Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
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Decades before the Auburn Avenue Research Library opened, its core collection was formed at the Auburn Branch of the Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
The Auburn Avenue Research Library is the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African American culture and history and of the African diaspora. The one-story red-brick building, located at 333 Auburn Avenue, officially opened July 25, 1921, becoming Atlanta's first public library branch for African Ame
ricans. Before then, black citizens were excluded under the era's Jim Crow laws from public library service in the city, which began in 1902. In the book Living Atlanta: An Oral History of the City, 1914-1948 (1990) Homer Nash, a black physician whose practice was on Auburn Avenue, recalled the period before the branch opened as a time when African Americans "had such a hard time getting books." From 1921 until the branch closed in 1959, numerous women of color managed and administered the facility and provided educational and community programming. Among them were Alice Dugged Cary and Annie L. McPheeters, who was responsible for much of the development of the core collection, known as the Negro History Collection, in size and significance. A special, noncirculating collection, it was formally organized in 1934, the same year McPheeters was appointed assistant librarian. The Negro History Collection comprised the volumes owned by the Auburn Branch in combination with titles acquired through an adult education project sponsored by the American Association of Adult Education, the American Library Association, and the Julius Rosenwald Fund. Later, a group of children's books—named for Arna Bontemps, a noted Harlem Renaissance writer who became a children's book author and librarian—were added. From the mid-1930s to the late 1940s the collection grew to include bound copies of magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals by, for, and about African Americans, including the Atlanta Daily World, Crisis, Journal of Negro Education, and Negro History Bulletin. During the same period, increasing numbers of African Americans migrated to Atlanta's west side. Accompanying this growth were residents' demands for expanded public library service. In response, the city allocated funds for the construction of another library branch to serve the needs of black citizens. On December 6, 1949, the newly built West Hunter Branch opened on the corner of West Hunter Street and Morris Brown Drive. It became the second home of the Negro History Collection. For the next two decades, during which time the A-FPLS desegregated in 1959, the collection remained at the West Hunter Branch, where McPheeters served as librarian until her retirement from the library system in 1966. In 1970 the Negro History Collection moved once again from the West Hunter Branch to the downtown Carnegie Library building, just off Peachtree Street, where Central Library now stands at One Margaret Mitchell Square. One year later, the A-FPLS Board of Trustees officiated the status of the collection, naming it the Samuel W. Williams Collection on Black America, in honor of the Atlanta-based educator, theologian, and philosopher. The collection remained at the main library until 1994, when it was transferred to the newly built Auburn Avenue Research Library, a 50,000-square-foot, four-story structure of red brick and black granite at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Courtland Street. Following almost fifteen years of growth, however, the library outgrew its space. On November 4, 2008, Fulton County voters approved a library bond referendum, which included funds to enhance and expand the facility.
05/22/2026
The work of the Fulton County Reparations Taskforce deserves to be heard - and this Community deserves to be in the room. Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta (ULGA) are joining together to host a community convening centered on the findings of the Fulton County Reparations Taskforce, chaired by Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado.
🗓️ Tuesday, June 2, 2026|
⏰ 6:00 PM
Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 The Taskforce's work represents a critical step in the pursuit of restorative justice and lasting equity for residents. This convening is an opportunity for our community - advocates, professionals, residents, and partners, to engage directly with those findings and be part of the conversation about what comes next.
Community-informed policy begins with community-centered conversation. Come ready to listen, engage, and move forward together.
The work of the Fulton County Reparations Taskforce deserves to be heard - and this community deserves to be in the room.
Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta (ULGA) are joining together to host a community convening centered on the findings of the Fulton County Reparations Taskforce, chaired by Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado.
🗓️ Tuesday, June 2, 2026|
⏰ 7:30 PM
📍 Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
The Taskforce's work represents a critical step in the pursuit of restorative justice and lasting equity for residents. This convening is an opportunity for our community - advocates, professionals, residents, and partners, to engage directly with those findings and be part of the conversation about what comes next.
Community-informed policy begins with community-centered conversation.
Come ready to listen, engage, and move forward together.
We are delighted to receive a $220,000 grant from Getty () through the Black Visual Art Archives initiative. This multi-year program increases access to archival collections across the country that hold important historical records related to works created by Black artists.
Grants provide archivists with wider capacity to organize, catalogue, and digitize materials, as well as activate archives through creative projects like exhibitions, programming, and more.
Image:
Neighborhood Arts Center gathered on steps at 252 Georgia Avenue
Photograph by Jim Alexander, 1977
Neighborhood Arts Center Records
05/13/2026
Join the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and Charis Books and More for an evening of laughter, heart, and community as we celebrate the release of "Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays."
Author and spoken word poet Amena Brown will be in conversation with the legendary Tayari Jones for an unforgettable discussion on Black womanhood, Southern roots, and the magic of finding your own rhythm.
From Spelman roots to dancing in Janelle Monáe videos, Amena’s collection is a living room for the soul—celebrating everything from the perfect box braids to the wisdom of the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
🗓️ THE DETAILS
WHEN: Monday, June 22, 2026
TIME: 6:30 PM
WHERE: Auburn Avenue Research Library - 101 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
WHO: in conversation with
About the Book: A hilarious and heartwarming essay collection that reminds us why "Black Girl" is a verb. It’s an irresistible journey through pop culture, heritage, and the unspoken understandings that make our world a galaxy.
