African American Presidents of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)

The first African American man to become president of ACRL was Joseph H. Reason (1971-1972).

Sources: Jordan, Casper Leroy and E.J. Josey. “A Chronology of Events in Black Librarianship.” Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva L. DeLoach. 2nd ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 10. Print. ; “ACRL History: ACRL Presidents (beginning with 1938).” ACRL. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. ; A Directory of Negro Graduates of Accredited Library Schools, 1900-1936. Washington: Columbia Civic Library Association, 1937. 19. Print. ; Ellis, Elizabeth G. “The Southeastern Black Academic Librarian.” The Black Librarian in the Southeast: Reminiscences, Activities, Challenges. Durham: NCCU School of Library Science, 1980. 179. Print. ; Davis, Mary Ellen K. and Mary Jane Petrowski. "Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)." Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Vol. 1. Ed. Marcia J. Bates and Mary Niles Maack. 3rd ed. Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2010. 372. Print. ; Jefferson, Julius C. “The Black Male Librarian: An Endangered Species.” The National Diversity in Libraries Conference. Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville, KY. 3 Oct. 2008. Pdf.


The first African American woman to become president of ACRL was Louise Giles (1975-1976).

Sources: Jordan, Casper Leroy and E.J. Josey. “A Chronology of Events in Black Librarianship.” Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva L. DeLoach. 2nd ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 12. Print. ; “ACRL History: ACRL Presidents (beginning with 1938).” ACRL. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. ; Davis, Mary Ellen K. and Mary Jane Petrowski. "Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)." Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Vol. 1. Ed. Marcia J. Bates and Mary Niles Maack. 3rd ed. Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2010. 372. Print.

Update 7/27/2020:

Other African American presidents of ACRL:

Tyrone Cannon, 2003-2004

Trevor Dawes, 2013-2014

Jon Cawthorne, 2020-2021

Sources: Davis, Mary Ellen. "Cawthorne Elected ACRL Vice-President/President-Elect." ALA News.  American Library Association, 11 Apr. 2019. Web. 27 Jul. 2020. ; Wurm, Jill. "School of Information Science Dean Elected President of the Association of College and Research Libraries." News and Announcements. Wayne State University, School of Information Science, 23 Jul. 2020. Web. 27 Jul. 2020. ; “ACRL History: ACRL Presidents (beginning with 1938).” ACRL. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 27 Jul. 2020.