Moorland-Spingarn Research Center
Encyclopedia
The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) is recognized as one of the world's largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent in Africa
, the Americas
, and other parts of the world. As one of Howard University
's major research facilities, the MSRC
collects, preserves, and makes available for research a wide range of resources chronicling the Black experience.
The MSRC is named after Jesse E. Moorland
, an alumnus and trustee of Howard, and Arthur B. Spingarn
, learned bibliophile
of writers who would be considered Negro
in the United States
.
In 1914, Moorland gifted his collection of some 3,000 books, pamphlets, and other historical items to the University
Howard's board of trustees created The Moorland Foundation, a Library of Negro Life, and housed it as a special collection in the new library building recently donated by Andrew Carnegie
.
In 1946, the Moorland Foundation purchased the private library
of Spingarn and named it The Arthur B. Spingarn Collection of Negro Authors. The Spingarn Collection is maintained separately from the Moorland Foundation's other collections. The collection contains many rare editions, and expansive in its coverage of Afro-Cuba
n, Afro-Brazil
ian, and Haiti
an writers.
Among the most important foundations for the MSRC are the collections of Lewis Tappan
, a noted abolitionist
who organized the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society and served as treasurer of the American Missionary Association
; some 70 bound newspapers and several scrapbooks donated by John Wesley Cromwell. The center preserves the archives of Alpha Phi Alpha
, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded for African Americans, and the papers of one of the fraternity's seven founders, Henry Callis
.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, and other parts of the world. As one of Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
's major research facilities, the MSRC
Research library
A research library is a library which contains an in-depth collection of material on one or several subjects . A research library will generally include primary sources as well as secondary sources...
collects, preserves, and makes available for research a wide range of resources chronicling the Black experience.
The MSRC is named after Jesse E. Moorland
Jesse E. Moorland
Jesse Edward Moorland was a black minister, community executive, and civic leader.Born in Coldwater, Ohio, he was the only child of a farming family. Moorland attended Northwestern Normal University in Ada, Ohio. Then he moved to Washington D...
, an alumnus and trustee of Howard, and Arthur B. Spingarn
Arthur B. Spingarn
Arthur Barnette Spingarn was an American leader in fight for civil rights for African Americans.Spingarn was born into a well-to-do family. He graduated from Columbia College in 1897 and from law school in 1899...
, learned bibliophile
Bibliophilia
Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. Accordingly a bibliophile is an individual who loves books. A bookworm is someone who loves books for their content, or who otherwise loves reading. The -ia-suffixed form "bibliophilia" is sometimes considered to be an incorrect usage; the older...
of writers who would be considered Negro
Negro
The word Negro is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether of African descent or not...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1914, Moorland gifted his collection of some 3,000 books, pamphlets, and other historical items to the University
Howard's board of trustees created The Moorland Foundation, a Library of Negro Life, and housed it as a special collection in the new library building recently donated by Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
.
In 1946, the Moorland Foundation purchased the private library
Private library
A private library is a library under the care of private ownership, as compared to that of a public institution, and is usually only established for the use of a small number of people, or even a single person. As with public libraries, some people use stamps, stickers, or embossing to show...
of Spingarn and named it The Arthur B. Spingarn Collection of Negro Authors. The Spingarn Collection is maintained separately from the Moorland Foundation's other collections. The collection contains many rare editions, and expansive in its coverage of Afro-Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n, Afro-Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian, and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an writers.
Among the most important foundations for the MSRC are the collections of Lewis Tappan
Lewis Tappan
Lewis Tappan was a New York abolitionist who worked to achieve the freedom of the illegally enslaved Africans of the Amistad. Contacted by Connecticut abolitionists soon after the Amistad arrived in port, Tappan focused extensively on the captive Africans...
, a noted abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
who organized the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society and served as treasurer of the American Missionary Association
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
; some 70 bound newspapers and several scrapbooks donated by John Wesley Cromwell. The center preserves the archives of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded for African Americans, and the papers of one of the fraternity's seven founders, Henry Callis
Henry A. Callis
Henry Arthur Callis, M.D. was one of the seven founders of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University in 1906. Callis co-authored the Fraternity name with Eugene Jones and became the only Jewel to become General President of the fraternity...
.