Marian M. Hadley was Nashville, Tennessee's first African American librarian, serving as the first librarian of the Nashville Negro Public Library, a branch of the Nashville Public Library for African American patrons.[1] She went on to work at the Chicago Public Library for almost twenty years, building and promoting the library's collection of African American history and culture.
Marian M. Hadley was born in Nashville, Tennessee and was an alumna of Fisk University.[2][3]
Work at the Nashville Negro Public Libraryedit
Andrew Carnegie gave $50,000 to the city of Nashville in 1913 to fund the building of two libraries with the stipulation that funds were to be split equally between a branch for white patrons and another as the first branch in Nashville for African American patrons.[4] At the time, Nashville's library only allowed African Americans to check out books via a bookmobile.[1]
Thirty-five people applied for the librarian and assistant librarian positions; the Carnegie Public Library hired Hadley, a twenty-nine-year-old Nashville resident.[5][6] After accepting the position in the fall of 1915, Hadley moved temporarily to Louisville, Kentucky to take part in a two-month apprenticeship at the Western Colored Branch of the Louisville Public Library under Thomas Fountain Blue.[5] The all-white library board of trustees required that she pay her own train fare and board to attend the training.[7] The Nashville Negro Public Library was opened on February 10, 1916.[4][8] Nashville Public Library's head librarian, Margaret Kercheval, also provided guidance in running a library to Hadley and Negro branch assistant librarian Hattie Watkins.[9]
In her role as librarian, Hadley became "a driving force in the Nashville African American community."[8] She was highly respected, with a library administrator writing "her work was of the highest order, and in all respects she manifested commendable zeal and interest in whatever she undertook."[10] Hadley served as librarian of the branch for three years before resigning in 1919.[5][11][10] After resigning from the library, she became the first executive secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association chapter in Nashville in 1919, helping to establish a local YWCA for African Americans, the Blue Triangle chapter.[6] She returned to the library in the spring of 1921, this time at a salary of $70 per month instead of her previous $60 per month; she worked another two years as the librarian of the Negro Public Library before resigning again.[5]
Work at the Chicago Public Libraryedit
In the 1920s, Hadley moved to Chicago to work for the Chicago Public Library.[12] She was one of a talented group of black women professionals brought to the library by Vivian G. Harsh (CPL's first African American librarian), including Charlemae Hill Rollins and Doris E. Saunders.[13] Hadley worked with Harsh to build the library's Special Negro Collection and promote its use through programming; frequent visitors to that collection included Richard Wright and Langston Hughes.[3] She exchanged a number of letters with W. E. B. Du Bois, who was also a visitor to the collection.[2][3]
Beginning with her time at Fisk University, Hadley had a strong interest in African American history and culture and collected over 1,000 images of African American people and topics.[14] By the 1950s her slide collection was one of the largest in the country on the subject, and she gave talks featuring these images at clubs and churches throughout Chicago.[3][14]
She worked at the Chicago Public Library for almost twenty years, retiring in 1959.[6]
After her retirement, Hadley was a founding member of Chicago's Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, which would later become the DuSable Museum of African American History.[15] Hadley died around 1974.[16]
Referencesedit
^ abLovett, Bobby L. (1999). The African-American history of Nashville, Tennessee, 1780-1930 : elites and dilemmas. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 126. ISBN978-1557285553.
^ abHadley, Marian (31 May 1938). "Asking, partially on behalf of the Chicago Public Library system, to photograph him at the upcoming Fisk University commencement ceremony". Letter to W.E.B. Du Bois. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^ abcdJoyce, Donald Franklin (January 1988). "Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, Chicago Public Library". The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy. University of Chicago Press. 58 (1): 68–69. doi:10.1086/601953. ISSN 0024-2519. JSTOR 4308198. S2CID 145727959.
^ abGoetsch, Elizabeth K. (2018). Lost Nashville. Charleston, SC: The History Press. ISBN9781467140621.
^ abcdMalone, Cheryl Knott (2003). "The adult collection at Nashville's Negro Public Library, 1915-1916". In Freeman, Robert S.; Hovde, David M. (eds.). Libraries to the people : histories of outreach. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. p. 149. ISBN978-0786413591.
