Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown (May 16, 1915 – January 25, 2011) was a Filipina-American educator and librarian. Brown established the first library in the United States to focus on the Philippines and the Filipino-American experience. She was an educator at the Los Angeles Unified School District for 34 years, where she worked to help Filipino-American children connect with their heritage and educate all students about Filipino culture.
Helen Agcaoili Summers was born in Manila on May 16, 1915.[1] She was the third of seven children born to Trinidad Agcaoili Summers, a Filipina woman, and George R. Summers, an Anglo American man.[2] Her father had emigrated to the Philippines to teach English as part of efforts to establish Western-style schools following the acquisition of the Philippines by the United States through the 1898 Treaty of Paris.[2]
She graduated from Manila Central High School in 1934.[1][2] Her family moved to Arcadia, California soon afterward, where Helen enrolled in Pasadena City College.[2] After choosing to write a report on the Spanish influence on Manila, Helen found no resources in the college's library or the public library, and completed the assignment using her father's scrapbooks and memorabilia.[3] The experience inspired her to become a lifelong collector of resources about Filipino culture.[3]
Brown transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned her bachelor's degree in education (1937) and a master's degree in social work (1939).[2][4]
She married Bill Brown in 1941; they traveled to Colorado to get married because California's miscegenation laws, then in place, would not permit a mestiza to marry a white man.[4] Brown and her husband both worked in shipyards during World War II.[4] They had four sons.[2]
Work as an educator
Brown worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for thirty-four years, retiring in 1974.[4][3] She held multiple roles in the system, including making home visits as a Pupil Personnel and Attendance Counselor.[4] She also taught third grade at schools within the district.[2]
During her time at LAUSD, she lobbied the district to recognize the specific needs of Filipino-American school children.[5] She also lobbied on behalf of Filipino-American schoolteachers, working to increase the number of teachers and to see them promoted within the system.[5]
Establishing the Filipino American Library
After retiring as a teacher, Brown focused her energy on the collection of materials she had gathered for four decades.[3] The collection became a home library, and in 1985, a church near downtown Los Angeles donated space in their basement for the library to reside.[3] The Pilipino American Reading Room and Library (PARRAL) opened to the public on October 13, 1985.[5] Brown hosted visiting hours two afternoons a week.[5]
In 1988, the Pamana Foundation was established by Helen Brown, Tania Azores, Brad Bagasao, and Ming Menez to encourage interest in Filipino-American culture and history, with the library as a research center.[5] PARRAL was moved to Luzon Plaza in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles in March 1994, providing more visibility.[5] The Los Angeles Times described the opening as "a milestone in the history of the local Filipino community."[3] Another relocation in 2000 moved the library to Temple Street and inspired a renaming of the library to the Filipino American Library (FAL).[5] At 6,000 items, including books, pamphlets, photographs, and artifacts, it was the largest collection of Filipino and Filipino-American reading materials in the United States.[6]
A short documentary titled Got Books? was created by Florante Ibanez in 2005 to recognize Brown and the founding of the FAL.[7] In the film, Brown is interviewed by her son and discusses her upbringing in the Philippines as a mestiza.[7]
When the Filipino American Library closed, the collections were distributed to the Echo Park branch of the Los Angeles Public Library and the University of Southern California Libraries.[6] The USC Libraries have digitized materials in the Filipino American Library Collection, including materials written in English, Tagalog, and Ilocano.[6]
Later life and death
Brown and her family lived for over fifty years in Hermosa Beach, California.[2] She spent her last years in an assisted living residence in Hermosa Beach.[5] Brown died there on January 25, 2011.[2]
References
^ ab"In Memoriam: Helen Brown, 95". LA As Subject. University of Southern California Libraries. June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ abcdefKang, K. Connie (January 10, 1996). "'Auntie's' Pride and Joy : 'Loving librarian' Helen Brown, 80, shares her passion for her Filipino heritage with the public through her library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ abcde"School social worker". Calisphere. University of California. 1965. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ abcdefgh. The Filipino American Library. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ abc"Filipino American Library Collection". USC Digital Library. University of Southern California. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ ab"Got Book? : Auntie Helen's Gift of Books". Asian Pacific American Librarians Association. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
External links
Got Book? 9-minute video documentary about Brown and the founding of the Filipino American Library (2005)
Get to know Fil-Am education pioneer Helen Agcaoili Summers 3-minute video about Brown from Balitang America (2020)
Filipino American Library Collection materials from the USC Digital Library
January 29, 2023
