Three Notable Figures in Librarianship in Jamaica

Daphne Rowena Douglas

Daphne Rowena Douglas (1924- ) was head of the University of the West Indies' Library Science Program 1976-1980, and again from 1982-1993. She received the Institute of Jamaica's Centenary Medal for Meritorious Service in the Field of Librarianship and Library in 1979. Ms. Douglas is a 1974 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh's library science program.

Sources: "Biographies of Jamaican Personalities: Daphne Douglas." National Library of Jamaica. National Library of Jamaica, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. ; "Professor Daphne Rowena Douglas." Douglas Archives. Douglas Archives, 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 8 Dec. 2010.

Kenneth Everard Niven Ingram

Kenneth Everard Niven Ingram (1921-2007) was one of  the earliest known black professional librarians in Jamaica. He was the University Librarian at the University College of the West Indies for ten years and helped found the Jamaica Library Association. Also, Mr. Ingram received the Gold Musgrave Medal for his contributions to library services and was president of the Association of Caribbean Universities, Research and Institutional Libraries. Mr. Ingram passed away in 2007.

Sources: "Biographies of Jamaican Personalities: Kenneth Everard Niven Ingram." National Library of Jamaica. National Library of Jamaica, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. ; "Kenneth Everard Niven Ingram, OD, DLitt, MPhil, FLA, BA." University of the West Indies at Mona. University of the West Indies at Mona, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. ; Dunn, Pat and Mordecai, Pamela. " Ingram, Kenneth Everard Niven." Encyclopedia of Latin and Caribbean Literature. Ed. Daniel Balderston and Mike Gonzalez. New York: Routledge, 2004. 276. Print.

Dorothy G. Williams Collings

Dorothy G. Williams Collings (1911-1991) helped found the library science program at the University of the West Indies. Ms. Collings, whose parents were Jamaican, was also a librarian at the New York Public Library and an instructor at the library school at Columbia University. She also worked at Atlanta University, UNESCO, and Fisk University. Ms. Collings received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1947.

Sources: Jackson, William Vernon. "The Pioneers: Dorothy G. Collings (1911-1991)." World Libraries 11.1-2 (2001):n.pag. Dominican Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2001. Web. 8 Dec. 2010.; "Dorothy Collings: Tribute from the Library Association of Guyana." University of the West Indies at Mona, Library & Information Studies. University of the West Indies at Mona, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. ; Jordan, Casper Leroy. "Georgia Peaches and Cream: Afro-American Librarians in the State of Georgia."  Ed. Annette L. Phinazee. The Black Librarian in the Southeast: Reminiscences, Activities, Challenges. Durham: NCCU School of Library Service, 1980. 34 . Print. ; Cooper, Glendora Johnson. "African American Historical Continuity: Jean Blackwell Huston and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture." Reclaiming the American Library Past: Writing the Women In. Ed. Suzanne Hildenbrand. Norwood: Ablex, 1996. 38. Print.