Harlem Renaissance: the 20s

This pathfinder will be used to create your presentation on the Harlem Renaissance.

In the early 1900’s, particularly in the 1902’s, African-American literature, art, music, 

dance and social commentary began to flourish in Harlem, a section of New York City.  

This African-American cultural movement became known as “The Negro Movement” 

and later as the Harlem Renaissance.  More than a literary movement, the Harlem Renaissance exalted the unique culture of African-Americans and redefined African-American expression. 

African-Americans were encouraged to celebrate their heritage. 

Choose a Subject

Depending on your interest, select three of the artists/activists/writers  listed on the Biographies of the Harlem Renaissance and read their biography (Dewey #’s 92 and 920).   After you have chosen an artist or intellectual, summit a brief proposal explaining your choice and how you would like to present his/her work to the class.   

CHS Library Resources

Browse the shelves in the library to locate information using the following numbers:  

730: Sculpture; 750: Painting; 770: photography; 780: Music; 790: Performing Arts;  970:North American history;  810: American Literature

Reference Books:

(reference books can be checked out overnight)

Jazz: a history of America’s music (REF 781.65 WAR)

            Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (REF 810.9 ABE)

            The Harlem Renaissance: a historical dictionary of the era (700.89 KEL)

             Harlem Renaissance: art of Black America (REF 704.03 DRI)

            Encyclopedia of the Harlem literary renaissance: the essential guide to the lives \

            and works of the Harlem Renaissance writers (REF 810 BRO)

The following list of books have been pulled have been placed on the library cart for your convenience:

Scholarly Journals

The following Journals have been interlibrary loaned for your research.  You may make copies of any articles-remember to write down your citation information.

Ø                International Review of African American Art

Ø                 American Literature

Ø                 African American Review

Ø                               The Black Perspective in Music

Ø                 Black Music Research Journal

  The following videos and DVD’s are available for overnight checkout: 

Web Resources

Organizations & Experts

1.  The Art of the Harlem Renaissance

     http://www.iniva.org/harlem/index2.html 

     Museum exhibit: Rhapsody in Black Howard Gallery, London.

2.  Harlem Renaissance from PBS NewsHour

     http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/february98/harlem_2-20.html

     This site looks at the Harlem Renaissance literary and political movement.

3.  Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture

      http://www.si.umich.edu/chico/Harlem/

      This site includes thousands of pages of text, photographs, and maps on    

      the Harlem Renaissance and the 1920's. 

4.  ARTSEDGE from the Education Department of The John F. Kennedy Center                               http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/exploring/harlem/

     This site features videos,  music, texts, and photos of the the artists, writers, and       activist of the Harlem Renaissance.

5.  John Carroll University’s Multimedia Harlem Renaissance

      http://www.jcu.edu/harlem/index.htm

      This site encompasses the performers, literature, political issues, religion, 

      and philosophy of the Harlem Renaissance.  

Databases

 Refer to MARVEL (Maine's Virtual Library) and choose the Literature Resource Center for in-depth information on your poet/author.  The Dictionary of Literary Biography is another source filled with information on your artist. Use Masterfile Premier and Academic Search Premier to find articles on your topic.  Use Britannica Encyclopedia and Annals of American History to find background information on your selected artists and topics. Use Net Library to find an ebook on your artists or topics. 

Refer to Sirs Researcher to find articles on your selected artists.  Remember to check "key words/natural language" Search by your selected artists/intellectual/writer of use the following search terms:  

African American art/artists/authors/theater/intellectuals/literature/poets/dancers

/photographers; harlem renaissance; African American urban migration; African American woman authors; 

Use your password and log into United Streaming.  Under search by subject, click on Language Arts.  In the search box type in "Negro Baseball League" and watch the video on the league and its importance to African-American Culture. You do individual searches on your artists/writers/activists. 

Log in to World and I using your school password.  Do a search under your selected individuals or type in "Harlem Renaissance."  

Remember, no mater what form your presentation takes you must have a bibliography/work cited page.  If you need help using Noodle Tools go to the research help page and follow the Noodle Tool links.

Web Directories: 

Google Directory, About.com, Libraries Index, 

Metasearch Engines:

Altavista; Dogpile, Vivisimo; Ixquick

Search Engines: 

Google; Yahoo; MSN; Ask

General Web Resources

Harlem Renaissance - this site is maintained by students at the Father Ryan High School, it offers background information and selected articles on the artists, writers, and philosophy of the Harlem Renaissance.  

Circle Association's Harlem Renaissance - this site contains an introduction to the topic and a time line. 

The Cotton Club Revues - this site contains sheet music from the Cotton Club, Harlem. 

African-American Migration: Field to Factory -  Click on the in-text links for photographs of the migration of African-Americans to the northern cities. 

Smithsonian Institute's American Jazz Heritage - American Jazz history site. 

Reflections of African American's - literature, music, and art are featured on this page (some  pages blocked).