Nella Larsen

Nella Larsen (1891-1964) was an American nurse, librarian, and writer during the Harlem Renaissance.^[1] She was born in Chicago, and grew up in a mostly white neighborhood before attending high school for one year at Fisk University’s Normal School, which is a historically Black college and university (HBCU).^[1][2] After high school, Larsen moved to Denmark where she lived with relatives and spent three years (1909-1912) auditing courses from the University of Copenhagen.^[2]

Considered an important figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Larsen was an accomplished writer. She was the first Black woman to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1930.^[1] Larsen was also awarded the Harmon Foundation’s bronze medal for Quicksand (2). Larsen’s works center middle class Black women and their experiences, focusing on topics such as marginality and mixed-race identity.^[2]

Considered an important figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Larsen was an accomplished writer. She was the first Black woman to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1930.^[1] Larsen was also awarded the Harmon Foundation’s bronze medal for Quicksand.^[2] Larsen’s works center middle class Black women and their experiences, focusing on topics such as marginality and mixed-race identity.^[2]