Mid-Twentieth Century African American Literary Culture: Langston Hughes Autographed Lincoln University Lecture Announcement

1940. Hughes, Langston. Signed broadside for lecture readings at Lincoln University, circa 1940s-early 1950s, documents his role as a leading African American poet and public intellectual returning to his alma mater for a formal campus appearance. The printed announcement lists Hughes as presenting "Lecture-Readings" as part of Lincoln University's Lecture-Recital Series and includes performance of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," his 1921 poem that established themes of historical continuity, racial memory, and cultural endurance central to his literary career. Issued during the period when Hughes regularly appeared at historically Black colleges and universities following his national recognition as a Harlem Renaissance figure, the broadside records the circulation of Black literature through live academic and communal settings. Lincoln University, where Hughes earned his B.A. in 1929 after leaving Columbia University amid racial exclusion, provided an early institutional foundation for his intellectual development; his later return as featured lecturer underscores the sustained relationship between Black higher education and African American literary production.

Hughes, Langston. Signed printed broadside announcing lecture readings at Lincoln University. Undated, circa 1940s-early 1950s. Measures approximately 5 x 7½ inches. Printed program notes Hughes's presentation of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" alongside musical selections and concludes, "Mr. Hughes will meet the public in Bennett Lounge following the program." Signed prominently in blue ink in the lower blank area, "Langston Hughes."

The broadside situates Hughes within mid-century campus programming that combined poetry, music, and public discussion, reflecting the integration of literary performance and Black institutional life. "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," first published when Hughes was a teenager, links African American identity to ancient civilizations and diasporic history, and its inclusion in this program demonstrates the continuity between his early poetic voice and later public presentations. Light overall wrinkling now largely flattened; two small closed tears at the bottom edge and right margin stabilized with archival tape on verso; signature bold and clear. Overall very good condition. Signed piece of African American literary ephemera connecting Harlem Renaissance authorship to historically Black collegiate culture.