The Negro Society for Historical Research was founded based the racial ideology that African American had no history and were no intellects. Bruce believed that their people's history did not begin on slave ships and there has to be more to the story. Bruce often was angered African Americans would succumb to white America and try to not confine their Negro Identity. Bruce wanted to eliminate that theory that all white people were the only ones to have achievements or contributions. Bruce believed that the Negro child often lack achievements was because there was a lack in intelligence which often created the lack of self-pride and resilience. Schomburg also challenged this propaganda that Negros didn't have history not only to prove to himself but racial integration. Schomburg wanted a collection to help African descent restore parts of their history since most did not know or understand their history. This monument from Schomburg was to take back what slavery took, he used this as his lifelong philosophy to restore these items and shape his vision. Since they were both militant fighters, they believed that the Black community should have a voice for themselves but in order to have a voice you have to know your history. To not be pushed under white supremacy and racism but to fight these oppositions with knowledge. Schomburg knew that knowledge was power because his knowledge opened doors for him to work with known voices in the community like W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson, Carter G. Woodson, and more intellectual voices. Also, he was able to work in high offices for national organizational and he also became known as Sherlock Holmes of Negro History and/or the Black Bibliophile. Schomburg worked hard to create this collection and with his hard work alongside Bruce they played a major role in preservation of African diaspora history which made scholars interested in learning history of African descent. Unlike the American Negro Academy (1897) that only collected history in the U.S. Bruce and Schomburg wanted to collect on a global scale because they knew that African history didn't start in America. Schomburg stated "We need a collection or list of books written by our own men and women.... We need the historian and philosopher to give us, with trenchant pen, the story of our forefathers and let our soul and body, with phosphorescent light, brighten the chasm that separates us."[https://www.proquest.com/docview/369413952/fulltext/3BA6BF23E5834333PQ/1?accountid=14472&sourcetype=NewspapersBruce even managed to locate an 1859 copy of the Anglo African Magazine, an important Civil War Era New York City newspaper. Schomburg alone collected over 5,000 items including books, newspapers, and manuscripts all to build this society His research connected schools, colleges, and internationally with strengthened organizations around the world creating Black scholars globally. Schomburg and Bruce collection helped other historical activists and politicians understand their history as well and finish their historical landmark on society. In 1926, the Negro Society of Historical Research was purchased for $10,000 by the Carnegie Corporation to a New York library and the collection later became the foundation for
NYPL's Schomburg Collection of Negro Literature and Art which became the
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.John Edward Bruce died in 1924 before the purchase happened, but he made a significant impact on the learning culture for African descent. Arthur A. Schomburg continued to build the collection after the purchase. Schomburg became a curator for Fisk's University Negro Collection in 1930. He was a curator for Fisk from 1931-1932 then later went back to being a curator for his own collection until his death in 1938. == Affiliated Members ==