John F. N. Wilkinson and the Law Library of Congress

John Francis Nicholas Wilkinson (1832-1912), a native of Washington, D.C., was assistant librarian in the Law Library of Congress from 1857-1912. He passed away on October 5, 1912 in Washington, D.C.

See related posts: William Henry Smith: Librarian for the U.S. House of Representatives ;  Allen Mercer Daniel: Howard University School of Law Librarian and Member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) ; African American Officers of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) ; and African American State Law Librarians of West Virginia.

Sources: Dawson, Alma. "Celebrating African American Librarians and Librarianship." Library Trends 49.1 (2000): 62. Print. ; "Library of Congress - John F.N. Wilkinson." United States Civil Service Commission. Official Register of the United States Containing a List of Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service on the 1st of July 1883, Together with a List of Ships and Vessels Belonging to the United States. Vol. 1. Washington: G.P.O., 1883. 15. Print. ; Library of Congress. Report of the Librarian of Congress and Report of the Superintendent of the Library Building and Grounds for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1912. Washington: G.P.O., 1912. 13. Print. ; "John Francis Nicholas Wilkinson." District of Columbia Deaths and Burials, 1840-1964. FamilySearch.org, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. ; Render, S. L. "Black Presence in the Library of Congress." Library Lectures: Numbers Twenty-One Through Twenty-Eight : September 1972 - April 1974. Ed. Caroline Wire. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Library, 1975. 63-79. 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.

Dryades Branch of the New Orleans Public Library (New Orleans, Louisiana) : A Colored Carnegie Library

In 1915, the Dryades Branch of the New Orleans Public Library was established at 1924 Philip Street to serve the African American citizens of New Orleans. Businessman and library philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) gave $25,000 for the branch's construction at the urging of James Hardy Dillard (1856-1940), a professor at Tulane University and an alumnus of Washington and Lee University (Dillard University was named for him). William R. Burk (1887-1961) served as the library's architect (Burk's firm is still in business today and is now called Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc.). A dedication program for the Dryades Branch was held on Saturday, October 24, 1915. Attendees of the program were Henry Gill (City Librarian), Frank B. Smith, James Madison Vance, Dr. Robert E. Jones, Dr. James T. Newman, Sylvania F. Williams, Walter Cohen, Albert Workman, and Rev. J.L. Burrell.

The Dryades Branch Library was well-received.  In 1938, 1,300 children participated in the branch's Book Week Program. Famous visitors to the library included Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History), and Paul Robeson (1898-1976), singer, athlete, actor, author, and civil rights leader. Librarians that worked at the branch included Delia Louisa Allen, Adelia Trent, and Anita L. Johnson.

The Dryades Branch remained in operation until 1965 (the building suffered damage from Hurricane Betsy). After remaining empty and unused for several years, the building was purchased by the Dryades Street YMCA and repurposed for use for community activities and programs. It has been declared a historic landmark by the Historic District Landmarks Commission of New Orleans, Louisiana (near the bottom of  the "Historic Landmarks" section of commission's website is a list of current historic landmarks).

See related post: Marcus Bruce Christian (1900-1976), Louisiana Librarian

Sources: Spooner, Gloria. "Establishment of African American Public Library Service in Louisiana." Louisiana Libraries 63.3 (2001): 23-25. Print. ; "1,300 Race Children Attend Book Week Program at Library." The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 26 Nov. 1938: 18. Print. ; Smith, Norman R. Footprints of Black Louisiana. [Bloomington, IN?]: Xlibris Corp., 2010. 96-97. Print. ; Gunn, Alistair J. Prof. Dr. James Hardy Dillard, 1856-1940: Towards A Postal History Biography. N.p.: www.lulu.com, 2009. Print. ; "J.H. Dillard: End of An Epoch." The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 17 Aug. 1940: 6. Print. ; White, Claytee D. "Robeson, Paul (1898-1976)." Blackpast.org, n.d. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; Dagbovie, Pero Gaglo. "Woodson, Carter (1875-1950)." Blackpast.org, n.d. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; Martinez, Eligio Jr. "Dillard University." Blackpast.org, n.d. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; "Historic Landmarks." Historic District Landmarks Commission. City of New Orleans, 2014. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; "Home." BKI: Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc. Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc., 2012. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; "Foto's Folly Theatre." The Herald (New Orleans, La.) 1920 Dec. 16: 5. Print. ; "New Orleans Dryades Branch. 1920-1928 Philip Street, New Orleans. 1915. Job no. 227." William R. Burk Office Records, Southeastern Architectural Archive Collection 42, Project Drawings, Specifications, ca. 1915-1977 (Finding Aid). [New Orleans, La.]: Tulane University, n.d. 2. Pdf. ; "Hurricane Betsy - September 6-13, 1965." National Weather Service, Weather Prediction Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.d. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; CreoleGen. "The Right to Read... The Dryades Street Library (1915-1965)." CreoleGen, 2014 Mar. 22. Web. 2014 Nov. 9. ; Horowitz, Andy. "Hurricane Betsy and the Politics of Disaster in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, 1965-1967." Journal of Southern History 80.4 (Nov. 2014): 893-934. Print.

