ENGL 101 English Composition 1 (Bartley)

Research on Jacob Lawrence and "The Library"

Research Question: 
Who was Jacob Lawrence and why was his painting The Library so important?

IMPORTANT: Jacob Lawrence created different paintings called The Library. You may choose which version or versions to write about.

Click on images to enlarge

Jacob Lawrence: The Library

Jacob Lawrence, The Library, 1960, tempera on fiberboard, 24 x 29 7/8 in. (60.9 x 75.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.24

Research Tools

Research Historical & Biographical Contexts

What should you type into the database to learn about historical periods and people? Try broad search terms, such as: 

  • Jacob Lawrence
  • The Great Migration
  • Harlem Renaissance
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • Voting Rights 

Sample Search of "Jacob Lawrence" in Biography in Context:

homepage Jacob lawrence bio in context

Excerpts from the opening article

Biography excerpt 1

bio excerpt 2

Start with Academic Encyclopedias for Introductory Overviews

What should you type in? 

Use general key words that capture your research focus.

Use OR for synonyms & related ideas and use AND to narrow and focus your search.

For example: 

  • Black Americans OR African Americans AND literacy OR public libraries
  • Jacob Lawrence OR lawrence, jacob AND art OR painting OR modern*

Sample search of Black Americans OR African Americans AND literacy OR public libraries returns 361 articles, including articles about Jim Crow laws and education, enslavement and literacy laws, voting rights and literacy tests, and more.

The images below show the initial search and one search result, an article on literacy in Jim Crow America. Click on images to enlarge.

gale ebooks search

Article excerpt: "Literacy" from The Encyclopedia of Jim Crow America, 2019 in Gale eBooks.

article excerpt- Literacy

Learn more with Books, Book Chapters, Reviews, Interviews, Scholarly Articles, & more

Sample Search: The Library AND Jacob Lawrence

One SEarch: the library AND jacob lawrence

This search may help me find sources that discuss Lawrence's "Library" paintings, but it also returns other interesting and useful sources (512 in total). Click on a title to learn more about what it's about and to find useful Subject Terms for your searches.

Click on image to enlarge.

one search JL and the library results

Search Online

Search the web for curated exhibitions, analysis, & more 

  • Find works BY Jacob Lawrence
  • Find works ABOUT Jacob Lawrence

Two web searches: Google & Google Scholar

Google Web Search

 

Google Scholar Search

Research & Writing Prompt

Your Essay

Who was Jacob Lawrence and why was his painting The Library so important?

Do some research on your own and write two to three pages on what you see in this painting and explain why it is an important painting. This is the thesis to your essay. 

In other words you will explain who Lawrence was and why a painting called The Library is significant to American history. 

Being a good writer means asking the right questions. Initial Questions:

  • What are some of the names of the series and how do those names reflect on his work?
  • What do all those paintings portray?
  • Are there common themes or common elements?
  • In what time period did he paint these?
  • What was his race? How is race explored and represented in his work?
  • What was happening in American history at the time?

Please add one source that supports your thesis, and cite your source with MLA style. 

Note: This assignment is from Instructor Nancy Bartley, 10/24