Regina Anderson Andrews, Harlem Renaissance Librarian

June 1, 2014

Whitmire (library and information studies, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison) has written the first biography of African American librarian Regina Anderson Andrews (1901-93), who worked during the 1920s at the New York Public Library's (NYPL) 135th Street Branch in Harlem. There, Andrews befriended many writers--Langston Hughes, for example; connected them with the library; and hosted salons with her roommates. The character Mary in Carl Van Vechten's controversial novel Nigger Heaven was largely based on Andrews at this time. She also helped found the Harlem Experimental Theatre, which rehearsed in the basement of the library, and wrote many one-act plays. Although Andrews struggled for years to earn promotions, she eventually held the position of director of the Washington Heights Branch, becoming the first African American to lead a library in the NYPL system. Andrews was a fascinating librarian, and this biography seems too short (perhaps Andrews' collection of papers could not provide a fuller portrait). VERDICT Librarians, library school students, and fans of the Harlem Renaissance will enjoy this book, although they may wish for more context about the significant role of librarians in social and cultural movements.--Kate Stewart, American Folklife Ctr., Washington, DC

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