A Right to Read: Segregation and Civil Rights in Alabama's Public Libraries, 1900–1965

Contents

Contents List of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 1. Black Libraries and White Attitudes, The Early Years: Birmingham and Mobile, 1918–1931 6 Birmingham and the Booker T. Washington Branch Library 9 Mobile and the Davis Avenue Branch Library 17 2. Black Libraries and White Attitudes II: The Depression Years 26 Black Libraries and Philanthropy during the Depression: Walker County 27 The Works Progress Administration and Black Libraries 32 The T ennessee Valley Authority: Black Libraries and Regional Development 36 Welfare Capitalism and the National Youth Administration: The Sloss¤eld Negro Branch Library 43 3. African-American Communities and the Black Public Library Movement, 1941–1954 49 The Dulcina DeBerry Branch Library, Huntsville 49 The Union Street Branch Library, Montgomery 56 Birmingham Negro Advisory Committee 62 4. The Read-In Movement: Desegregating Alabama’s Public Libraries, 1960–1963 69 Mobile, 1961 71 Montgomery, 1962 75 Huntsville, 1962 81 Birmingham, 1963 82 Anniston, 1963 91 5. Librarians and the Civil Rights Movement, 1955–1965 99 Juliette Hampton Morgan and the Montgomery Bus Boycott 100 Emily Wheelock Reed and The Rabbits’ Wedding Controversy 102 Patricia Blalock and the Selma Public Library 112 The American Library Association 120 The Alabama Library Association 126 Conclusion 131 Notes 139 Bibliographic Essay 163 Contemporary Literature on Segregated Libraries, 1913–1953 163 Contemporary Literature on Segregated Libraries, 1954–1972 166 Atlanta University Theses 168 American Library Association 169 Library History Secondary Works 171 Segregated Libraries and Progressivism 174 The Civil Rights Movement in Alabama 176 Other Historical Works on Race 181 Unpublished Sources 182 viii / Contents ...