribed copy of Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” gifted to the center by the author herself.
The “Rivers” cosmogram, located on the floor of the Schomburg’s Langston Hughes Lobby, is a significant part of the center’s history and identity. The design includes lines from Hughes’s poem encircled by the names of various rivers, emphasizing the interconnectedness of Black history and diasporic narratives. The special edition library card allows patrons to carry a piece of this history with them wherever they go.
Houston Conwill, the artist behind “Rivers,” considered this commission to be one of his favorites. His widow, Kinshasha Holman Conwill, shared that the artwork reflects his deep love for Langston Hughes, Arturo Schomburg, and Harlem. The cosmogram serves as a beloved gathering place and a space for reflection within the Schomburg Center.
Schomburg Center Director Joy Bivins expressed that the cosmogram is at the heart of the center and embodies its rich history and cultural significance. The special edition Centennial library card allows patrons to connect with this history and carry a piece of Schomburg’s legacy with them wherever they go.
Overall, the special edition library card honoring the Schomburg Center’s centennial is a unique and meaningful way for New Yorkers to celebrate and engage with the rich cultural heritage of Black history and literature.
