An exciting new exhibition explores the history of the New York City Marathon through the activism and innovation of the New York Pioneer Club and the New York Road Runners, two New York-based running organizations that revolutionized long distance running in the United States. A defining characteristic of the Marathon is that it remains open to all non-professional runners regardless of race, gender, age, or ability. 

Running for Civil Rights examines the early days of that promise by exploring the leadership and legacy of two African Americans, runner Ted Corbitt (1919–2007) and civil rights activist Joseph Yancey (1910–1991), a co-founder of the interracial New York Pioneer Club in Harlem in 1936. Between 1942 and 1976 these two men, their clubs, and the accomplishments of their members would prove instrumental in democratizing long-distance running in the US and creating the ethos associated with the Marathon today. 

Open through February 25, 2024