Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1902-10-13
Death 1973-06-04
Americans,
English,

Biographical notes:

African-American poet, critic, playwright, novelist, author of children’s books, librarian.

From the guide to the Arna Bontemps Papers, 1927-1968, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Teacher in New York, N.Y., and Huntsville, Ala.; head librarian, Fisk University; professor, University of Chicago; curator of James Weldon Johnson Collection and visiting professor of English, Yale University; writer in residence, Fisk University; and author.

From the description of Arna Wendell Bontemps records, 1934-1965. (Fisk University). WorldCat record id: 70970115

Arna Bontemps was born in 1902 in Alexandria, LA. When he was still a boy, the family moved to California. He received a BA from Pacific Union College in 1923. As a young man he moved to New York City and participated in the Harlem Renaissance. He received his MA from the Unisversity of Chicago in 1943. He had a long career as a teacher, librarian and writer of books for both children and adults. He died in 1973. Biographical Source: Something About the Author, v. 44, pp. 45-53.

From the guide to the Arna Bontemps Papers, 1951, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])

Arna Bontemps was a teacher and writer whose novel, God Sends Sunday, appeared at the end of the Harlem Renaissance. He served as librarian at Fisk University for many years.

From the description of Arna Bontemps letters to William Grant Still and Verna Arvey, 1939-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702163252

From the description of Arna Bontemps Collection 1934-1857. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78060778

From the description of Arna Bontemps letters to William Grant Still and Verna Arvey, 1939-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78467453

From the description of Arna Bontemps Collection 1934-1857. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 233522730

From the description of Arna Bontemps Collection 1934-1857. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702148302

Arna Bontemps was a teacher and writer whose novel God Sends Sunday appeared at the end of the Harlem Renaissance in 1931. He continued writing and editing anthologies and served as librarian at Fisk University.

From the guide to the Arna Bontemps Collection, 1934-1857, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Arna Wendell Bontemps was an African-American author and scholar. He embraced his heritage early in his life, and produced volumes of poetry, history, and stories, as well as making important contributions as a librarian, editor, and critic. He was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, and an advocate of freedom and dignity for all mankind.

From the description of Arna Bontemps letters, ca. 1936-1963. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 53917416

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Subjects:

  • American literature
  • Academic libraries
  • Education
  • African American arts
  • African American authors
  • African American authors
  • African American authors
  • African American universities and colleges
  • African American composers
  • African American dramatists
  • African American intellectuals
  • African American librarians
  • African American novelists
  • African American poets
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African American Seventh-day Adventists
  • African Americans in the performing arts
  • Authors, American
  • Authors, American
  • American drama
  • Children's literature
  • Christian universities and colleges
  • Composers
  • Congregational universities and colleges
  • Harlem Renaissance
  • Migration, Internal
  • Libraries and booksellers
  • Literature
  • Literature
  • Literature
  • Radicalism
  • Segregation

Occupations:

  • Academic library directors
  • African American authors
  • African American librarians
  • African American teachers
  • African American teachers
  • Authors
  • Librarians
  • Playwrights
  • Poets

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • Tennessee--Nashville (as recorded)
  • New York (State)--New York (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Kansas (as recorded)
  • Alabama--Huntsville (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)

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