Crystal Moten
Associate Director, Special Collections
What I do at The New York Public Library
As Associate Director of Collections at the Schomburg, I provide leadership and vision for its four research divisions, playing a critical role in shaping the future of the Schomburg's significant and historic collections, ensuring that it remains a leader in the field. I am a member of the Senior Leadership Team at the Schomburg.
Who am I?
I am a public historian and leader in the Galleries, Archives, Libraries and Museum (GLAM) sector. My academic and intellectual interests center on Black women's history, specifically the intersection of gender, class and labor. I have previously worked as a college professor in the small liberal arts sector, as well as a museum curator at multiple cultural institutions, including the Obama Presidential Center Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
At the Obama Presidential Center Museum I contributed to the collaborative effort to complete the design and implementation of the inaugural exhibition. I also served as the primary steward and subject matter expert of the Obama Foundation Museum Collection. At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, I was Curator of African American History in the Division of Work and Industry. There, I stewarded collections as they related to the history of African Americans in business and labor; collaborated with colleagues on several exhibitions; wrote for the Museum’s blog; and helped start, produce, and co-host a Smithsonian Podcast on African American History.
The recipient of numerous awards and honors, my research has appeared in books, journals, documentaries, and other media. I recently published Continually Working: Black Women, Community Intellectualism and Economic Justice in Postwar Milwaukee (Vanderbilt University Press, 2023).
At the Obama Presidential Center Museum I contributed to the collaborative effort to complete the design and implementation of the inaugural exhibition. I also served as the primary steward and subject matter expert of the Obama Foundation Museum Collection. At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, I was Curator of African American History in the Division of Work and Industry. There, I stewarded collections as they related to the history of African Americans in business and labor; collaborated with colleagues on several exhibitions; wrote for the Museum’s blog; and helped start, produce, and co-host a Smithsonian Podcast on African American History.
The recipient of numerous awards and honors, my research has appeared in books, journals, documentaries, and other media. I recently published Continually Working: Black Women, Community Intellectualism and Economic Justice in Postwar Milwaukee (Vanderbilt University Press, 2023).