Black Women in America – Part 42
We are coming to the end of our journey through the lives of remarkable Black Women in America. We have told the stories of nearly 100 amazing black women and if I had not limited the number to Black Female Firsts, we could go on for many years. I hope that you have been enlightened and inspired by the many accounts that appear on this website. Next time, I will furnish a bibliography containing sources that I used in my research so that you can get some books for further reading.
We have covered the stories of African American women throughout the history of the United States from the late 18th century to the present including – Educators, writers, artists, scientists, inventors, medical personnel, athletes, entertainers, political leaders and activists, achievers of special awards, pilots and astronauts, missionaries, religious leaders, business leaders, and many more.
Last time we looked at black females in police, military, and firefighting. This week we will discover a librarian whose involvement in her culture paved the way for many black artists.
Regina Anderson Andrews – (1901-1993) Pioneering African American Librarian
Regina Andrews is remembered for much more than her contributions to the American library system. She was an author, playwright and the executive director of the Harlem Experimental Theatre for many years. Today she is hailed as a good role model for educators.
Born on May 21, 1901, Regina was of mixed ancestry – Native American, Jewish, East Indian, Swedish, and African. She identified herself as an “American” but was perceived by others as African American. She was born in the Hyde Park section of Chicago, Illinois, to Margaret Simons Anderson, a ceramics artist, and William Grant Anderson, a skilled attorney. Her parents divorced and she went to live with her grandparents in Normal, Illinois. She moved back to Chicago and graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1919.
Regina studied at Wilberforce University and worked in the Carnegie Library. She returned to Chicago and worked as a library assistant at the Chicago Public Library in 1921. Sometime later she moved to New York and lived at the YWCA. There she got a job at a branch of the New York Public Library, working under Ernestine Rose.
While she was in New York she worked with other pioneering African American librarians such as Catherine Latimer, the New York Public Library’s first black female librarian. Regina became the first minority to climb the ranks to supervisor at the New York Public Library, at the 115th Street branch in 1938. There were many at the time who congratulated her when she managed to break the racial barrier.
The 115th Street building, where Regina Anderson became the first African American to lead an NYPL branch.
Regina was concerned about the lack of black history in schools. She loved reading whatever stories were available and one famous African American who influenced her was Ida B. Wells.[1] Recall that Ida B. Wells was the courageous black woman who was physically removed from her seat on a train by prejudiced white railway officials. Regina was inspired to become a member of the Harlem Renaissance. She shared an apartment in the Sugar Hill district of Harlem with Ethel Ray and Louella Tucker. The women opened their home to artist gatherings hosting salons and other events. Their apartment, located at 580 Saint Nicholas Avenue, became known as the “580” and the “Harlem West Side Literary Salon”. Regina helped to organize the Civic Club dinner of 1924 for black New York intellectuals and writers which was attended by 110 guests.[2]
A party on the roof of Regina Anderson’s home, at 580 St. Nicholas Ave. in Harlem. From left to right, attendees included Ethel Ray (Nance), Langston Hughes, Helen Lanning, Pearl Fisher, Regina Anderson (Andrews), Rudolf Fisher, Luella Tucker, Clarissa Scott (Delany), Esther Popel, Hubert Delany, Jessie Fauset, Marie Johnson and E. Franklin Frazier.
Regina became friends with many famous people including W.E.B. Du Bois, Jean Toomer, Countee Cullen, Charles, S. Johnson, Hubert Thomas Delany, and Langston Hughes. She and W.E.B. Du Bois co-founded a black theater company, the Krigwa Players (later Negro Experimental Theatre). They produced Regina’s playsClimbing Jacob’s Ladder (about a lynching) and Underground (about the Underground Railroad). She also co-founded with Dorothy Petersen the Harlem Experimental Theatre and co-edited “Chronology of African Americans in New York, 1621-1966” with Ethel Nance. She was a close friend of A’Lelia Walker, daughter of beauty entrepreneur Madame C.J. Walker. Madam C.J. Walker also knew Ida B. Wells.[3] These women encouraged and inspired each other to do great things.
She married William T. Andrews, an NAACP lawyer and New York assemblyman. They adopted a daughter who was born in 1945. Throughout this exciting time of working with other black writers and artists, Regina stayed focused on her job as a librarian. She believed that books were a good means of promoting intercultural understanding.
