Mollie Huston Lee, far right, takes books to a hospital patient.

(This is an updated version of a previous article.)

RALEIGH – Community members gathered in Southeast Raleigh for tears, laughs, and memories at the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Richard B. Harrison Library late last year.

The library opened in 1935 as a storefront on East Hargett Street with 890 books. Spearheaded by Wake County’s first Black librarian, Mollie Huston Lee, the library’s impact in the community remains significant almost a century after its opening.

Countless supporters and library staff spoke of generations of their families attending events and spending time at the library, checking out its extensive collection which provided works by Black authors and about notable Black figures – something other libraries and schools did not provide.

Richard Berry Harrison was a renowned Black actor and drama professor. He was the first Black man to be pictured on the cover of Time. The library drew notable figures, such as Zora Neale Hurston, John Hope Franklin, W.E.B. Dubois and Langston Hughes.

“Imagine being a woman in 1935 when rights and opportunities were limited. Now, imagine being a Black woman during that time,” said Monica Lucas-Shabazz, a librarian at Harrison. “A Black woman that had unwavering  determination, dedication and courage to advocate for a library that not only would educate and inspire but also would become a focal point and gathering spot in the community.”

The celebration concluded by announcing the inaugural cohort of the Mollie Huston Lee Legacy Awards. Octavia Rainey was recognized for an award, as well as Lucas-Shabazz.

Wanda Cox-Bailey, who received the first-ever Mollie Huston Lee Legacy Award, hosted the celebration. North Carolina Assistant State Librarian Tiwanna Nevels said Cox-Bailey is “a tireless library advocate, a beacon of community service and an inspiring leader. These are not just qualities that describe her but values that describe how she chooses to live each day.”

Cox-Bailey was the library’s branch manager for over 25 years and often forgets she is now “just a patron of the library.”

The Harrison Library joined the Wake County Public Library System in 1967 after relocating to South Blount Street; later finding its now home at 1313 New Bern Avenue. It is a powerful cornerstone of the community, bringing together programs in literacy, community service, culture, and preserving vital Black and local history.

One favorite program was a tea party, in which children would do arts and crafts, listen to stories, and sip tea in their best clothes with their favorite doll or action figure. Cox-Bailey said Lee was “big about manners,” and the tea party was a chance to see how children were faring on that front.

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