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NYPL's extensive research collections on indigenous peoples

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The New York Public Library houses a vast collection of over 100,000 volumes documenting indigenous peoples of the Americas. These research collections span centuries and continents, offering a comprehensive resource for studying indigenous history, languages, and cultures.

Collections include materials from the 16th century to contemporary works
Strong holdings in historical works, linguistics, and special collections from colonial Latin America
Important documents relating to New York's relations with the Six Nations in the 18th century

Jason Baumann

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Our primary offerings that pertain to the history of indigenous peoples are our research collections.

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While the city primarily funds the operations and collections of NYPL's branch libraries, our endowment and other private funding support the majority of the offerings of our 4 research libraries.

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NYPL's research collections have more than a 100,000 volumes that document indigenous peoples of the Americas.

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This ranges from the earliest grammars and dictionaries of indigenous languages from the 16th century to contemporary literature, including children's and young adult literature, and scholarship by indigenous people.

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The library's curators collect not only materials by and about the indigenous people of the United States, but also North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean with very strong holdings in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and dozens of indigenous languages.

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The library's collections are also strong in historical works and linguistics with many pioneering works on native languages, including manuscript dictionaries of Algonquin and Chippewa languages from the 19th century.

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Library's special collections are strong in documentation of indigenous relations during the 16th 17th century colonial period for Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Peru, including early manuscripts in Nahuatl.

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Additionally, NYPL holds important documents relating to New York's relations with the 6 Nations, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Tuscarora, and the 18th century.

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Introduction to NYPL's support for indigenous arts, culture, and history

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Recent acquisitions and collaborations in indigenous collections