Chicago, Illinois (April 13, 1891 – March 30, 1960) age 72 yrs

Nella Larsen was an African-American novelist who wrote several pieces during the Harlem Renaissance. Larsen’s work was recognized as being of great quality by her peers and critics. She went by several different names throughout her life. These names included Nellie Walker, Nellye Larson, Nellie Larsen, and finally, Nella Larsen. She also used her married name, Nella Larsen Imes. Larsen was born in 1891 as Nellie Walker. She was the daughter of a Danish woman and a West Indian man of color. Her mother later married a white man. As a result, she grew up as the black child of a lower-middle-class white household. She was sent to attend Fisk University out of shame of her family because of her race.