^ abcHanbury, Dallas (2016). ""The library cannot be opened indiscriminately to white people and Negroes: Nashville and the quest for integrated library service". "Seekers of knowledge": the development of Southern public libraries and the African American quest for access, 1898-1963 (PhD). Middle Tennessee State University. p. 137. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^Malone, Cheryl Knott (2000). "Quiet Pioneers: Black Women Public Librarians in the South". Vitae Scholasticae. 19 (1): 69–71. hdl:10150/106317.
^ abBattles, David M. (2009). The history of public library access for African Americans in the South, or, Leaving behind the plow. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. p. 44. ISBN9780810862470.
^Wynn, Linda T. (1997). "The Negro Branch of the Carnegie Library: Nashville's First African-American Public Athenaeum 1916-1949" (PDF). Leaders of Afro-American Nashville. Nashville Conference on Afro-American Culture and History.
^ abBrown, Lillie Hooper (26 January 1928). "Letter of Recommendation for Marian Hadley from Lillie Hooper Brown". Letter to. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^McCrary, Mary Ellen (1959). "Negro Branch of the Carnegie Public Library". A history of public library service to negroes in Nashville, Tennessee, 1916-1958 (Master of Science in Library Service). Atlanta University. p. 20. OCLC 857621755. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^Hadley, Marian (9 March 1929). "Describing her life-long interest in "Negro life and Negro children," and her current position at the Harding Square Branch Library, where she is conducting a project collecting childhood anecdotes from prominent persons "to tell in a story to children," for which she seeks Du Bois' contribution". Letter to W.E.B. Du Bois. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^"George Cleveland Hall Branch Archives". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^ ab"Negro Lore Collected by Two Women: Collectors Show Slides, Sculpture of Negro Leaders". Chicago Tribune. 26 February 1959.
^Rocksborough-Smith, Ian (Fall 2011). "Margaret T.G. Burroughs and Black Public History in Cold War Chicago". The Black Scholar. 41 (3): 26–42. doi:10.5816/blackscholar.41.3.0026. JSTOR 10.5816/blackscholar.41.3.0026. S2CID 146200073.
^"H". Encyclopedia of Chicago. 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
November 27, 2023
marian, hadley, nashville, tennessee, first, african, american, librarian, serving, first, librarian, nashville, negro, public, library, branch, nashville, public, library, african, american, patrons, went, work, chicago, public, library, almost, twenty, years. Marian M Hadley was Nashville Tennessee s first African American librarian serving as the first librarian of the Nashville Negro Public Library a branch of the Nashville Public Library for African American patrons 1 She went on to work at the Chicago Public Library for almost twenty years building and promoting the library s collection of African American history and culture Marian M HadleyHadley in Chicago Tribune 1959Born1886 1886 Nashville Tennessee USDied1974 aged 87 88 Chicago Illinois USNationalityAmericanEducationFisk UniversityOccupationLibrarian Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Work at the Nashville Negro Public Library 3 Work at the Chicago Public Library 4 ReferencesEarly life and education editMarian M Hadley was born in Nashville Tennessee and was an alumna of Fisk University 2 3 Work at the Nashville Negro Public Library editAndrew Carnegie gave 50 000 to the city of Nashville in 1913 to fund the building of two libraries with the stipulation that funds were to be split equally between a branch for white patrons and another as the first branch in Nashville for African American patrons 4 At the time Nashville s library only allowed African Americans to check out books via a bookmobile 1 Thirty five people applied for the librarian and assistant librarian positions the Carnegie Public Library hired Hadley a twenty nine year old Nashville resident 5 6 After accepting the position in the fall of 1915 Hadley moved temporarily to Louisville Kentucky to take part in a two month apprenticeship at the Western Colored Branch of the Louisville Public Library under Thomas Fountain Blue 5 The all white library board of trustees required that she pay her own train fare and board to attend the training 7 The Nashville Negro Public Library was opened on February 10 1916 4 8 Nashville Public Library s head librarian Margaret Kercheval also provided guidance in running a library to Hadley and Negro branch assistant librarian Hattie Watkins 9 In her role as librarian Hadley became a driving force in the Nashville African American community 8 She was highly respected with a library administrator writing her work was of the highest order and in all respects she manifested commendable zeal and interest in whatever she undertook 10 Hadley served as librarian of the branch for three years before