List

African American Literature (General Collections)

The Library collects contemporary works by African-American authors in all formats and genres, including genre fiction (science fiction, fantasy, detective novels, thrillers, etc.), novels, play scripts, comic books and graphic novels. Musical recordings, television shows, feature films, and documentaries by and featuring African Americans are also well represented.

Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture

Afrofuturism

One of the most popular and actively researched sub-genres today is Afrofuturism, and our collection is strong and growing.

Arthur Huff Fauset Collection

Arthur Huff Fauset (1899-1983) was an African American anthropologist, folklorist, writer, educator, and activist. His collection of papers includes creative writing, journalism, and correspondence. The Rare Book Collection also holds a small group of books and pamphlets that belonged to Fauset.

Original artwork by Ashley Bryan displayed on a table

Ashley Bryan Archive

Renowned artist, writer, storyteller, children's book creator, and humanitarian Ashley Bryan created thousands of drawings, paintings, collages, and linoleum block prints over the course of his long and productive life. His archive, containing hundreds of original works documenting his career, was donated to the University of Pennsylvania Libraries in 2019.

Black Panther Party Research Materials

The Kislak Center holds several groups of printed material related to the Black Panther Party in the United States, including a substantial run of The Black Panther newspaper, along with broadsides and several books.

Title page detail from Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi, Kitab Shamail al-Mustafa (Fez, Morocco, 1865)

Fez Lithographs Collection

This collection of over 170 titles documents the earliest printing in Morocco. The bulk of the collection dates from 1865 to 1936, covering most of the span of Moroccan lithographic printing from its beginning in the city of Fez to its end during the French Protectorate.

Cover of Other Words for Home.

Immigrant and Refugee Experiences in Children’s and Young Adult Literature

The Penn Libraries is actively expanding its collection of children’s and young adult literatures with the goal of privileging diverse voices, cultures, and perspectives. Recently, an internal collection development grant enabled the Libraries to narrow in on juvenile literatures that focus on immigrant and refugee communities in the United States.