The life and legacy of Vivian Hewitt, a towering figure in the world of librarianship, education, and African American arts, continues to inspire generations following her passing at age 102 in 2022.
Hewitt made history in 1944 when she became the first Black librarian at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, serving first in the Hill District branch on Wylie Avenue and later in Homewood.
On December 3, 2022, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Aurora Reading Club — where Hewitt was a member for 75 years — hosted a tribute event at the Homewood branch to honor her trailblazing journey.
The program celebrated her contributions to literature, education, and cultural preservation.
“She is a rock star in libraryland,” said Andrew Medlar, president and director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “Her life embodies knowledge and education, and her legacy remains a part of our library’s enduring history.”
A Life of Firsts and Lifelong Impact
Born in 1920 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Hewitt earned her Library Science degree from the Carnegie Library School at what is now Carnegie Mellon University in 1944.
Her appointment to the Carnegie Library that same year broke racial barriers and laid the groundwork for future generations of Black librarians.
She later worked at Clark Atlanta University, where she met her husband, John H. Hewitt, a Morehouse College professor.
Over the years, her career flourished with leadership roles at the Rockefeller Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
In 1978, she became the first Black president of the Special Libraries Association.
“Vivian’s legacy…is still making an impact,” said Nadine Banks, president of the Aurora Reading Club. “Her true commitment to reading and the arts helped shape Pittsburgh’s intellectual and cultural community.”
A Legacy Etched in Books and Art
Hewitt and her husband also amassed one of the country’s most notable collections of African American art, much of which is now housed at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her dedication to cultural enrichment earned her numerous accolades, including:
- Distinguished Alumni Citation, University of Pittsburgh–Carnegie Library School
- Merit Award, Carnegie Mellon University
- L.H.D., Geneva College
- Induction into the American Library Association Hall of Fame (1984)
- Damehood by Queen Elizabeth II (2016)
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Carnegie Mellon University (2017)
A Family’s Testimony of Love and Inspiration
Her granddaughters, LeighAnn Hewitt Easton and Marivien Hewitt Laschon, spoke with pride at the tribute event, sharing personal stories of how Hewitt’s love of books and community left an indelible mark.
“She loved books, she loved reading… The City of Pittsburgh was instrumental in her development as a young woman,” Easton recalled. Laschon, now a Moon Township resident, added, “She inspired me in my own pursuit of education and my work ethic.”
Hewitt’s tradition of giving inscribed books on special occasions is now a cherished family ritual.
“It’s not just the love of collecting books,” Easton said, “but being part of a library, getting to know the librarian, being involved in the community, and learning to love to read.”
Though she spent much of her later life in Manhattan, Vivian Hewitt always called Pittsburgh home, where her passion, perseverance, and pioneering spirit continue to resonate.
