Clara Stanton Jones: ALA's First African American President

In July 1976, Clara Stanton Jones (1913-2012) became the first African American president of the American Library Association. In addition, Ms. Jones was the first African American female director of the Detroit Public Library. Ms. Jones once worked as a reference librarian at Dillard University (1938-1940) and an associate librarian at Southern University (1940-1944). She began her career at the Detroit Public Library in 1944, and served as the library's director from 1970 until her retirement in 1978.

Sources: "Detroit's Top Librarian: In Race to Make City Libraries Serve Today's Needs, No One Keeps Up with Mrs. Jones." Ebony 27.1 (1971): 115-116, 118, 120, 122. Print. ; "ALA Past Presidents." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. ; Battles, David M. The History of Public Library Services to African Americans in the South or, Leaving Behind the Plow. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2009. 145. Print. ; Josey, E.J. "A Dreamer-- With A Tiny Spark." The Black Librarian in America. Ed. E.J. Josey. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1970. 323. Print. ; Dawson, Alma. "Celebrating African American Librarians and Librarianship." Library Trends 49.1 (2000): 58. Print. ; Jones, Clara S. "The Black Librarian." The Black Librarian in the Southeast: Reminiscences, Activities, Challenges. Ed. Annette L. Phinazee. Durham: NCCU School of Library Science, 1980. 16-19. Print. ; McPheeters, Annie L. Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1988. 132. Print. ; Jordan, Casper Leroy and Josey, E.J. "A Chronology of Events in Black Librarianship." Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva L. DeLoach. 2nd ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 11-14. Print. ; Poinsett, Alex. "1976: Year of the Black Voter." Ebony 32.3 (1977): 85. Print. ; Garner, Carla W. "Jones, Clara Stanton (1913-)." BlackPast.org. BlackPast.org, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. ; DeLoach, Marva. "Clara Stanton Jones." Women of Color in Librarianship: An Oral History. Ed. Kathleen de la Pena McCook. [Chicago]: ALA, Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship, 1998. 28-57. Print.  ; Bobinski, George S. Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty Years of Challenge and Change, 1945-2005. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2007. 100. Print.

Update 10/04/2012:

On Sunday, September 30, 2012, Ms. Clara Stanton Jones passed away at the age of 99 in Oakland, California. She received her Bachelor of Library Science (BLS) from the University of Michigan in 1938.

Update 01/03/2013:

On December 27, 2012, Maurice Wheeler wrote an article in tribute to Ms. Clara Stanton Jones for Library Journal (Online):

Wheeler, Maurice. "Remembering Clara Stanton Jones: Backtalk." Library Journal (Online). Library Journal, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 3 Jan. 2013.

Update 03/19/2013:

See related posts: The E. Azalia Hackley Collection of Negro Music, Dance, and Drama (Detroit Public Library) and Marcus Bruce Christian, Louisiana Librarian.

Sources: Laitner, Bill. "Clara Stanton Jones: First Woman, First African American to Lead Detroit Library." Detroit Free Press (Online). Detroit Free Press, 3 Oct. 2012. Web. 3 Oct. 2012. ; Goldberg, Beverly. "Library Mentor and Pioneer Clara Stanton Jones Dies." Inside Scoop: News and Views from Inside ALA.  American Library Association, 3 Oct. 2012. Web. 3 Oct. 2012. ; "Clara Stanton Jones: Significant Figure in Librarianship and Her Husband Honored with Scholarship." SI@umich 32 (2007):1, 5. Print. ; Schwartz, Meredith. "Obituary: Clara Stanton Jones, Detroit Director and ALA President."  Library Journal (Online). Library Journal, 3 Oct. 2012. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. ; Wheeler, Maurice. "Remembering Clara Stanton Jones: Backtalk." Library Journal (Online). Library Journal, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 3 Jan. 2013.

Update 05/04/2013:

Today, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the results of its 2013 election. The winning candidate for the office of ALA president is Courtney Young. When she takes office, Ms. Young will be the fifth African American to serve as president of ALA. Her term as president will be 2014-2015.
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Sources: Kempf, JoAnne. "Young Wins ALA Presidency." ALA News. American Library Association, 3 May 2013. Web. 3 May 2013. ; "ALA Election Results: Young Wins President, Gonzalez Treasurer;  Dues Measure Passes by Wide Margin." INFOdocket. INFOdocket.com, 3 May 2013. Web. 3 May 2013. ; Borman, Laurie. "Young Wins 2014-2015 ALA Presidency." Inside Scoop. American Library Association, 3 May 2013. Web. 3 May 2013.

