Recently we found some old and not so old photographs of the Harlem branch among our files and wanted to share. 

The first is from April 8, 1910 and is a photograph of our 2nd floor children's room with its beautiful marble frieze and fireplace (which at the time seemed to be functioning). This was taken not too long after the branch opened in July of 1909. 

The others are from a 1998 visit by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee for a book signing for With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together. Mr. Davis grew up in Harlem and had a great love for the branch.  You can read some words he said about it here. Below is a picture of a former branch librarian, Mr. Jerome Hammond, introducing the esteemed actor and his wife.

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee

 Ossie Davis Book Signing

John Johnson, former custodian of the Harlem Branch and neighborhood favorite