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Libraries, museums and bookstores: Black Cultural Archives

Opening Hours

Monday CLOSED
Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 11:30 - 17:00
Friday 11:30 - 17:00
Saturday 11:30 - 17:00
Sunday CLOSED  

Reading Room and Library: Thursdays - Saturdays 12:30 - 16:30, by appointment.

How to get there?

Black Cultural Archives
1 Windrush Square, Brixton
London
SW2 1EF

The closest station is Brixton

About the Black Cultural Archives

Founded in 1981, the Black History Archives (BCA)'s mission is to record, preserve and celebrate the history of people of African descent in Britain. In 2014, the BCA opened a new building in Brixton, enabling access to the archive collection, providing dedicated learning spaces and mounting a programme of exhibitions and events. 

One of the BCA founders was Len Garrison, an educationalist, community activist and historian whose life's work was to catalogue the development of the black British identity and its history and promote the works of young black writers. 

In the library, you can find over 8000 books, including a variety of rare and out of print books, chronicling the experience of people of African descent across the diaspora. The library also houses the library of the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading independent racial equality thinktank. 
The subjects include:

  • Ancient history

  • Art, Literature and poetry

  • Architecture

  • Black British History/Wars

  • Economics

  • Language

  • Racial equality and discrimination

Accessing the library

The library is accessible by appointment only.

To make an appointment, email archives@bcaheritage.org.uk or call +44 (0)203 757 8500