schomburg_center_for_research.jpgNEW YORK (AP) – The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is celebrating its 85th anniversary with a star-studded gala.

 

 

The center is the world's largest repository of material on people of African descent. It's part of the New York Public Library.

The Monday night gala in Harlem is being held on the birthday of its namesake, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg. He was an early 20th century collector of works on black history.

Scheduled performers include Cicely Tyson and Ashford & Simpson.

The gala will pay tribute to its outgoing longtime director, Howard Dodson. He's being succeeded by Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a history professor at Indiana University.

The Schomburg's collection includes the papers of Maya Angelou; Malcolm X; singer Nat King Cole; and writer-playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Photo above: Schomburg Center for Research