Black History Month

James Mercer Langston Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes

was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry.

Born:

February 1, 1902, Joplin

Died:

May 22, 1967, New York City

Parents:

Caroline Mercer Langston, James Nathaniel Hughes

Education:

Lincoln University(1929), Columbia University (1921 – 1922)

Awards:

Spingarn Medal,Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, Quill Award for Poetry

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University holds the Langston Hughes papers (1862–1980) and the Langston Hughes collection (1924–1969) containing letters, manuscripts, personal items, photographs, clippings, artworks, and objects that document the life of Hughes. The Langston Hughes Memorial Library on the campus of Lincoln University, as well as at the James Weldon Johnson Collection within the Yale University also hold archives of Hughes' work