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Event

The Orange County Negro Public Library and the struggle for equal library service, 1936–1960s

From the school library that served Black Hillsborough in 1936 to the building Black residents paid for, dedicated in 1951, with separate service still running in 1962; when it ended is not yet documented.

2 works about The Orange County Negro Public Library and the struggle for equal library service, 1936–1960s are indexed here.

Search these 2 works Research sources View indexed works ↓

Indexed works

Related works found in catalogs and archives across North Carolina. Each links to the institution that holds or provides it.

The Hyconeechee Regional Library, Caswell County, Orange County, Person County: a self-study and community analysis

1977 · [The Library], 1977

Self-study and community analysis prepared by the Hyconeechee Regional Library in 1977, the regional system then serving public libraries in Caswell, Orange and Person counties. It is an evaluation of public library service in each of the three counties, with attention to the communities served. 104 leaves with charts, issued by the library itself.

Included because: Catalog heading in the NC Cardinal record: Hyconeechee Regional Library.

NC Cardinal

African-American Access Policies at the Consolidated University of North Carolina Libraries, 1951-1958

2012 · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Historical study of the access policies that governed African American use of the libraries of the Consolidated University of North Carolina between 1951 and 1958, published at Chapel Hill in 2012. Topics include academic library history in North Carolina, access to libraries, and African Americans and libraries in the Southern states.

Included because: Catalog heading in the UNC record: African Americans and libraries -- Southern states -- History.

UNC

Start at OCPL

Books in OCPL’s Rebecca B. Wall Local History Collection whose titles, catalog subjects, or descriptions match this event. The Friends’ recommended starting points are labelled. Books marked Wider context cover the broader subject rather than this event itself.

  • Wider context · NC 027.475 HAR The History of Public Library Service in Durham, North Carolina 1897-1997 Harland-Jacobs, Jessica · 1998

    A centennial account of Durham's public libraries from 1897 to 1997 by Jessica Harland-Jacobs, covering the county library and the separate Durham Colored Library. The Durham County Library published the 56-page history, with illustrations and source notes, in 1998.

  • Wider context · NC 027.575 MIT The State Library and Library Development in North Carolina Mitchell, Thornton W. · 1983

    The North Carolina State Library and the state's work to build libraries, including that of the North Carolina Library Commission, are traced by Thornton W. Mitchell. The State Library began in 1812 as a collection for the legislature; the commission, set up in 1909 to foster public libraries, merged with it in 1955. Published by the Division of State Library in 1983, with a foreword and epilogue by David N. McKay; 164 pages.

  • Wider context · NC 027.575 WEE Libraries and Literature in North Carolina in the Eighteenth Century Weeks, Stephen Beauregard · 1896

    First printed in the American Historical Association's annual report for 1895, Stephen B. Weeks's study of libraries and writing in eighteenth-century North Carolina fills pages 171 to 267 of that report and was issued separately by the Government Printing Office in 1896. It ends with a bibliography.

Show 4 more
  • Wider context · NC 026 PHILLIPS Creating A Local History Archive at your Public Library Phillips, Faye · 2017

    Faye Phillips's manual for public libraries starting a local history archive. Chapters cover defining and building the archive, writing its collection development policy, acquiring materials and making them accessible, and caring for them, with an eye to how the internet has changed access to such collections. Published in 2017 by ALA Editions in its series of guides for the busy librarian; 161 pages, illustrated.

  • Wider context · NC 025.21 MARQUIS Local History Reference Collections for Public Libraries Marquis, Kathy · 2015

    Kathy Marquis and Leslie Waggener's handbook for public libraries starting a local history reference collection, built mostly from what a library already owns plus commonly published sources. Chapters take up how such a collection differs from an archive, collection policy, audiences, partner organizations, preservation, reference service, outreach and online collections; appendices include a survey form, the RUSA guidelines and a policy template. ALA Editions, 2015, in the Guides for the Busy Librarian series; 146 pages.

  • Wider context · NC 027.475 JON Stanford L. Warren Branch Library: 77 Years of Public Service Jones, Beverly Washington · 1990

    Durham's Stanford L. Warren Branch Library, which began as the Durham Colored Library and served the city's African American readers, in a history by Beverly Washington Jones covering seventy-seven years of service to 1990. Published that year by the Durham County Library; 134 pages with illustrations, portraits, notes and an index.

  • Wider context · 975.6 DRE Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat A Champion of Segregation and Reshaped the South Drescher, John · 2000

    The 1960 Democratic primary for governor, in which Terry Sanford, campaigning on education and a moderate line on integration, beat the segregationist law professor I. Beverly Lake, is the subject of John Drescher's book. Part campaign history and part biography of Sanford, it argues that his approach became a model for later Southern Democrats such as Jim Hunt, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Published by the University Press of Mississippi in 2000.