The Blyden Branch Library (Norfolk, Virginia)

In 1921, the Norfolk Public Library established the Blyden Branch Library to serve the African American citizens of Norfolk, Virginia.

Sources: Campbell, Lucy B. "Black Librarians in Virginia." The Black Librarian in the Southeast: Reminiscences, Activities, Challenges. Ed. Annette L. Phinazee. Durham: NCCU School of Library Science, 1980. 135. Print. ; "History of Blyden Branch Library." Norfolk Public Library, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2011.

Anne Spencer and the Dunbar Branch of the George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Virginia)

Anne Spencer was Lynchburg's first African American librarian. She was the first librarian of the Dunbar Branch of the George M. Jones Memorial Library, where she served from 1923 until 1945. The branch was located inside Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and served the African American residents of Lynchburg. Ms. Spencer was also a poet and part of the Harlem Renaissance. She passed away in 1975.

Sources: Wright, Joyce C. " Black Librarians as Creative Writers." The Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva L. DeLoach. 2nd ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 254-256. Print. ; Shockley, Anne Allen. "Librarians, Archivists, and Writers: A Perspective." The Black Librarian in America Revisited. Ed. E.J. Josey. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1994. 322. Print. ; Morrison, Ken. "A History of the Lynchburg Public Library." Virginia Libraries 52.4 (2006):2-3. Print. ; Doyle, Patricia K. "The Lynchburg Public Library Celebrates Its Fortieth Birthday." Lynch's Ferry (Fall 2005): 1. Print. ; Smith, Jessie Carney. "Black Women, Civil Rights, & Libraries." Untold Stories: Civil Rights, Libraries, and Black Librarianship. Ed. John Mark Tucker. Champaign: Board of Trustees of U of Illinois, 1998. 142-143. Print. ; Parkhurst, Erin. "Literary Luminary: Celebrating Poet Anne Spencer." Virginia Living 9.2 (2011): 17. Print.

Related Post:  Rachel Davis Harris and the Colored Branches of the Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Kentucky

Update 10/27/2019:

Anne Spencer will be one of several African Americans featured in the United States Postal Service's Voices of the Harlem Renaissance series of postal stamps to be issued in 2020:

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2019/1022-usps-unveils-2020-stamps.htm

Sources: Associated Press. "New Stamp to Honor Virginia Poet, Civil Rights Leader." Washington Post. 25 Oct. 2019. Web. 27 Oct. 2019. ; Gillis, Casey. "Anne Spencer, Harlem Renaissance Poet and Civil Rights Activist, to be Honored on Postage Stamp." News & Advance 23 Oct. 2019. Web. 27 Oct. 2019. ; "2020 Forever Stamp Program Offers Something for Everyone: Love, Arnold Palmer, Hip Hop and Earth Day Among Subjects Feature." USPS.com.  United States Postal Service, 22 Oct. 2019. Web. 27 Oct. 2019.

William Henry Smith: Librarian for the U.S. House of Representatives, 1881-1891

On December 9, 1881, William Henry Smith (1833-1903) was named the librarian for the U.S. House of Representatives. A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Smith held this position until his retirement in 1891. William Henry Smith passed away on November 16, 1903 in Washington, D.C.

See related posts: Allen Mercer Daniel: Howard University School of Law Librarian and Member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) ; John F.N. Wilkinson and the Law Library of Congress.

Sources: "Noted Negro Is Dead: William H. Smith Was Ex-Librarian of National House of Representatives." New York Times 17 Nov. 1903: 9. Print. ; "William Henry Smith Is Named House Librarian, Dec. 9, 1881." Todaysdrum.com. Today's Drum, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. ; Glass, Andrew. "William Henry Smith Is Named House Librarian, December 9, 1881." Politico.com. Politico, 9 Dec. 2009. Web. 16 Dec. 2010. ; "The Appointment of William H. Smith As House Librarian December 09, 1881." Historical Highlights. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2010. ; 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. ; "William Henry Smith." District of Columbia Deaths and Burials, 1840-1964. FamilySearch.org, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013.

