Episode 14: Anne Spencer

Lynchburg Neighborhood

Anne Spencer was a Harlem Renaissance poet who lived right here in Lynchburg, Virginia at 1313 Pierce Street from 1903 to 1975. In that home, Anne raised a family, tended a garden, wrote poetry on the walls and in her writing cottage, and hosted some of the greatest African American thinkers, artists, and leaders of the 20th century. Anne's granddaughter, Shaun Spencer Hester, is now the director of the Anne Spencer Museum. In our conversation, Shaun and I talk about her grandmother's life, her home, her poetry, and her love of nasturtiums. Shaun also tells us about her father, Chauncey Spencer, and how he broke down racial barriers in aviation. Find out more about the Anne Spencer Museum here.

If you enjoyed this episode, want to connect, or have a good story to share, reach out to me on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram @billyhansenmai. Billy Hansen is a commercial real estate broker, appraiser, writer, and teacher living in Lynchburg, Virginia.

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Music by: Ryan Andersen. Song: Coming Home. Ryan Andersen is an American composer and producer currently making music in Paris, France. Visit him here.