The African American Struggle for Library Equality: The Untold Story of the Julius Rosenwald Fund Library Program unveils the almost forgotten philanthropic efforts of Julius Rosenwald, former president of Sears, Roebuck, Co. and an elite business man. Rosenwald simply desired to improve, “the well-being of mankind” through access to education.
Many people are familiar with Mr. Rosenwald as the founder of the Julius Rosenwald Fund that established more than 5,300 rural schools in 15 Southern states during the period 1917-1938. However, there is another major piece of the puzzle, the Julius Rosenwald Fund Library Program. That program established more than 10,000 school, college, and public libraries, funded library science programs that trained African American librarians, and made evident the need for libraries to be supported by local governments.
The African American Struggle for Library Equality is the first comprehensive history of the Julius Rosenwald Fund Library Program to be published. The book reveals a new understanding of library practices of the early 20th century. Through original research and use of existing literature, Dr. Aisha Johnson exposes historic library practices that discriminated against blacks, and the necessary remedies the Julius Rosenwald Fund Library Program implemented to cure this injustice, which ultimately influenced other philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates (the Gates Foundation has a library program) as well as organizations like the American Library Association.
Past Book Talks & Lectures
University of Hartford
Texas Library Association
Black Caucus of the American Library Association's Leadership Institute
University of Southern Mississippi
ALA Student Chapter at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
LA County Public Library System
Elizabeth City State University Library
UC Berkley Librarians' Spring Assembly
African American Research Library and Cultural Center of Broward County Public Library System, Cultural Conversations
Southeastern Chapter American Association of Law Libraries
Augusta Baker Diversity Lecture Series
Palm Beach County Public Library System
Lost in the Stacks, Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Tennessee Libraries
Troy University, Dothan Campus
Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
Spelman Archives & Women's Research and Resource Center
Published by Rowman & Littlefield. Use discount code RLFANDF30 for 30% off.
Copyright © 2022 Dr. Archivist - All Rights Reserved.