Regina continued her work at the New York Public Library until 1966, when she retired. She died on February 5, 1993, at the age of 91 having outlived all of the other original members of the Harlem Renaissance.
You can get a biography of Regina: “Regina Anderson Andrews: Harlem Renaissance Librarian”, a biography on Andrews written by Dr. Ethelene Whitmire.
In addition to her book, Dr. Whitmire has a brief YouTube video about Andrews, “Harlem Renaissance Librarian: The Life of Regina Andrews.”
Conclusion
It has been my privilege and honor to recount the stories of so many amazing black American women. I hope that you have enjoyed the stories. I hope that you will share them with others who may still be prejudiced for whatever reason against the female gender and/or any minorities including African Americans.
The following quotes are representative of the sentiments and goals of the over 100 Black Female Firsts on this website. These are wise words for everyone.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman
Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.
Mary McLeod Bethune
Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.
Madam C.J. Walker
I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
Rosa Parks
I did my best, and God did the rest.
Hattie McDaniel
Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.
Dr. Mae Jemison
As I have demonstrated by putting each category of stories in a somewhat historical order, African Americans have lived through many changes in the United States from slavery to civil rights. We have seen things gradually change for black Americans – it is illegal now to deny opportunities based on race – but we have a long way to go to change more than civil laws.
I believe that one of the main problems is a problem of perception – I mean that deep down on a subliminal level there is the idea that men can always do it better than women and whites can do it better than blacks. You only have to look at the living conditions, hiring practices, and educational opportunities in some parts of the country to see this attitude played out.
Courageous black women have taken the high road – they have followed their callings to live for God and others. Their stories lift up the image of black women. That is why I have told them. No one, reading these stories, can continue to say that black females don’t measure up. The problem is with the one who would still maintain racial and gender inferiority.
My prayer is that all people may one day be together in work, play, worship, and community as one humanity under God.
[1] You can read more about Ida B. Wells on this site at: https://authormarywalker.com/black-women-activists-ida-b-wells/
[2] From an article in Harlem World Magazine: https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-legendary-american-playwright-and-librarian-regina-m-anderson-1901-1993/
[3] Read about Madam C. J. Walker here: https://authormarywalker.com/madam-c-j-walker-entrepreneur-and-philanthropist/
Black Women in America – Librarians
“I’m American”
Black Women in America – Part 42
We are coming to the end of our journey through the lives of remarkable Black Women in America. We have told the stories of nearly 100 amazing black women and if I had not limited the number to Black Female Firsts, we could go on for many years. I hope that you have been enlightened and inspired by the many accounts that appear on this website. Next time, I will furnish a bibliography containing sources that I used in my research so that you can get some books for further reading.
We have covered the stories of African American women throughout the history of the United States from the late 18th century to the present including – Educators, writers, artists, scientists, inventors, medical personnel, athletes, entertainers, political leaders and activists, achievers of special awards, pilots and astronauts, missionaries, religious leaders, business leaders, and many more.
Last time we looked at black females in police, military, and firefighting. This week we will discover a librarian whose involvement in her culture paved the way for many black artists.
Regina Anderson Andrews – (1901-1993) Pioneering African American Librarian
Regina Andrews is remembered for much more than her contributions to the American library system. She was an author, playwright and the executive director of the Harlem Experimental Theatre for many years. Today she is hailed as a good role model for educators.
Born on May 21, 1901, Regina was of mixed ancestry – Native American, Jewish, East Indian, Swedish, and African. She identified herself as an “American” but was perceived by others as African American. She was born in the Hyde Park section of Chicago, Illinois, to Margaret Simons Anderson, a ceramics artist, and William Grant Anderson, a skilled attorney. Her parents divorced and she went to live with her grandparents in Normal, Illinois. She moved back to Chicago and graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1919.
Regina studied at Wilberforce University and worked in the Carnegie Library. She returned to Chicago and worked as a library assistant at the Chicago Public Library in 1921. Sometime later she moved to New York and lived at the YWCA. There she got a job at a branch of the New York Public Library, working under Ernestine Rose.
While she was in New York she worked with other pioneering African American librarians such as Catherine Latimer, the New York Public Library’s first black female librarian. Regina became the first minority to climb the ranks to supervisor at the New York Public Library, at the 115th Street branch in 1938. There were many at the time who congratulated her when she managed to break the racial barrier.
The 115th Street building, where Regina Anderson became the first African American to lead an NYPL branch.
