African American Officers of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)

The first African American president of the American Association of Law Libraries was Carol Avery Nicholson.

Sources: Rush, Mila. "Firsts in Academic Law Libraries." American Association of Law Libraries. AALL-SIS, 22 Sept. 2006. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. ; "TS-SIS Long Time Member Profile: Carol Avery Nicholson." American Association of Law Libraries. AALL-Technical Services Special Interest Section, 4 Oct. 2006. Web. 29 Aug. 2012.
 

Ruth Johnson Hill was the first African American to serve as chair for the American Association of Law Libraries – Academic Libraries Special Interest Section. She was also the first African American to chair the organization’s Council of Special Interest Section Chairs.

Sources: Rush, Mila. "Firsts in Academic Law Libraries." American Association of Law Libraries. AALL-SIS, 22 Sept. 2006. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. ; "ALL-SIS Officers and Committees 2001-2002." American Association of Law Libraries. ALL-SIS, 17 June 2002. Web. 26 Jan. 2011.

Allen Mercer Daniel, the first law librarian of Howard University (1940-1956), was also the first African American member of the American Association of Law Libraries.

Sources: Berry, Cynthia. "Allen Mercer Daniel: A Leader in Librarianship." AALL Spectrum 4 (2000): 12. Print. ; Centennial Committee of the Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section. "Firsts in Academic Law Libraries." American Association of Law Libraries - Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section. American Association of Law Libraries, 22 Sept. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. ; "Daniel Online Resource Guide." Howard University School of Law Library. Howard University School of Law Library, 6 Oct. 2010. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. ; "Introducing the AALL Hall of Fame." AALL Spectrum Jul. 2010: 14. Print.

Judy Dimes-Smith was the first African American elected to the American Association of Law Libraries Executive Board.

Sources: Centennial Committee of the Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section. "Firsts in Academic Law Libraries." American Association of Law Libraries - Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section. American Association of Law Libraries, 22 Sept. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. ; "Memorials: Judy Barbara Dimes-Smith." Law Library Journal 86 (1994): 373-374. Print. ; Howland, Joan S. "Focus on Diversity : Diversity Deferred." Law Library Journal 90 (1998): 561. Print. ; Dimes-Smith, Judy. "Law Librarianship: An African-American Perspective." Law Library Lights 35 (1992): 4. Print.

African American State Law Librarians of West Virginia

From 1900-1906, Samuel W. Starks was the state law librarian for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

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. 4. Print. ; "Western Colored School." National Historic Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Section 8. Washington: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, 1993. 5. Pdf. West Virginia Culture, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. ; Posey, Thomas E. The Negro Citizen of West Virginia. Institute: West Virginia State College, 1934. 39, 43, 47, 60. Print. ; Josey, E.J. "The Role of the Black Library and Information Professional in the Information Society: Myths and Realities." Educating Black Librarians: Papers from the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the School of Library and Information Sciences, North Carolina Central University. Ed. Benjamin F. Speller, Jr. Jefferson: McFarland, 1991. 52. Print.

John C. Gilmer was the state law librarian of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1906-1913.

Sources: Posey, Thomas E. The Negro Citizen of West Virginia. Institute: West Virginia State College, 1934. 47, 50, 60. Print. ; The West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. Richwood: Comstock, 1976. 1841. Print.

Leroy Oliver Wilson was the state law librarian, 1914-1917.

Sources: "Western Colored School." National Historic Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Section 8. Washington: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, 1993. 3-5. Pdf. West Virginia Culture, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. ; Posey, Thomas E. The Negro Citizen of West Virginia. Institute: West Virginia State College, 1934. 43, 47. Print.

J. Arthur Jackson was the state law librarian, 1921-1965.

Sources: "Ex-High Court Librarian, Jackson, Dies at 93." Charleston Gazette 4 Nov. 1978: n.pag. West Virginia Archives & History. Web. 23 October 2010. ; Jordan, Casper Leroy and E.J. Josey. "A Chronology of Events in Black Librarianship." Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva DeLoach. 2nd ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 6. Print. ; Posey, Thomas E. The Negro Citizen of West Virginia. Institute: West Virginia State College, 1934. 47, 49. Print.

                                                                                                                             

Allen Mercer Daniel: Howard University School of Law Librarian and Member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)

Allen Mercer Daniel (1888-1976), the first African American member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), was also the first law librarian of Howard University (1940-1956).

Sources: Berry, Cynthia. "Allen Mercer Daniel: A Leader in Librarianship." AALL Spectrum 4 (2000): 12. Print. ; Centennial Committee of the Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section. "Firsts in Academic Law Libraries." American Association of Law Libraries - Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section. American Association of Law Libraries, 22 Sept. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. ; "Daniel Online Resource Guide." Howard University School of Law Library. Howard University  School of Law Library, 6 Oct. 2010. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. ; "Introducing the AALL Hall of Fame." AALL Spectrum Jul. 2010: 14. Print.

Update 09/24/2012:

The following resource contains additional information about Allen Mercer Daniel:

Nicholson, Carol A., Ruth J.Hill, and Vicente E. Garces. Celebrating Diversity: A Legacy of Minority Leadership in the American Association of Law Libraries. Buffalo, NY: W.S. Hein & Co., 2006. 20-25. Print.

Update 03/15/2013:

See related posts: William Henry Smith: Librarian for the U.S. House of Representatives ; John F.N. Wilkinson and the Law Library of Congress.