Poetry Reading by Sterling Brown

Object Details

Creator: Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
Names: Anacostia Community Museum; Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; Brown, Sterling A., 1901-1989; Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938; Kinard, John, 1936-1989; McKay, Claude, 1890-1948; Walker, Margaret, 1915-1998; Wheatley, Phillis, 1753-1784
Collection Creator: Anacostia Community Museum

Topic: African Americans; African American poets; Poets; Poetry; Spirituals (Songs)

Biographical / Historical: Professor, poet, and literary critic Dr. Sterling A. Brown (1901-1989) was born and raised in the Washington, D.C area. He grew up on a farm in Howard County, Maryland; and attended Waterford Oaks Elementary, Dunbar High School, Williams College in Massachusetts, and Harvard University. He married Daisy Turnbull in 1927. Brown taught at Howard University, Fisk University, Vassar College, New York University, Atlanta University, Yale University, and Virginia Theological Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia. His studies and poetry focused on black history and culture of the Southern United States.

Citation: Sterling Brown, Record Group AV09-023, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Scope and Contents: Dr. Sterling Brown reads poems which illustrate certain things he believes should be said about the poetry of American negroes. He speaks about spirituals and African American poets, including Phillis Wheatley, James Weldon Johnson, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Claude McKay, and Margaret Walker; and reads their poems. John Kinard provides introduction.; Poetry reading. Part of ACM Museum Events, PR, and Ceremonies Recordings. Undated.

Collection Restrictions: Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.