In the chronology

Chronology entries for this event, in date order. See these 23 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Hillsborough's new high school for Black students is built Hillsborough's new school for Black students was built in 1936 with Public Works Administration aid on land the county board bought from Louis Wilson and George Mayo. When the Chapel Hill Weekly toured it in May it had eight rooms and an auditorium, with completion expected in about six weeks. It opened as Hillsboro High School for Negroes under principal E. C. Hester. A. L. Stanback became principal in 1942, and in 1943 the school became Central High School. From 1948 the PTA staffed the school library three times a week so it could be opened to the Black community. People: A. L. StanbackNC State Historic Preservation Office: Cedar Grove School, National Register nomination (OR3044), p. 25 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, May 22, 1936, p. 1; DigitalNC: Irene Oliver Pender, A History of Orange County Schools, 1752-1983; Chapel Hill Weekly, October 18, 1935, p. 1; Open Orange: Central High School
  2. Marinda McPherson starts a library for Black readers in Hillsborough When the Negro Community Library dedicated its building in May 1951, the News said the library had been begun in 1942 by Mrs. Marinda McPherson at the suggestion of Miss Annie Cameron, that the late Miss Annie Wall gave its first book, and that it had grown from temporary quarters to more than 3,000 volumes. People: Annie Sutton CameronThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 31, 1951, p. 1
  3. A Negro library committee was already running library service for Black readers in Orange County The committee met in September 1945 under chairman Mrs. M. D. McPherson, reported over a hundred new books received and 800 books circulated during the summer, and was assembling book kits for rural areas. Miss Annie Cameron was named as one of the people who started the library for Black residents of the county. People: Marinda D. McPherson, Annie Sutton CameronThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), September 13, 1945, p. 7
  4. Black parents and teachers open a county library for Black readers in Hillsboro The Orange County Public Library Committee, backed by the countywide Black PTA, opened a library and reading room for Black readers in a building at the north junction of Highway 10 and Churton Street lent by Watts Hill. Books, a dictionary, reference sets and a desk were donated, and many Hillsboro children came to browse on the opening day; it was to open from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 3, 1945, p. 6
  5. Orange County's library for Black readers opens for the summer in Hillsboro The Orange County library for Black residents, still receiving gifts of books, opened for the summer in early June with its books arranged for adults, young people and children and hours from 5 to 7 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Its backers appealed to rural families to use it, and the state librarian visited often to help readers.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 7, 1945, p. 3
  6. Hillsboro's Black library moves into the Community Center The county library for Black readers in Hillsboro moved from the corner of Churton Street and Highway 70 into the Community Center, the old Odd Fellows Hall, where it would have more room for leisure reading. Its volunteer workers had brought back more than 200 juvenile books from the state library commission in February.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), April 11, 1946, p. 5
  7. Orange County's library committee for Black readers plans to move the library Before a county-wide meeting of Black parent-teacher associations at the Efland school, the Orange County library committee met to plan moving the library for Black readers to a new location and recommended enlarging the committee with Mrs. A. O. Whitted, Cynthia Whitted, Mrs. John Faucette, Mrs. Walter Faribault and Mrs. M. C. Burt.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), January 29, 1948, p. 3
  8. Hassie Brooks gives a lot for a library building for Black readers Mrs. Hassie Brooks gave a lot to the Orange County Negro Library so that a library building could be built on it.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 26, 1948, p. 7
  9. The county librarian meets with Black leaders to restart the Orange County Negro library In early August 1948 the county librarian, Mrs. Davis, called a special committee meeting at the Hillsboro home of Mrs. Marinda McPherson, where definite plans were outlined to get the Orange County Negro library under way again. Mr. and Mrs. Coward also attended.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 12, 1948, p. 7
  10. Black library committee moves to reopen the county's library for Black readers in the Hillsboro Community Center The Orange County library committee of the Black community, with Marinda McPherson presiding as library director, met in the principal's office at the Hillsboro school and decided to reestablish its library in the upstairs room of the Community Center once repairs were done. It also laid plans to raise money for a library building. People: A. L. Stanback, Moses Cimuel BurtThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 4, 1948, p. 7
  11. School board lets the regional library build a library for Black readers at the Hillsboro Negro High School At its monthly meeting the county board of education gave the Hyconeechee Regional Library Association permission to put up a library building on the grounds of the Hillsboro Negro High School. The county librarian brought word of the decision to the Black community's library committee, which was raising money to build.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 4, 1948, p. 1
