Marblehead Libraries
| Marblehead Libraries | |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern United States, United States |
| Type | Mobile library |
| Established | 1910 |
| Dissolved | circa 1930 |
Marblehead Libraries were collections of books that comprised a traveling library service for African-Americans and poor rural whites in the Southern United States beginning in 1910. The libraries, funded by James J.H. Gregory of Marblehead, Massachusetts, traveled primarily to schools; the service often provided the only access to library books for African Americans in the South.
Establishment and administration of Marblehead Libraries[edit]
Because municipalities in the South provided little to no public library service to African Americans through the 1910s, philanthropic efforts often presented their only access to library books.[1] James J.H. Gregory, a white seed salesman who had seen the plight of southern blacks during his time as a Union Civil War soldier, recognized the harm done when they were denied access to public libraries;[2] Gregory believed everyone should have access to "character-forming books".[3] In addition to his other philanthropy, Gregory sought to send books to "schools intended for the children of the poor, particularly the Negroes and the mountain white people".[4]
In cooperation with George Sherwood Dickerman, Gregory solicited suggestions in 1908 for appropriate titles from black colleges and universities, as well as Southern public libraries that had collections for African Americans.[4] Gregory selected and purchased each of the 2,000 titles in the collection and stamped the books "Marblehead Libraries"; the libraries began circulating in 1910.[5][6]
The Marblehead Libraries consisted of 60 separate libraries with approximately 48 titles each; they were available to any institution or individual that would agree to be responsible for the collection.[7] Each collection could be kept for up to one year and then exchanged for a different collection.[7] The program was administered by Atlanta University, which encouraged circulation and kept track of the collections.[4][8] The libraries visited black schools and organizations throughout the South.[9]
Gregory died February 20, 1910, shortly after funding the Marblehead Libraries.[10] The program continued for twenty years with the administrative funds provided by Gregory.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ Quinn, Mary Ellen (2014). Historical dictionary of librarianship. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 30. ISBN 9780810878075.
- ^ Wiegand, Wayne A.; Wiegand, Shirley A. (2018). The desegregation of public libraries in the Jim Crow South : civil rights and local activism. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press. p. 21. ISBN 9780807168677.
- ^ Battles, David M. (2009). The history of public library access for African Americans in the South, or, Leaving behind the plow. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 36. ISBN 9780810862470.
- ^ a b c Dickerman, G.S. (September 1910). "The Marblehead Libraries". The Southern Workman. 39: 290–299.
- ^ Phinazee, Annette L. (1980). The Black librarian in the Southeast : reminiscences, activities, challenges : papers presented for a colloquium. Durham, North Carolina: North Carolina Central University. School of Library Science. p. 33.
- ^ McAllister, Jim (4 June 2012). "Essex County Chronicles: Marblehead's 'Seed King' liked to spread his wealth around". The Salem News. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Jones, Reinette F. (2002). Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky, from the Reconstruction. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. p. 64. ISBN 9780786411542.
- ^ "Gift from Marblehead's 'Seed King' set to be spruced up". Wicked Local Marblehead. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ Oulton, Randal (29 December 2005). "James John Howard Gregory". Cook's Info. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ Worrell, Sherri Kelley; Flude, Norma Lovett Gregory Kelley. "James J. H. Gregory: a timeline of his life". Victory Horticultural Library. Retrieved 5 April 2020.