resigning in 1919 5 11 10 After resigning from the library she became the first executive secretary of the Young Women s Christian Association chapter in Nashville in 1919 helping to establish a local YWCA for African Americans the Blue Triangle chapter 6 She returned to the library in the spring of 1921 this time at a salary of 70 per month instead of her previous 60 per month she worked another two years as the librarian of the Negro Public Library before resigning again 5 Work at the Chicago Public Library editIn the 1920s Hadley moved to Chicago to work for the Chicago Public Library 12 She was one of a talented group of black women professionals brought to the library by Vivian G Harsh CPL s first African American librarian including Charlemae Hill Rollins and Doris E Saunders 13 Hadley worked with Harsh to build the library s Special Negro Collection and promote its use through programming frequent visitors to that collection included Richard Wright and Langston Hughes 3 She exchanged a number of letters with W E B Du Bois who was also a visitor to the collection 2 3 Beginning with her time at Fisk University Hadley had a strong interest in African American history and culture and collected over 1 000 images of African American people and topics 14 By the 1950s her slide collection was one of the largest in the country on the subject and she gave talks featuring these images at clubs and churches throughout Chicago 3 14 She worked at the Chicago Public Library for almost twenty years retiring in 1959 6 After her retirement Hadley was a founding member of Chicago s Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art which would later become the DuSable Museum of African American History 15 Hadley died around 1974 16 References edit a b Lovett Bobby L 1999 The African American history of Nashville Tennessee 1780 1930 elites and dilemmas Fayetteville University of Arkansas Press p 126 ISBN 978 1557285553 a b Hadley Marian 31 May 1938 Asking partially on behalf of the Chicago Public Library system to photograph him at the upcoming Fisk University commencement ceremony Letter to W E B Du Bois Retrieved 13 January 2019 a b c d Joyce Donald Franklin January 1988 Vivian G Harsh Collection of Afro American History and Literature Chicago Public Library The Library Quarterly Information Community Policy University of Chicago Press 58 1 68 69 doi 10 1086 601953 ISSN 0024 2519 JSTOR 4308198 S2CID 145727959 a b Goetsch Elizabeth K 2018 Lost Nashville Charleston SC The History Press ISBN 9781467140621 a b c d Malone Cheryl Knott 2003 The adult collection at Nashville s Negro Public Library 1915 1916 In Freeman Robert S Hovde David M eds Libraries to the people histories of outreach Jefferson N C McFarland amp Co p 149 ISBN 978 0786413591 a b c Hanbury Dallas 2016 The library cannot be opened indiscriminately to white people and Negroes Nashville and the quest for integrated library service Seekers of knowledge the development of Southern public libraries and the African American quest for access 1898 1963 PhD Middle Tennessee State University p 137 Retrieved 13 January 2019 Malone Cheryl Knott 2000 Quiet Pioneers Black Women Public Librarians in the South Vitae Scholasticae 19 1 69 71 hdl 10150 106317 a b Battles David M 2009 The history of public library access for African Americans in the South or Leaving behind the plow Lanham Md Scarecrow Press p 44 ISBN 9780810862470 Wynn Linda T 1997 The Negro Branch of the Carnegie Library Nashville s First African American Public Athenaeum 1916 1949 PDF Leaders of Afro American Nashville Nashville Conference on Afro American Culture and History a b Brown Lillie Hooper 26 January 1928 Letter of Recommendation for Marian Hadley from Lillie Hooper Brown Letter to Retrieved 13 January 2019 McCrary Mary Ellen 1959 Negro Branch of the Carnegie Public Library A history of public library service to negroes in Nashville Tennessee 1916 1958 Master of Science in Library Service Atlanta University p 20 OCLC 857621755 Retrieved 13 January 2019 Hadley Marian 9 March 1929 Describing her life long interest in Negro life and Negro children and her current position at the Harding Square Branch Library where she is conducting a project collecting childhood anecdotes from prominent persons to tell in a story to children for which she seeks Du Bois contribution Letter to W E B Du Bois Retrieved 13 January 2019 George Cleveland Hall Branch Archives Chicago Public Library Retrieved 13 January 2019 a b Negro Lore Collected by Two Women Collectors Show Slides Sculpture of Negro Leaders Chicago Tribune 26 February 1959 Rocksborough Smith Ian Fall 2011 Margaret T G Burroughs and Black Public History in Cold War Chicago The Black Scholar 41 3 26 42 doi 10 5816 blackscholar 41 3 0026 JSTOR 10 5816 blackscholar 41 3 0026 S2CID 146200073 H Encyclopedia of Chicago 2005 Retrieved 13 January 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marian M Hadley amp oldid 1091773335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
