This collection of approximately 500 periodical titles has been assembled over the years by the staff of the Schomburg Center. It includes sample issues of black periodicals published in the United States, West Indies, and Africa, as well as other publications dealing primarily with Africa or peoples of African descent.
The titles were retained as representative samples of periodicals published by black people or primarily about them. In most cases the issues which appear here are the only ones held by the Schomburg Center. In other cases however, there are other scattered issues or incomplete files available at the Schomburg.
The periodicals are arranged alphabetically by title. The citations in the inventory include where available, the place and date of publication, and volume and issue numbers. The periodicals were microfilmed in 1971; new titles acquired between 1971 and 1994 were microfilmed separately as "Additions". Titles acquired since 1994 are listed separately and are available in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division of the Center.