Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973

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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

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Aaron Douglas papers, 1924-1939 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. When the jack hollers; or, Careless love, a Negro folk-comedy in three acts, by Langston Hughes and Arna Bentemps. Wayne State University
creatorOf Kornweibel, Theodore. "No crystal stair: Black life and the Messenger, 1917-1928" interviews, 1970-1972. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn William Grant Still Papers, 1877-1992 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence, 1881-1981 (inclusive), 1940-1979 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Literary and scholarly manuscripts collection, [ca. 1930-1980] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. Arna Wendell Bontemps records, 1934-1965. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. Arna Bontemps letters to William Grant Still and Verna Arvey, 1939-1947. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Conroy, Jack, 1898-1990. Jack Conroy papers, 1924-1991. Newberry Library
referencedIn Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. Printed material, 1932-1967 and undated. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Douglas, Aaron. Aaron Douglas papers, 1924-1939. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Campbell, Brun. Scott Joplin collection, 1900-1951. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Judson Crews Papers TXRC94-A16., 1935-1981, (bulk 1940-1966) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn C.L.R. James letters, 1939-1981, 1939-1946 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930-1965. Lorraine Hansberry papers, 1947-1988. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Manuscript music compositions, 1880-1985. Houghton Library
referencedIn United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. Race Relations Dept (1943-1970). Archives. 1943-1970. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966. Papers, 1681-1966 (bulk 1900-1960) Houghton Library
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna Wendell, 1902-1973. Arna Bontemps letters to William Grant Still and Verna Arvey, 1939-1947. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Meltzer, Milton, 1915-2009. Milton Meltzer papers, 1955-1973. University of Oregon Libraries
referencedIn Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. Mary White Ovington papers, 1854-1948. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
creatorOf Crews, Judson. Papers, 1935-1981 (bulk 1940-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Butcher, Philip, 1918-. Philip Butcher papers, ca.1890-1991. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. Papers, 1877-1992, n.d. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. Langston Hughes collection, 1924-1969. Yale University Library
referencedIn Burton, Virginia Lee, 1909-1968. Virginia Lee Burton papers, ca. 1937-1962. University of Oregon Libraries
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. Arna Bontemps letters, ca. 1936-1963. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Virginia Lee Burton papers, ca. 1937-1962 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Fuller, Hoyt, 1923-1981. Hoyt Fuller papers, 1940-1981. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
referencedIn Langston Hughes collection, 1924-1969 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Claude McKay collection, 1853-1990, 1922-1948 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Karamu House. Karamu House records, 1914-1979. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Herbert Aptheker Papers, 1842-1999, (bulk 1934-1994) Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Autograph letter signed Countee Cullen to: Frances April 26, 1936. Wellesley College
referencedIn William Stanley Braithwaite Papers, 1916-1962 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Arna Bontemps Collection, 1934-1857 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. Naomi Long Madget papers, 1932-1993. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna Wendell, 1902-1973. Arna Bontemps Collection 1934-1857. Yale University Library
creatorOf Arna Bontemps Papers, 1927-1968 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Pool, Rosey E., 1905-1971. Papers, 1959-1967. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977. Papers, 1865-1998 (inclusive), 1905-1975 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. St. Louis woman : script, 1945-1946. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Brownlee, Frederick Leslie, 1883-1962. Papers. 1883-1962. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Milton Meltzer papers, 1955-1973 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. [Pap Singleton] Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Dover, Cedric. Cedric Dover papers, circa 1920-1962. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. William Stanley Braithwaite papers, 1898-1979. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Faulkner, William J. William J. Faulkner papers, 1914-1981. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Marguerite Yourcenar additional papers, 1842-1996. Houghton Library
