The Library History Roadshow for the Harlem Branch Library was a great success! Many thanks to the LHJ Law Firm for providing refreshments, to the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries and to everyone who came out to support the effort to collect memories of the Harlem Branch Library. Check out the photos from the event!
There is little documentation of this historic African American library. Thus every audio and video recording that we collect is really special. The only known image of the interior of the library and of Librarian Ada T. Payne is from a 1950 Tampa Tribune article (right).
Here is a list of our most wanted Harlem Branch Library items :
- Photo of the exterior of the library location at 1404 Central Avenue (1925-1969)
- Invitation to the opening reception for the Central Avenue location.
- Photograph of the Harlem Branch Librarians: Ada T. Payne, Lizzie Buttler Dansey, Henrietta Maddox, Cancerina Martin, Adelle Samuel, and Jettie Mae Brown.
- Harlem Branch Library card.
If you or someone you know has any such of these items, please contact the library at 813-273-3652. In the meantime, check back soon as we will post some of the video histories that were recorded!
