Arthur A. Schomburg was a Puerto Rican historian, writer, and activist born on January 24, 1874. He is best known for his extensive collection of materials related to the African diaspora, which he dedicated his life to preserving. Schomburg believed that the contributions of people of African descent were vital to understanding history and culture. In 1925, he became the first curator of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, which houses his collection and serves as a major research institution. Schomburg's work has had a lasting impact on the study of African American history and culture.