Dulcina DeBerry and the Huntsville Public Library (Huntsville, Alabama)

Dulcina DeBerry (1878-1969), a native of York, South Carolina, was the first African American librarian in Madison County, Alabama. Prior to her library career, Ms. DeBerry was a teacher in Kings Mountain, North Carolina and in Talladega, Alabama. She was a graduate of Shaw University of Raleigh, North Carolina.

In May 1940, Ms. DeBerry opened the first library in Huntsville, Alabama for African Americans and served as its director for eleven years. The library was located inside the Lakeside Methodist Church and remained at the church until it was moved to the Winston Street School. The library was named the Winston Street Branch Library and became a part of the Huntsville Public Library (now Huntsville-Madison County Public Library) in 1943. In 1947, the branch was renamed the Dulcina DeBerry Library.

When Ms. DeBerry left in 1951, Fannie Jackson, the assistant librarian, was promoted to director. In 1956, Rev. H.P. Snodgrass became director. In 1965, the Huntsville Public Library began integrating its library services and all citizens of any race were allowed access. The Dulcina DeBerry Branch ceased operations in 1968.

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library has a picture of the Dulcina DeBerry Library in its digitial collection (click on the link below to view):

http://digitalarchives.hmcpl.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15431coll1/id/70


After leaving the Dulcina DeBerry Library, Ms. DeBerry left Huntsville, Alabama and settled in Raleigh, North Carolina. She passed away in 1969 at the age of 91 in Cleveland, Ohio.  The Huntsville Historical Collection's website has two pictures and a biography of Ms. DeBerry:

http://huntsvillehistorycollection.org/hh/index.php?title=Person:Dulcina_DeBerry

See related posts: Mattie Herd Roland and the Booker T. Washington Branch Library (Birmingham, AL) ; and Sadie Peterson Delaney and the U.S. Veterans' Administration Hospital (Tuskegee, Alabama).

Sources: Graham, Patterson Toby. A Right to Read: Segregation and Civil Rights in Alabama's Public Libraries, 1900-1965. Tuscaloosa: U of Alabama P, 2002. 49-56, 60, 69. Print. ; Battles, David M. The History of Public Library Access for African Americans in the South or, Leaving Behind the Plow. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2009. 83-84. Print. ; Torrence, Missouri L. Dulcina DeBerry: Door Opener. Huntsville: Golden Rule, 1996. Print. ; Maulsby, Ann Geiger. "The Dulcina DeBerry Library." The Huntsville Historical Review 22.2 (1996): 20-25. Print.

James D. Roberts and the Mt. Pleasant Library (Beech Settlement, Rush County, Indiana)

James D. Roberts was the earliest known African American male librarian to work in the state of Indiana. Although not formally trained, Mr. Roberts served as the first librarian of the Mt. Pleasant Library in Rush County from 1842 until 1843.  In operation from 1842 until 1867, the library was located inside the Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Church and served the citizens of Rush County’s Beech Settlement. The Beech Settlement was a community settled by free African Americans who came North to Indiana from the southern United States.


Sources: O'Bryan, Ann. "Mt. Pleasant Library: Reading among African Americans in 19th Century Rush County." Black History News & Notes No. 102 (2005): 3-7. Print. ; Gibbs, Wilma L. "Mount Pleasant Library (Rush County, Ind.) Records, 1842-1869." Manuscript and Visual Collections Department, William Smith Memorial Library, Indiana Historical Society. Indiana Historical Society, 2 Dec. 2004. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. ; Vincent, Stephen A. Southern Seed, Northern , Soil: African-American Farm Communities in the Midwest, 1765-1900. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1999. 70-72, 75-76, 82, 105, 150, 159-161, 186, 195, 197, 219. Print. ; Thornbrough, Emma Lou. The Negro in Indiana: A Study of a Minority. Indianapolis : Indiana Historical Bureau, 1957. 171. Print.

Update 03/19/2013:

The Indiana Historical Society has digitized a copy of the records of the Mt. Pleasant Library. Click on the link below to view:

http://images.indianahistory.org/u?/V0002,1512

The Indiana Historical Society has also digitized a copy of the library's minute book:

http://images.indianahistory.org/u?/V0002,1380