About the Speakers:
Amena Brown: Celebrated speaker, poet, and collaborator with PATTERN Beauty and Essence Fest.
Tayari Jones: New York Times bestselling author of An American Marriage and Kin, and Professor at Emory University.
Admission is free!
05/13/2026
Join the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History for a powerful theatrical experience that honors the legacy of Black womanhood while forging a bold new path. Written by the late, legendary Dr. Shirlene Holmes, Since ’76 is a transformative choreopoem that serves as a spiritual and narrative successor to Ntozake Shange’s seminal work, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Su***de / When the Rainbow Is Enuf.
Picking up where Shange left off, Since ’76 explores the complex, multifaceted journey of the Black woman in the new millennium. Through a seamless blend of poetry, movement, and song, a cast of women representing vibrant hues—such as Amethyst, Topaz, and Indigo—take the stage to guide the audience through an emotional odyssey. This journey traverses laughter that heals, anger that empowers, and the profound heartache and pain that speak truth to the soul.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
About the Playwright
Dr. Shirlene Holmes was a visionary playwright, poet, scholar, and performer who dedicated three decades to the arts as a professor at Georgia State University. An artist in every sense of the word, she wrote, directed, and performed solo dramas and plays that were staged locally, nationally, and internationally. Her immense contribution to the arts was recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the Lorraine Hansberry Scriptwriting Award from the Literary Exchange, the Nancy Dean Distinguished Playwright Award from Sisters Onstage, and the NAACP Image Award in the Arts. Her work remains a cornerstone of the theatrical community, leaving behind a legacy of storytelling that continues to fill the soul.
05/13/2026
Join the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History for our monthly Saturday Matinee at Auburn, a cinematic experience dedicated to honoring bold, transformative storytelling from across the African American diaspora—bringing literary masterpieces and powerful film adaptations into shared community space.
This month, we present Beloved, starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Thandiwe Newton. Based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Toni Morrison, Beloved is a haunting and deeply emotional exploration of memory, motherhood, trauma, and the lingering shadows of enslavement. Set in post–Civil War Ohio, the film follows Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman whose past returns in ways both intimate and supernatural, challenging her understanding of freedom and healing.
Come ready to reflect, engage in thoughtful post-screening discussion, and connect with fellow film lovers in an atmosphere that honors history, resilience, and community. Light refreshments will be provided.
Watch. Reflect. Remember. Reclaim the stories that shape us.
🗓️⏰Saturday, May 23, 2026 @ 12:30 PM
📍Auburn Avenue Research Library
101 Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta GA 30303
05/13/2026
Mark your calendars for an incredible evening of conversation and culture this May 14th! We are coming together at 6:30 PM for a special panel discussion centered around Jim Alexander's powerful archival photography exhibition, "The NAC: More Than Just A Dream."
It’s going to be a truly unique night as we hear firsthand from Jim Alexander himself, alongside John "Kole" Eaton, Alice Lovelace, Dr. R. Candy Tate, and Stephanie S. Scott. They’ll be diving into the rich history and lasting legacy of the Neighborhood Arts Center, sharing the stories that these photographs captured so beautifully.
Whether you're a long-time fan of the Jim Alexander Collection or just looking to learn more about the heartbeat of Atlanta's arts history, you won't want to miss this.
05/12/2026
The energy at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on Saturday, May 9th, was nothing short of electric. We gathered to celebrate the incredible Tiffany D. Cross () and her powerful new book, Love, Me: A Letter to Black Women in a Toxic Country, Career, and Relationship.
The conversation between Tiffany and the legendary Michael Harriot ()—author of the NYT Bestseller Black AF History—was the definition of "unfiltered." They dove deep into the nuances of navigating a world that doesn’t always love us back, finding joy in the struggle and the radical act of self-preservation.
It was a true family affair, with so many icons in the building to show their love and support, including Ernie Suggs (), Alicia Garza (), Charles Blow (), Dr. Jason Johnson (), Errin Haines (), and Yvette Nicole Brown ().
From career pivots to relationship realness, the afternoon was a beautiful reminder that our stories matter and our community is our greatest strength.
If you haven’t picked up your copy of Love, Me yet, consider this your sign. Let’s keep these honest conversations going!
A special thank you goes out to Brave+Kind Books and their entire team. Support independent Black-owned bookstores and businesses.
04/23/2026
🚨🚨NEW DATE ALERT🚨🚨
Join the Auburn Avenue Literary Society, a bi-monthly book club dedicated to celebrating and exploring the richness of African American literature-bridging the classics that shaped our past with contemporary works redefining our present.
Our June gathering will feature a discussion of Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell, a provocative and imaginative novel that blends speculative fiction with sharp social commentary. Set in a near-future America where every white person has mysteriously disappeared, the story follows Charlie Brunton in a radically transformed society.
📍Auburn Avenue Research Library 101 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
🗓️Tuesday, June 23, 2026
⏰6:30 PM
Come ready to dive deep into conversation, share your reflections, and connect with fellow readers in an atmosphere that honors history, imagination, and community.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Discover. Discuss. Celebrate the words that shape Our world.
REGISTRATION LINK IN BIO
04/23/2026
We're hiring! We're looking for an independent and organized team player to join our family at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History as our Administrative Coordinator I. Visit the link in our bio to apply, the position won't be open for long. Hurry!
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