James Baldwin Home Added to US Historic Places Register

The Manhattan home of renowned author, poet, and civil rights activist James Baldwin, who drew the ire of publishers more than half a century ago by writing about gay relationships, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places just months after the residence was designated as a New York City landmark.

The national designation represents a significant recognition of a man who was unafraid to confront social injustices and whose work featuring queer characters and topics was revolutionary during his time. Baldwin recognized from an early age that he was gay.

In 1965, Baldwin moved into an apartment in a now-landmarked building located at 137 West 71st Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue, and spent parts of the final two decades of his life there before he died in France in 1987. He wound up purchasing the entire building, according to the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project.

Baldwin was not the only iconic black author to have lived in that apartment building. The late Toni Morrison, who passed away last month, spent a brief time living there, as well, according to the Historic Sites Project.



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