Join The New York Public Library to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of writer and activist James Baldwin with special exhibitions, free programs for all ages, book giveaways, and more. 

James Baldwin was born in Harlem on August 2, 1924, and was a patron of The New York Public Library from a young age. In the course of his groundbreaking career, his writing and activism propelled him to international prominence, and his novels and essays continue to be widely read today. His papers, manuscripts, and other historical materials are stewarded by the Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and form the basis of our two celebratory exhibitions, which feature many materials that have never before been on public display. Learn More.