The Amistad Research Center, located on Tulane University's Campus at Tilton Hall, is the nation's oldest, largest and most comprehensive independent archive specializing in the history of African Americans and other ethnic minorities. It is committed to collecting, preserving, and providing open access to original materials that reference the social and cultural importance of America's ethnic and racial history, the African Diaspora, human relations, and civil rights.
Holdings include the papers of artists, educators, authors, business leaders, clergy, lawyers, factory workers, farmers and musicians. The collection contains approximately 250,000 photographs, dating from as early as 1859. Literary manuscript holdings include letters and original manuscripts from prominent Harlem Renaissance writers and poets. The Center also holds more than 400 works of African and African American art, including works by several internationally renowned 19th and 20th century African American masters.
There are two main discovery tools for Amistad's collections:
- Amistad Archives and Manuscripts Finding Aids Database
- Tulane Libraries Library Search. After your initial search, limit the location to Amistad Research Center. Materials do not circulate; you will need to consult them onsite.