helen, agcaoili, summers, brown, 1915, january, 2011, filipina, american, educator, librarian, brown, established, first, library, united, states, focus, philippines, filipino, american, experience, educator, angeles, unified, school, district, years, where, w. Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown May 16 1915 January 25 2011 was a Filipina American educator and librarian Brown established the first library in the United States to focus on the Philippines and the Filipino American experience She was an educator at the Los Angeles Unified School District for 34 years where she worked to help Filipino American children connect with their heritage and educate all students about Filipino culture Helen Agcaoili Summers BrownBornMay 16 1915 Manila DiedJanuary 25 2011 aged 95 Alma materPasadena City CollegeUniversity of California Los Angeles OccupationLibrarian teacher EmployerLos Angeles Unified School District Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Work as an educator 3 Establishing the Filipino American Library 4 Later life and death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education EditHelen Agcaoili Summers was born in Manila on May 16 1915 1 She was the third of seven children born to Trinidad Agcaoili Summers a Filipina woman and George R Summers an Anglo American man 2 Her father had emigrated to the Philippines to teach English as part of efforts to establish Western style schools following the acquisition of the Philippines by the United States through the 1898 Treaty of Paris 2 She graduated from Manila Central High School in 1934 1 2 Her family moved to Arcadia California soon afterward where Helen enrolled in Pasadena City College 2 After choosing to write a report on the Spanish influence on Manila Helen found no resources in the college s library or the public library and completed the assignment using her father s scrapbooks and memorabilia 3 The experience inspired her to become a lifelong collector of resources about Filipino culture 3 Brown transferred to the University of California Los Angeles where she earned her bachelor s degree in education 1937 and a master s degree in social work 1939 2 4 She married Bill Brown in 1941 they traveled to Colorado to get married because California s miscegenation laws then in place would not permit a mestiza to marry a white man 4 Brown and her husband both worked in shipyards during World War II 4 They had four sons 2 Work as an educator EditBrown worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District LAUSD for thirty four years retiring in 1974 4 3 She held multiple roles in the system including making home visits as a Pupil Personnel and Attendance Counselor 4 She also taught third grade at schools within the district 2 During her time at LAUSD she lobbied the district to recognize the specific needs of Filipino American school children 5 She also lobbied on behalf of Filipino American schoolteachers working to increase the number of teachers and to see them promoted within the system 5 Establishing the Filipino American Library EditAfter retiring as a teacher Brown focused her energy on the collection of materials she had gathered for four decades 3 The collection became a home library and in 1985 a church near downtown Los Angeles donated space in their basement for the library to reside 3 The Pilipino American Reading Room and Library PARRAL opened to the public on October 13 1985 5 Brown hosted visiting hours two afternoons a week 5 In 1988 the Pamana Foundation was established by Helen Brown Tania Azores Brad Bagasao and Ming Menez to encourage interest in Filipino American culture and history with the library as a research center 5 PARRAL was moved to Luzon Plaza in Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles in March 1994 providing more visibility 5 The Los Angeles Times described the opening as a milestone in the history of the local Filipino community 3 Another relocation in 2000 moved the library to Temple Street and inspired a renaming of the library to the Filipino American Library FAL 5 At 6 000 items including books pamphlets photographs and artifacts it was the largest collection of Filipino and Filipino American reading materials in the United States 6 A short documentary titled Got Books was created by Florante Ibanez in 2005 to recognize Brown and the founding of the FAL 7 In the film Brown is interviewed by her son and discusses her upbringing in the Philippines as a mestiza 7 When the Filipino American Library closed the collections were distributed to the Echo Park branch of the Los Angeles Public Library and the University of Southern California Libraries 6 The USC Libraries have digitized materials in the Filipino American Library Collection including materials written in English Tagalog and Ilocano 6 Later life and death EditBrown and her family lived for over fifty years in Hermosa Beach California 2 She spent her last years in an assisted living residence in Hermosa Beach 5 Brown died there on January 25 2011 2 References Edit a b In Memoriam Helen Brown 95 LA As Subject University of Southern California Libraries June 4 2016 Retrieved May 7 2021 a b c d e f g h i Helen Summers Brown Lighthouse Memorials amp Receptions Retrieved May 7 2021 a b c d e f Kang K Connie January 10 1996 Auntie s Pride and Joy Loving librarian Helen Brown 80 shares her passion for her Filipino heritage with the public through her library Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 7 2021 a b c d e School social worker Calisphere University of California 1965 Retrieved May 7 2021 a b c d e f g h Helen Brown The Filipino American Library Archived from the original on November 12 2012 Retrieved May 7 2021 a b c Filipino American Library Collection USC Digital Library University of Southern California Retrieved May 7 2021 a b Got Book Auntie Helen s Gift of Books Asian Pacific American Librarians Association May 24 2012 Retrieved May 7 2021 External links EditGot Book 9 minute video documentary about Brown and the founding of the Filipino American Library 2005 Get to know Fil Am education pioneer Helen Agcaoili Summers 3 minute video about Brown from Balitang America 2020 Filipino American Library Collection materials from the USC Digital Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown amp oldid 1091781475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
