Odalie Richardson McDonald: OPPL’s first African American Librarian

I have always LOVED this picture: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-arc%3A18 . It shows the moment Ms. Odalie Richardson (later McDonald) receives the keys to the Carver Branch Library from B.D. Robinson. The African American community had fought hard for this moment. I always thought Mrs. McDonald looks so REGAL here! What brought this picture to mind was an … Continue reading Odalie Richardson McDonald: OPPL’s first African American Librarian →

A History of Library Service to the African-American Community in Ouachita Parish

I have found another digitized thesis! This one was written in 1967 by Ms. Shirley Rush at Atlanta University. It details the history of the establishment of the Carver Branch library on a level I have never seen before! Many influential names in the African-American community are mentioned. https://radar.auctr.edu/islandora/object/cau.td:1967_rush_shirley_c

Floor Plan of the Original Carver Library

The State Library has posted on the Digital Library, an image of the original Carver Branch Library floor plan here: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/state-lhp%3A1166 . This is the Selman Field building, originally brought in and placed behind the old Miller Roy building, then converted to a library. We have several interior shots in our collection, and the best … Continue reading Floor Plan of the Original Carver Library →

A Documentation of a Movement.

Back in 1967, Ms. Shirley Cross Russ wrote a thesis for her study at Atlanta University, documenting the movement in Monroe to give library service to the African American community. This is one of the most detailed accounts I have found about the founding of Carver-McDonald Library. You can read it online here: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/30605734.pdf .

Carver Library

From the Ouachita Parish Public Library's Photo Collection This is a rare shot of Monroe's first African American library. This building was formerly used as an office building at Selman Field. It was moved to Powell and opened as a library for the black community.