Update 10/06/2014:
 
On September 30, 2014, Tom Joyner's BlackAmerica Web featured an article by D.L. Chandler in its "Little Known Black History Fact" column on Clara Stanton Jones. To view, click on the following link:

http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/09/30/little-known-black-history-fact-clara-stanton-jones/2

ALA History: 1928 Annual Conference of the American Library Association, West Baden, Indiana

The 1928 Annual Conference of the American Library Association was held May 27-June 2, 1928 in West Baden, Indiana at the West Baden Springs Hotel. Several notable African American librarians were attendance:

Etka F. Braboy Gaskin (Gary Public Library, Gary, Indiana)

Lillian Sunshine Haydon Childress Hall (Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis, Indiana)

Hallie Beachem Brooks (Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis, Indiana)

Othella Roberts (Evansville Public Library, Evansville, Indiana)

Elnora McIntyre Roy (Atlantic City Public Library, Atlantic City, New Jersey)

Rebecca M. Bond (Chicago Public Library, Chicago, Illinois)

Edward C. Williams (Howard University, Washington, D.C.)

Rev. Thomas Fountain Blue (Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Kentucky)

Rachel Davis Harris (Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Kentucky)

Sources: "West Baden, Ind." Indianapolis Recorder 9 June 1928: 7. Print. ; Fiftieth Annual Meeting Advanced Attendance Register, May 27-June 2, 1928, West Baden, Indiana. [Chicago]: American Library Association, 1928: 4, 14. Print. ; "Annual Conference, 1920-1929." Past Annual Conferences, 1876-Present. American Library Association, 2012. Web. 4 Jan. 2012. ; "West Baden Conference May 28 to June 2." Library Occurrent 8.7 (1928): 255-256. Print. ; ALA Travel Committee. "ALA Conference 1928, West Baden, Indiana, May 28-June 2." Bulletin of the American Library Association 22.3 (1928): 46-50. Print.

*Update 06/24/2012:

 African Americans were not allowed to stay at the West Baden Springs Hotel because of the segregation laws of the time. The only hotel available for African American travelers was the Waddy Hotel and Spa. Built in 1913, the Waddy Hotel was owned and operated by George and Nannie Waddy, a prominent African American couple who resided in the town. There's also the possibility that African American conference attendees stayed in the homes of African Americans families in West Baden. This was a common practice during the Jim Crow Era. You can learn more about the Waddy Hotel and Spa from the following sources:

"Waddy Hotel." The Negro Motorist's Green Book. New York, NY: Victor H. Green & Co., 1949. 29. Print.

Lane, Laura. "The Waddy Hotel: Hotel Popular Resort for Blacks." Herald Times (Bloomington, Indiana). 28 July 1991: A1, A12.

Foster, Mark S. "In the Face of 'Jim Crow': Prosperous Blacks and Vacation, Travel and Outdoor Leisure, 1890-1945." Journal of Negro History. 84.2 (1999): 139. Print.

*Update 08/07/2012:

You can view a picture postcard of the Waddy Hotel at the CardCow.com website:

http://www.cardcow.com/34410/hotel-waddy-west-baden-springs-indiana/

*Update 12/16/2012:

  The following article on the 1928 ALA Annual Conference was recently published in Indiana Libraries:

Preer, Jean and Lydia Spotts. "Meeting under the Dome: The ALA Holds its 1928 Conference in West Baden." Indiana Libraries. 31.2 (2012): 11-16. Print.

*Update 12/23/2012:

  See related post: ALA History: 1936 Meeting in Richmond, Virginia

*Update 04/18/2014:

I wrote an article on one of the conference attendees, Lillian Haydon Childress Hall (1899-1958). The article was published in the latest issue of Indiana Libraries (v. 33, no. 1). Click on the link below to access:

Fenton, Michele T. "Stepping Out on Faith: Lillian Haydon Childress Hall, Pioneer Black Librarian." Indiana Libraries 33.1 (2014): 5-11. Print.

*Update 05/27/2023:

 I created a bibliography of additional sources and facts relating to the 1928 ALA Annual Conference:

African American and the 1928 ALA Annual Conference

ALA History: Early African American Officers of the American Library Association (ALA)

Alma Jacobs was the first African American to serve on ALA's Executive Board.