referencedIn Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Papers. 1921-1979. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Black oral history collection, 1970-[ongoing]. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938. James Weldon Johnson collection, 1886-1980 (bulk 1916-1930). Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Papers of Pauli Murray, 1827-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. records, 1899-2003 (bulk 1945-1989). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn West, Dorothy, 1909-. Papers, 1914-1985 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Smith, Edward Parmelee, 1827-1976. Papers 1818-1987. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Lorraine Hansberry papers, 1947-1988 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Papers of Shirley Graham Du Bois, 1865-1998 (inclusive), 1905-1975 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. Letter to Walter Goldwater 18 June 1963. University of Toledo, William S. Carlson Library
referencedIn Williams, Daniel Hale, 1856-1931. Daniel Hale Williams papers, 1880-1954. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. Papers of Langston Hughes [manuscript], 1925-1982. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Lewis Fried Collection of Jack Conroy MS 414., 1931-1981 Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries
referencedIn Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. records, 1899-2003, 1945-1989 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Richard Wright papers, 1927-1978 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Jean Wagner papers, 1945-1983 (inclusive), 1957-1963 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. The Countee Cullen/Harold Jackman Memorial Collection. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
referencedIn James A. Emanuel Papers, 1922-1995, (bulk 1960-1995) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Louis Decimus Rubin papers University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Langston Hughes papers, 1862-1980 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. Claude McKay collection, 1853-1990 (bulk 1922-1948). Yale University Library
referencedIn Jean Burden Papers, 1931-1992 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf C.L.R. James letters, 1939-1981 (bulk 1939-1946) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Frederick, John T. (John Towner), 1893-1975. Papers of John Towner Frederick, 1908-1975. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Nance, Ethel Ray, 1899-1992. A man most himself : typescript, 1922-1997. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Frank S. Horne papers, 1927-1974 Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
creatorOf Arna Bontemps Papers, 1951 University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections
referencedIn William Stanley Braithwaite papers, 1898-1979 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aaron, Stephen. person
associatedWith Algren, Nelson, 1909-1981 person
associatedWith Anderson, T. J. (Thomas Jefferson), 1928- person
associatedWith Aptheker, Herbert person
associatedWith Arlen, Harold, 1905-1986 person
associatedWith Arvey, Verna, 1910-1987. person
associatedWith Asch, Moses. person
associatedWith Baraka, Imamu Amiri, 1934- person
associatedWith Bayliss, John F. person
associatedWith Bond, Julian, 1940- person
associatedWith Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. person
associatedWith Breman, Paul. person
associatedWith Brooks, Gwendolyn, 1917-2000 person
associatedWith Brownlee, Frederick Leslie, 1883-1962. person
associatedWith Brown, Sterling Allen, 1901-1989 person
associatedWith Burden, Jean. person
associatedWith Burroughs, Margaret Taylor, 1915-2010 person
associatedWith Burton, Virginia Lee, 1909-1968. person
associatedWith Butcher, Philip, 1918- person
correspondedWith Campbell, Brun. person
associatedWith Campbell, E. Simms (Elmer Simms), 1906-1971 person
associatedWith Cayton, Horace R. (Horace Roscoe), 1903-1970 person
associatedWith Chapman, Abraham. person
associatedWith Christian, Marcus Bruce, 1900-1976 person
associatedWith Clarke, John Henrik, 1915-1998 person
associatedWith Conroy, Jack, 1898-1990. person
associatedWith Crews, Judson person
associatedWith Crews, Judson. person
associatedWith Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. person
associatedWith Cullen, Ida Mae Roberson. person
associatedWith Cuney, William Waring, 1906-1976 person
associatedWith Danner, Margaret. person
associatedWith Davis, Frank Marshall, 1905-1987 person
associatedWith Davis, Robert A. person
associatedWith Dawson, William L. (William Levi), 1886-1970 person
associatedWith Demby, William. person
associatedWith Dodson, Owen, 1914-1983 person
associatedWith Douglas, Aaron person
associatedWith Douglas, Aaron. person
associatedWith Dover, Cedric. person
associatedWith Dover, Cedric. person
associatedWith Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977. person
associatedWith Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963 person
associatedWith Edmonds, Randolph, 1900-1983 person
associatedWith Ellison, Ralph. person
