As a lover of both libraries and theater, it perhaps inevitable that I discovered Regina Anderson Andrews, playwright, actress, salon holder, and librarian in New York City from the 1920s to the 1960s. Anderson (1901-1993) was born in Chicago and moved to Harlem in her early twenties. She immediately became a participant in the cultural scene. Together with W.E.B Du Bois, she helped to found the Harlem Experimental Theater, for which she acted and wrote plays. Her apartment became a setting for lively literary gatherings, including such important writers as Langston Hughes. Although she does not feature in many histories of the Harlem Renaissance, her biographer Ethelene Whitmere calls her an important link between the vibrant personalities that created this cultural flowering.
The picture above with famous singer Marian Anderson illustrates her enduring friendships with African American artists.
Anderson earned her living working for the New York Public Library, eventually becoming the first African American to head a local branch. She used her position to sponsor arts programs and community gatherings, enriching the cultural life of the many different New York neighborhoods where she worked. Her high standing in the library earned her recognition as one of the city’s most notable Black women at the New York World’s Fair in 1939.
Almost all the pictures of I’ve found of Anderson Andrews as an older women show her in clothing I would call “librarian plus.” They are conservative to a point but with something extra to make them a stand out, like the cut work on the dress in the top picture and the wonderful shoes in the photo above. Perhaps the photo with Marian Anderson, displaying bold jewelry, is a more accurate depiction of her style.
Who helped to transform American libraries from quiet storage spaces for books into vibrant community centers? Regina Anderson Andrews was a key player in that transformation.
Thank you, Lynn!