Born in New York City and raised in a wealthy family, Amy Einstein was a philanthropist, poet, and artist.
In 1905, she took on the Spingarn surname after marrying civil rights activist and educator, Joel E. Spingarn. A Professor at Columbia University, Spingarn fought for racial justice and became one of the first Jewish leaders who served various roles as chairman, treasurer and president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He, too, was a member of NYBG’s Board of Managers and Horticulturist, specializing in the Clematis species. Mr. Spingarn not only published articles about the native flower but his admiration for it reached his Troutbeck home garden, where he grew an indispensable amount. He shared the crops with his peers, sending seeds in envelopes and created a “Tentative Check-list of Species, Varieties and Hybrids”. Amy photographed the Clematis plants, capturing its growth and features.
Their Troutbeck home in Amenia, New York, served as the gathering space for notable African American writers such as Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Dubois. Furthermore, the NAACP 1916 and 1933 Amenia Conferences took place onsite, where over 60 social reformers met and discussed black rights, black freedom. Today, the Troutbeck is a historical manor used for educational and respite purposes, where many can continue to commune and enjoy nature.
A custodian of African American culture, Amy supported individuals during the Harlem Renaissance era, fostering growth and talent amongst the youth. Focused on the arts and literature, she provided funds to the NAACP's magazine, “The Crisis” to create the Amy Spingarn award. Recipients were encouraged to submit short stories, essays, plays, poetry, illustrations and winners received a financial prize. Many winners achieved success later in life, becoming high profile individuals in their respected fields (i.e. Rudolph Fisher, Alexander A. Smith, Edwin A. Harleston, Eulalie Spence and Laura Wheeler).
After Mr. Springarn passed away in 1939, Amy donated his correspondence records, papers, photographs and lantern slides to Mertz Library. The J.E Spingarn personal papers collection is currently housed in Mertz Library Archives.
By 1950, she volunteered at Mertz Library for approximately 3-4 years. In the Library’s 1951 annual report, Mertz Librarian Elizabeth Hall reported Amy’s tasks stating, “Mrs. J.E. Spingarn, as a volunteer assistant, translated German and French biographical accounts of botanists and horticulturists.” She also wrote book reviews in the Journal of the New York Botanical Garden, highlighting newly acquired library materials. A method used to encourage readers to visit Mertz Library, Amy provided a brief summary of the book's contents as well as her perspective. Additionally, she gifted dozens of books from her personal collection which remain in Mertz Library's General Collection:
Many people called her by her husband's name, “Mrs. Joel E. Spingarn”, "Joel's wife" and “the wife of Mr. Joel E Spingarn, however, Amy Einstein Spingarn was a force all on her own. She painted prominent African American figures and networked with Howard University librarian, Dorothy Porter and civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.
After winning the Spingarn medal in 1957, Dr. King wrote Amy a letter expressing his gratitude, “The names of the Spingarns will go down in history as symbols of the struggle for freedom and justice. Those of us who stand amid the bleak and desolate midnight of man’s inhumanity to man are given new hope for the emerging daybreak of freedom and justice when we know that such persons exist in this nation. Again, may I thank you for your generosity and understanding goodwill.”
Amy replied back to Dr. King, "I was moved by the noble language and obviously deep-felt sincerity of your letter. I know that my husband would have been proud to welcome you into the ranks of the distinguished men and women who have been recipients of the award which he established. And so am I."
Looking beyond gender, class, race, status, Amy cared about the personal and professional relationships she developed. She supported Black artistry and made it her duty to advocate for civil rights. Although majority of her time and labor is connected to her mate Mr. Spingarn, Amy's humanitarian efforts are permanently instilled in Black history.
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