In March 1925 Schomburg published his essay "The Negro Digs Up His Past" in an issue of "Survey Graphic" devoted to the intellectual life of Harlem. It had widespread distribution and influence. The autodidact historian John Henrik Clarke told of being so inspired by the essay that at the age of 17 he left home in Columbus, Georgia, to seek out Mr. Schomburg to further his studies in African history. Alain Locke included the essay in his edited collection "The New Negro".