Researching Elma Lewis's Legacy

Photo of Elma Lewis, an African American woman smiling. Photo captures Lewis from shoulders up. She is looking off to the left beyond the camera smiling. Black and white photo of Elma Lewis (front left), a dark-skinned African American woman, being embraced by Duke Ellington, a light-skinned African American man, (back right). Both individuals are smiling and the photograph captures them from the shoulders up in a landscape portrait. Color photograph of Elma Lewis, an African American woman smiling. Photo captures Lewis from shoulders up. She is looking straight to the camera and smiling with her mouth open. beyond the camera smiling.

Meet Ms. Elma Lewis

Elma Ina Lewis was born and raised in Boston and lived there until her death in 2004. In her lifetime she founded three arts institutions in Boston: The Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in 1950, the National Center of Afro-American Artists in 1968, and the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists in 1969. Elma Lewis's life's work was devoted to supporting the development and promotion of Afro-Centric performing and visual artists and art. Her impact in Boston's Black community, arts community, and beyond is still felt today.

Researching Elma Lewis's life and career

In the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections you can find the records of Elma Lewis's vast legacy through her own personal papers as well as the records of each institution she founded. We have the following collections that document her life and work in Boston:

Use the top menu of this guide to navigate to a page devoted to each collection that documents a portion of Ms. Elma Lewis's life's work. Each page will provide information on the collection, what it holds, and if there are any digitized materials from the collection available for viewing. 

Find here on the home page information how to arrange a visit to the Archives and Special Collections to view the records of Elma Lewis's life and work in person.

Visiting the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections

Photograph of Archives and Special Collections reading room. Photo captures glass walls that display two long tables and a desk in a room that has carts on the left hand side. In the photo are two researchers using their laptops and consulting collections at the left most table. In the back right of the photograph a researcher is consulting a computer.

The Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections is currently closed for renovations. When we reopen, we will be open for all to visit by appointment. Please contact us with any questions you may have at: archives@northeastern.edu 

Questions?

Questions about how to access the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections records? Need help getting started on your research journey?

Email us at: archives@northeastern.edu