Aniya Walker

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Dorothy looking off to the side while getting her picture taken.
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Turning Pages, Keeping Roots

Who is Arturo Alfonso Schomburg?

Arturo was a writer, activist, and a pivotal figure during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in 1874 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to a black mother and a white father, Schomburg unfortunately still had to deal with racism and judgment. One of the moments in his life that inspired him to become a bibliophile was when his 5th-grade teacher told him that black people have “no history, no heroes, and no great moments,” this fueled him to be the person he was to inspire others. 

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg sitting for a portrait taken by an unknown photographer at an unknown date.

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg sitting for a portrait taken by an unknown photographer. Circa 1920s-30s. 

James Baldwin, 1964. Photo by Jean-Regis Rouston/Roger Viollet/Getty Images.
James Baldwin, 1964. Photo by Jean-Regis Rouston/Roger Viollet/Getty Images.

What is a Bibliophile?

In simple terms, a bibliophile is someone who collects books just for the love of them or for a certain reason. In this context, the reason would be to preserve history. Besides Mr. Schomburg, a lot of prolific black historical figures were bibliophiles. This could be due to them being the offspring of former enslaved people. James Baldwin is known for being a bibliophile who expresses himself and helps with his own writings. Today, we can see that his love of books, in a way, helped pass down the oral history of Black America in the Roaring ’20s.

Dorothy Porter Wesley

To illustrate the other side of bibliophiles, Dorothy Porter Wesley is a huge example of a “hidden figure” especially for HBCUs. Graduating from Howard University in 1928, and becoming the first black woman to graduate from Columbia University’s School of Library Science (“CONTENTdm” 2025), she made a huge impact on the Black Studies program specifically at Howard University. Wesley managed to turn the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center from a one-room office to an entire library for students and those who want to educate themselves.

Dorothy B. Porter photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1951 ©Van Vechten Trust/Carl Van Vechten Papers Relating to African American Arts and Letters, James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Dorothy B. Porter photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1951 ©Van Vechten Trust/Carl Van Vechten Papers Relating to African American Arts and Letters, James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

How can Bibliophiles help preserve history?

Bibliophiles arguably have one of the most important jobs, especially when it comes to black history. History can come in so many different variations when it comes to literature. Whether it is a book filled with notes and letters from enslaved people or classic books that we see getting banned today, like Beloved by Toni Morrison, it is still history. Bibliophiles take these books and make them more accessible to the public but also keep them safe from getting into the wrong hands and possibly being destroyed. The 3 examples given have performed history as well as produced history. Focusing on Wesley and Schomburg, they has influenced generations of library scientists and archivists by influencing their research and making sure that marginalized voices were included in historical discourse. 

Researchers using the Schomburg Collection, when it was the 135th Street Branch Library Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints, in 1938. Photographs & Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYPL.
Researchers using the Schomburg Collection, when it was the 135th Street Branch Library Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints, in 1938. Photographs & Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYPL.

Bledsoe, Kara. 2018. “What Dorothy Porter’s Life Meant for Black Studies – JSTOR Daily.” JSTOR Daily. August 22, 2018. https://daily.jstor.org/what-dorothy-porters-life-meant-for-black-studies.

“CONTENTdm.” 2025. Broward.org. 2025. https://digitalarchives.broward.org/digital/collection/p16146coll37.

https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom. 2020. “How Did Arturo Schomburg Preserve African-American History?” ThoughtCo. 2020. https://thoughtco.com/arturo-alfonso-schomburg-biography-45207.

“Schomburg Collection, New York Public Library.” 1968. Rockefeller Brothers Fund. January 3, 1968. https://www.rbf.org/about/our-history/timeline/schomburg-collection-new-york-public-library.

Woman sitting in the middle of the street in Houston, Texas.
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How Public History Affects Our World

An unidentified woman in Freedman's Town, an African American community in Houston, Texas [ Photograph © 2023 ???]
An unidentified woman in Freedman’s Town, an African American community in Houston, Texas [ Photograph © 2023 ???]

What is Public History?

Public History is defined as the application of historical methods and expertise outside of academia. Historians have a mindset that “..we do not understand something until we dig out its origins…”(Kelley 1978, 1:16). 

Kelley gives an example in his writing regarding the levees and the alignment. Because of the disputes about the alignment, historians helped juries see the historical and generational context of why the levees were placed the way they were. With trial and error, the levees were placed strategically. 

The Local Affect of Public History

Freedmen’s Town, located in Houston’s Fourth Ward, not far from River Oaks, is a historical town built upon enslaved black people. It became a vital area for African Americans to build a community, building homes, churches, schools, and businesses to thrive. As seen today, Houston is facing a huge gentrification issue, and this is not new. With this new gentrification and expansion of Houston, Freedmen’s Town was neglected. Preservation is a major part of public history. Preservation helps ensure that marginalized communities do not face erasure. Kelley explains the role of preservation and preserving neighborhoods with historical and cultural significance. He explains that preservation is about more than just making sure buildings are still standing; it is about protecting the memories, contributions, and struggles.  

The city of Houston historically has roots in enslaved African Americans. The history of African Americans in Houston affects not only the culture but also the economic state of the city. Kelley states that urban preservation efforts are being made more often due to federal and state-level bills. He specifically named California’s Proposition, which drastically reduced the amount of spending that historians engage in urban planning. Today, efforts to preserve Freedmen’s Town from developers and urban planners. As these challenges continue to grow, public history efforts must not only document these stories but also actively advocate for their protection. Preserving Freedmen’s Town is a way to honor the legacy of those who built it up from the ground and continue the fight for equal recognition in public history. 

“Houston Freedmens Town.” 2021. Houstonfreedmenstown.org. 2021. https://houstonfreedmenstown.org/.

Kelley, Robert. 1978. Public History: Its Origins, Nature, and Prospects. Vol. 1. The Public Historian.