ALA Annual - African American Pioneers in Library Leadership: Bridging the Past to the Present

The presentation is designed to be a conversation starter to further advance the scholarly record of African American librarians’ impact and influence as information professionals. This is an area of scholarship whereby the history of librarians of color remains to be studied. Adopting empirical methods to develop robust recruitment and mentoring programs that values diversity and inclusion in its membership. 

The session, chronicles African American librarians’ achievements in librarianship from 1905 through to the appointment of the 14th Librarian of Congress. These pioneers’ bequest to the next generation of librarians an inheritance that bridge the past to the present.

Presenters:

Alma Dawson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Louisiana State University

Jon E. Cawthorne, Ph.D., Dean, Wayne State University Library System and School of Information Sciences

Maurice Wheeler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of North Texas