Source: 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. 9. Print.



Albert P. Marshall was the first African American to serve as chair of ALA's Nominating Committee.

Sources: Josey, E.J. "Introduction." The Black Librarian in America. Ed. E.J. Josey. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1970. xi. Print. ; 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. 9. Print.

Update 07/28/2012:

Here is an additional article related to Albert P. Marshall:

Goldberg, Beverly. "African Americans 'Stretch the Envelope' at the First Black Caucus Conference." American Libraries 23.10 (Nov. 1992): 834-835.Print.

Update 10/11/2012:

Here are more articles related to Albert P. Marshall:

"Marshall Gets Office in State Library Assoc." Lincoln Clarion (Jefferson City, Mo.) 19 Oct. 1951: 2. Print.

"Librarians Attend Chicago Meeting." Jefferson City Post-Tribune 5 July 1951: 10. Print.

"Faculty Spends Holidays Both Near and Far Away." Lincoln Clarion (Jefferson City, Mo.) 7 Jan. 1955: 2. Print.

Update 11/06/2012:

Albert P. Marshall served as the first editor of Library Service Review, the publication of the North Carolina Negro Library Association. In addition, he was also a librarian at Winston-Salem Teachers College (now Winston-Salem State University) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

See: Library Service Review 1.1 (1948) and Library Service Review 1.2 (1948).


Robert Wedgeworth was the first African American to serve as Executive Director of ALA.

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. ; "Voice of 3,000 Librarians: Robert Wedgeworth, Executive Director of American Library Association, Seeks to Make Librarians Visible." Ebony 28.8 (1973): 107-108, 110-112. Print. ;  Dawson, Alma. "Celebrating African American Librarians and Librarianship." Library Trends 49.1 (2000): 61. Print. ; "American Library Assn. Names Black Executive." Jet 42.4 (1972): 25. Print. ; McPheeters, Annie L. Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1988. 132. 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. ; Bobinski, George S. Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty Years of Challenge and Change, 1945-2005. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2007. 100. Print.

Update 07/04/2026:

Dr. Wedgeworth published his biography in June 2026:  Wedgeworth, Robert. Breaking Barriers: A Librarian's Story of Changing Times. Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, 2026.

The first African American director of the Office of Literacy and Outreach Services was Jean Coleman.

Sources: Dawson, Alma. "Celebrating African American Librarians and Librarianship." Library Trends 49.1 (2000): 56-57. Print. ; "Former OLOS Director Dies." ALCTS Network News 12.17 (1996): n. pag. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. ; Woods, Alfred L. "Chicago Black Librarians Caucus." Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva L. DeLoach. 2nd ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 117. Print.

Charlemae Hill Rollins was the first African American to serve as president of the Children's Services Division of the American Library Association.

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. 8. Print. ; Josey, E.J. "Introduction." The Black Librarian in America. Ed. E.J. Josey. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1970. xi. Print.

ALA History: African American Presidents of the American Library Association (ALA)

The first African American president of ALA was Clara Stanton Jones (1976-1977).

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. ; "ALA's Past Presidents." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2011. ; McPheeters, Annie L. Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1988. 132. Print. ; Poinsett, Alex.. "1976: Year of the Black Voter." Ebony 32.3 (1977): 85. Print. ; Garner, Carla W. "Jones, Clara Stanton (1913- )." BlackPast.org. BlackPast.org, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. ; DeLoach, Marva. "Clara Stanton Jones." Women of Color in Librarianship: An Oral History. Ed. Kathleen de la Pena McCook. [Chicago]: ALA, Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship, 1998. 28-57. Print.

The second African American president of ALA was E.J. Josey (1984-1985).

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. 14. Print. ; "ALA's Past Presidents." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2011. ; McPheeters, Annie L. Library Service in Black and White: Some Personal Recollections, 1921-1980. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1988. 132. 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 third African American president of ALA was Hardy R. Franklin (1993-1994).

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. 16. Print. ; "ALA's Past Presidents." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2011.

Update 07/28/2012:

Here are two additional articles related to Hardy R. Franklin: 

Franklin, Hardy R. "Customer Service: The Heart of A Library." College and Research Library News 55.2 (Feb. 1994): 63. Print.

Goldberg, Beverly. "African Americans 'Stretch the Envelope' at the First Black Caucus Conference." American Libraries 23.10 (Nov. 1992): 832-833. Print.