  12. The Negro Library Committee accepts a school lot for a library building for Black residents The Negro Library Committee formally accepted a lot given by the Orange County Board of Education at the northeast corner of the Hillsboro Negro High School playground, set aside solely for a library building for the county's Black residents. The committee also set up a temporary library upstairs in the Community Center, to be in use by February 1. People: A. L. StanbackThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), January 20, 1949, p. 9
Show all 23 dated events
  1. The Orange County Negro Public Library held its grand opening at the community center in Hillsboro The library opened on a Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. with Mrs. M. D. McPherson as directress and Miss Victoria Craig as librarian. Mrs. Douglas Davis, the tri-county regional librarian, sponsored the event and spoke, and Mrs. Eliza Webb attended for the Confederate Memorial Library. People: Marinda D. McPhersonThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 26, 1949, p. 8
  2. Hillsboro's Odd Fellows offer a lot for the Black public library The trustees of the Hillsboro Odd Fellows Lodge offered a lot to the Orange County Negro Library Organization for the sole purpose of putting up a library building, a month after the library's grand opening at the community center.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 30, 1949, p. 8
  3. The Black public library's building committee buys a Camp Butner building The library building fund committee bought a building at Camp Butner to be torn down and rebuilt on the north corner of the Black high school grounds in Hillsboro as a library, and Mrs. Marinda McPherson called for fifty men and boys to go and dismantle it on July 21.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 14, 1949, p. 8
  4. Black residents opened a fund drive to build the Orange County Negro Public Library a building of its own The library then held 2,254 books in a single room with shelves full and volumes stacked on the floor, and had circulated 2,015 books in the year. A committee including Mrs. Marinda D. McPherson, A. L. Stanback and Mrs. M. C. Burt asked for donations, naming $100 for outside sheeting and $70 for a roof. People: Marinda D. McPherson, A. L. StanbackThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 29, 1950, p. 5
  5. Work begins on a building for the county library for Black readers beside Central High The News pictured the beginning of a library building for Black residents on the northeast corner of the Central High School playground in Hillsboro, on land given to the county-wide Black PTA to build a free library for the whole county. Writer Marinda McPherson traced the library from 300 donated books in 1943 through moves to a filling station, an Odd Fellows hall and a classroom.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 29, 1950, p. 1
  6. The county council of Black PTAs gives $100 toward the Orange County Negro Library building At its first meeting of the school year at Central High School, the county parent-teacher association of the Black schools voted $100 toward the Orange Negro Library building, a project the PTA had begun several years earlier. The building was nearing completion, with vocational agriculture students doing the work, and bookmobile service had been opened to every school.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 5, 1950, p. 8
  7. A courthouse song service closes the drive to finish the Negro library building About 300 people crowded the Orange County courthouse on Sunday night, April 22, for choirs and quartets from Black churches, a program the Rev. Coy Thompson sponsored as the finale of the Orange County Negro Library drive. Churches reported $171.15 toward completing the library building on the northeast corner of the Central High School grounds.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), April 26, 1951, p. 4
  8. Orange County Negro Public Library dedicates its own building About 150 people attended an open house on May 27, 1951 dedicating the Orange County Negro Public Library's own building in Hillsborough, a structure bought from Camp Butner and put up with volunteer labor. Begun in 1942 by Marinda McPherson, the library had opened to the public in 1949 and now held more than 3,000 books.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 31, 1951, p. 1 (Open House Officially Opens Community Library For Negro Citizens Here Sunday)
  9. The county bookmobile begins stopping at schools for Black children During the 1950-51 year the regional bookmobile, which made 48 stops in Orange each month, began visiting the county's rural schools for Black children. The library hoped to add summer home stops for Black children and regular stops for Black adult readers, and to run the bookmobile six days a month in Orange instead of four and a half.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 10, 1951, p. 8
  10. The Orange County Negro Public Library joins the county's summer reading club awards Vacation reading club awards were given by the Confederate Memorial Library, the Carrboro Civic Woman's Club library and the Orange County Negro Public Library, whose librarian, Mrs. A. O. Whitted, was to present its pin and certificates during book week in November.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 6, 1955, p. 1
  11. Orange County was still running a separate library for Black readers The county bookmobile schedule printed in March 1962 listed a Thursday stop from 1:30 to 2:00 at the Orange Co. Negro Public Library. The previous year's vacation reading club invited children to register either at the Confederate Memorial Public Library or at the Orange County Negro Public Library in Hillsboro.The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 29, 1962, p. 5

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Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Site locations from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office survey, Open Orange, Orange County GIS and OpenStreetMap; town and community pins show approximate locations.

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