• Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Catherine Allen Latimer, the NYPL’s first black librarian. • Latimer had an extraordinary education in Brooklyn, abroad in Europe, and later on at Howard University. • Her first job was at the historic Tuskegee Institute. • She moved back to NYC and the NYPL hired her in 1924. • See below to read about a few of her many important contributions, via the NYPL blog : - As described by scholar, Dr. • Laura Helton, Latimer, “built on a tradition of countercataloging at black institutions”, by re-cataloging items about the African diaspora in a way that was actually accessible to researchers.
Article Summaries:
- Catherine Allen Latimer, the New York Public Library’s first Black librarian, is honored this month for her pioneering work in cataloging and preserving African‑diaspora materials. Born in Brooklyn, she studied in Europe and at Howard University before working at Tuskegee Institute. In 1924 she joined the NYPL, where she re‑cataloged books on Africa, moving them from “travel” to ethnology or history to improve accessibility. Latimer also compiled extensive clipping files on Black experiences, later turning them into scrapbooks that remain vital research resources. She personally collected works by Harlem Renaissance writers such as Claude McKay and Langston Hughes, cementing her legacy as a key figure in library science and cultural preservation.
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