The fourth African American president of ALA was Carla Hayden (2003-2004).

Sources: "Carla Hayden Elected New American Library Association President." Jet 101.23 (2002): 34 . Print. ; "ALA's Past Presidents." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2011. ; Brennan, Carol. "Carla D. Hayden Biography." Brief Biographies, N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.

Update 03/01/2016:

On February 24, 2016, President Barack Obama announced his decision to nominate Carla Hayden for the position of Librarian of Congress. If she is confirmed for the position, Ms. Hayden would be the first African American and the first woman to serve as Librarian of Congress.


Sources: "President Obama Announces His Intent to Nominate Carla D. Hayden as Librarian of Congress." WhiteHouse.gov. White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 24 Feb. 2016. Web. Mar. 1, 2016. ; Peet, Lisa. "President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Carla D. Hayden as Librarian of Congress." Library Journal. Library Journal, 26 Feb. 2016. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. ; "BCALA Celebrates Dr. Carla Hayden's Nomination to Be Librarian of Congress." BCALA - News and Events: Press Releases. Black Caucus of the American Library Association, 23 Feb. 2016. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. ; Gravatt, Nancy. "'The President Could Not Have Made a Better Choice': ALA Comments on the Pending Nomination of Carla Hayden for Librarian of Congress." American Library Association. American Library Association, 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 2 Mar. 2016.

Update 9/15/2016:

Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, Jr. on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.

Sources: Peet, Lisa. "Carla Hayden Blazes Trail as First Woman, First African American Librarian of Congress." Library Journal 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. ; Fandos, Nicholas. "New Librarian of Congress Offers History Lesson in Her Own Right." New York Times 15 Sept. 2016: A13. Print.


Update 05/03/2013:

The fifth African American president of ALA will be Courtney L. Young (2014-2015).

Sources: Kempf, JoAnne. "Young Wins ALA Presidency." ALA News. American Library Association, 3 May 2013. Web. 3 May 2013. ; "ALA Election Results: Young Wins President, Gonzalez Treasurer;  Dues Measure Passes by Wide Margin." INFOdocket. INFOdocket.com, 3 May 2013. Web. 3 May 2013. ; Borman, Laurie. "Young Wins 2014-2015 ALA Presidency." Inside Scoop. American Library Association, 3 May 2013. Web. 3 May 2013.

Update 07/15/2014:

Courtney L. Young was officially sworn in as ALA President on July 1, 2014. The ceremony took place at the 2014 American Library Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sources: "ALA 2014: For Librarians, It's Viva Las Vegas." Publishers Weekly 261.27 (2014): 7. Print. ; Albanese, Andrew. "ALA Sizzles in Las Vegas." Publishers Weekly (Online). 30 June 2014. Web. 15 July 2015.

Update 10/22/2019:

The sixth African American president of ALA is Wanda Brown (2019-2020).

Sources: Peet, Lisa. "Wanda Brown Wins ALA Presidency." Library Journal. Library Journal, 18 Apr. 2018. Web. 22 Oct. 2019. ; Morales, Macey. "Brown Wins 2019-2020 Presidency." ALA News. American Library Association, 18 Apr. 2018. Web. 22 Oct. 2019. 

Update 06/26/2020:

The seventh African American president of ALA is Julius Jefferson, Jr. (2020-2021).

Sources: Morales, Macey. "Jefferson wins 2020-2021 ALA Presidency." ALA News. American Library Association, 10 Apr. 2019. Web. 26 June 2020. ; Reyes, Sheryl. "ALA President-Elect Julius C. Jefferson, Jr. Invites Members to Attend Free Virtual Inauguration." ALA News. American Library Association, 9 June 2020. Web. 26 June 2020.  ; Albanese, Andrew. "Julius C. Jefferson Wins 2020-2021 ALA Presidency." Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC, 12 Apr. 2019. Web. 26 June 2020.

Update 04/06/2026:

The eighth African American president of ALA will be Tamika Barnes (2027-2028).

Sources: "Barnes Wins 2027-2028 ALA Presidency." American Libraries [Online], 6 Apr. 2026,  americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/barnes-wins-2027-2028-ala-presidency/  . Accessed 6 Apr. 2026; "Barnes Wins 2027-2028 ALA Presidency." ALA News & Press Center, 6 Apr. 2026, www.ala.org/news/2026/04/barnes-wins-2027-2028-ala-presidency . Access 6 Apr. 2026.