Allegra Westbrooks: The first African-American public library supervisor in North Carolina
Allegra Westbrooks, who became the first African-American public library supervisor in North Carolina in 1957, became a librarian during a time that seems unfathomable to us now.
After completing library school in Atlanta, Allegra went to Charlotte, North Carolina and began working at the Brevard Street Library for Negroes. African-Americans weren't allowed to use the main library and it became Allegra's responsibility to go once a week and pick up the books her patrons requested.
Allegra was later assigned to the main public library, which served only whites. Eventually she was put in charge of all branches, making her the first African-American to serve in that position.
Allegra is 87 now and told her story to the The Charlotte Observer.
Link courtesy of LISNews.
posted by Amy at 8:39 PM
1 Comments:
Have you written any articles on william jones rankin who graduated from biddle university in 1911 with a dd for ministry. he opened sarah lincoln academy on peedee rd in aberdeen north carolina from 1896-1932. he dies in august 31,1932 in graham, n.c./not too much is written about his death. his wife's name was mattie elizabeth rankin/they adopted a daughter named teresa rankin who married booker t blue,sr. who was a janitor in the public school system in 1930/he also was a public works worker. there is a out of print book on him. the history of the american negro;north carolina vol4 by ab caldwell. dr. rankin was my ggrandfather. i live in delaware. salute
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