Regina was concerned about the lack of black history in schools. She loved reading whatever stories were available and one famous African American who influenced her was Ida B. Wells.[1] Recall that Ida B. Wells was the courageous black woman who was physically removed from her seat on a train by prejudiced white railway officials. Regina was inspired to become a member of the Harlem Renaissance. She shared an apartment in the Sugar Hill district of Harlem with Ethel Ray and Louella Tucker. The women opened their home to artist gatherings hosting salons and other events. Their apartment, located at 580 Saint Nicholas Avenue, became known as the “580” and the “Harlem West Side Literary Salon”. Regina helped to organize the Civic Club dinner of 1924 for black New York intellectuals and writers which was attended by 110 guests.[2]
A party on the roof of Regina Anderson’s home, at 580 St. Nicholas Ave. in Harlem. From left to right, attendees included Ethel Ray (Nance), Langston Hughes, Helen Lanning, Pearl Fisher, Regina Anderson (Andrews), Rudolf Fisher, Luella Tucker, Clarissa Scott (Delany), Esther Popel, Hubert Delany, Jessie Fauset, Marie Johnson and E. Franklin Frazier.
Regina became friends with many famous people including W.E.B. Du Bois, Jean Toomer, Countee Cullen, Charles, S. Johnson, Hubert Thomas Delany, and Langston Hughes. She and W.E.B. Du Bois co-founded a black theater company, the Krigwa Players (later Negro Experimental Theatre). They produced Regina’s playsClimbing Jacob’s Ladder (about a lynching) and Underground (about the Underground Railroad). She also co-founded with Dorothy Petersen the Harlem Experimental Theatre and co-edited “Chronology of African Americans in New York, 1621-1966” with Ethel Nance. She was a close friend of A’Lelia Walker, daughter of beauty entrepreneur Madame C.J. Walker. Madam C.J. Walker also knew Ida B. Wells.[3] These women encouraged and inspired each other to do great things.
She married William T. Andrews, an NAACP lawyer and New York assemblyman. They adopted a daughter who was born in 1945. Throughout this exciting time of working with other black writers and artists, Regina stayed focused on her job as a librarian. She believed that books were a good means of promoting intercultural understanding.
Regina continued her work at the New York Public Library until 1966, when she retired. She died on February 5, 1993, at the age of 91 having outlived all of the other original members of the Harlem Renaissance.
You can get a biography of Regina: “Regina Anderson Andrews: Harlem Renaissance Librarian”, a biography on Andrews written by Dr. Ethelene Whitmire.
In addition to her book, Dr. Whitmire has a brief YouTube video about Andrews, “Harlem Renaissance Librarian: The Life of Regina Andrews.”
Conclusion
It has been my privilege and honor to recount the stories of so many amazing black American women. I hope that you have enjoyed the stories. I hope that you will share them with others who may still be prejudiced for whatever reason against the female gender and/or any minorities including African Americans.
The following quotes are representative of the sentiments and goals of the over 100 Black Female Firsts on this website. These are wise words for everyone.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman
Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.
Mary McLeod Bethune
Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.
Madam C.J. Walker
I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
Rosa Parks
I did my best, and God did the rest.
Hattie McDaniel
Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.
Dr. Mae Jemison
As I have demonstrated by putting each category of stories in a somewhat historical order, African Americans have lived through many changes in the United States from slavery to civil rights. We have seen things gradually change for black Americans – it is illegal now to deny opportunities based on race – but we have a long way to go to change more than civil laws.
I believe that one of the main problems is a problem of perception – I mean that deep down on a subliminal level there is the idea that men can always do it better than women and whites can do it better than blacks. You only have to look at the living conditions, hiring practices, and educational opportunities in some parts of the country to see this attitude played out.
Courageous black women have taken the high road – they have followed their callings to live for God and others. Their stories lift up the image of black women. That is why I have told them. No one, reading these stories, can continue to say that black females don’t measure up. The problem is with the one who would still maintain racial and gender inferiority.
My prayer is that all people may one day be together in work, play, worship, and community as one humanity under God.
[1] You can read more about Ida B. Wells on this site at: https://authormarywalker.com/black-women-activists-ida-b-wells/
[2] From an article in Harlem World Magazine: https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-legendary-american-playwright-and-librarian-regina-m-anderson-1901-1993/
[3] Read about Madam C. J. Walker here: https://authormarywalker.com/madam-c-j-walker-entrepreneur-and-philanthropist/
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