correspondedWith Emanuel, James A. person
associatedWith Evans, Mari, 1923- person
associatedWith Fabre, Michel. person
associatedWith Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. corporateBody
correspondedWith Faulkner, William J. person
associatedWith Fauset, Jessie Redmon. person
associatedWith Federal Writers' Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Fields, Julia. person
associatedWith Fisk University corporateBody
associatedWith Frederick, John T. (John Towner), 1893-1975. person
associatedWith Fried, Lewis, collector person
associatedWith Fuller, Hoyt, 1923-1981. person
correspondedWith Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966 person
associatedWith Gleason, Ralph J. person
associatedWith Goldwater, Walter. person
associatedWith Handy, W. C. (William Christopher), 1873-1958 person
associatedWith Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930-1965. person
associatedWith Hill, Herbert, 1924-2004 person
associatedWith Hines, Carl Wendell. person
associatedWith Horne, Frank Smith, 1899-1974. person
correspondedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Howland, Frances. person
associatedWith Hudson, David. person
associatedWith Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. person
associatedWith Huntley, Leston. person
associatedWith Jackman, Harold, 1901-1961 person
associatedWith Jacobsen, Josephine. person
associatedWith James, C. L. R. (Cyril Lionel Robert), 1901-1989. person
associatedWith Joans, Ted. person
associatedWith Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956 person
associatedWith Johnson, Georgia Douglas, d. 1966 person
associatedWith Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938. person
associatedWith Karamu House. corporateBody
associatedWith Kay, Ulysses, 1917-1995 person
associatedWith Kornweibel, Theodore. person
associatedWith Lawrence, Jacob, 1917-2000 person
associatedWith Locke, Alain, 1885-1954 person
correspondedWith Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. person
associatedWith Major, Clarence, person
associatedWith Major, Clarence. person
associatedWith McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. person
associatedWith Meadowcroft, Enid La Monte, 1898-1966 person
associatedWith Means, Florence Crannell, 1891- person
correspondedWith Meltzer, Milton, 1915-2009. person
associatedWith Mitchell, Loften. person
associatedWith Moldenhauer, Hans person
associatedWith Moon, Bucklin, 1911- person
associatedWith Nance, Ethel Ray, 1899-1992. person
associatedWith Newsome, Effie Lee, 1885-1979 person
associatedWith Oden, Gloria. person
associatedWith Ottley, Roi, 1906-1960 person
correspondedWith Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. person
associatedWith Palfi, Marion, 1907-1978 person
associatedWith Pauli Murray, 1910-1985 person
associatedWith Piquion, Rene. person
associatedWith Pool, Rosey E., 1905-1971. person
associatedWith Preece, Harold, 1906- person
associatedWith Preminger, Alex. person
associatedWith Randall, Dudley, 1914-2000 person
associatedWith Reynolds, Louis B. (Louis Bernard), 1917-1983 person
associatedWith Rosenwald, Lessing J. (Lessing Julius), 1891-1979 person
associatedWith Rubin, Louis Decimus, 1923- person
associatedWith Schuyler, George S. (George Samuel), 1895-1977 person
associatedWith SHIRLEY GRAHAM DU BOIS, 1896-1977 person
associatedWith Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 person
associatedWith Singleton, Benjamin, 1809-1900. person
associatedWith Smith, Edward Parmelee, 1827-1976. person
associatedWith Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. person
associatedWith Stock, Mildred. person
associatedWith Tarry, Ellen, 1906-2008 person
associatedWith Terrell, Mary Church, 1863-1954 person
associatedWith Thompson, Era Bell. person
associatedWith Tolsin, Melvin Beaunorus. person
associatedWith Toomer, Marjorie Content. person
associatedWith Tunis, John Roberts, 1889-1975 person
associatedWith Turner, Darwin T., 1931-1991 person
associatedWith Turner, John B. person
associatedWith United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. Race Relations Dept (1943-1970) corporateBody
associatedWith Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964 person
correspondedWith Wagner, Jean, 1919- person
associatedWith West, Dorothy, 1909- person
associatedWith White, Clarence Cameron, 1880-1960 person
associatedWith White, Walter Francis, 1893-1955 person
associatedWith Williams, Daniel Hale, 1856-1931. person
associatedWith Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 person
associatedWith Wright, Richard, 1908-1960. person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
associatedWith Yourcenar, Marguerite. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Tennessee--Nashville
New York (State)--New York
United States
United States
Kansas
Alabama--Huntsville
United States
United States
Subject
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
Occupation
Academic library directors
African American authors
African American librarians
African American teachers
African American teachers
Authors
Librarians
Playwrights
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1902-10-13

Death 1973-06-04

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 54984945