Rosa Parks Branch Library / Bertha Pleasant Williams

Rosa Parks Branch Library / Bertha Pleasant Williams (HM1CR7)

Location: Montgomery, AL 36108 Montgomery County
Buy Alabama State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 32° 21.544', W 86° 19.012'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 526 views
Inscription
Side 1
Rosa Parks Branch Library

Second public library for blacks in City of Montgomery, this building opened in 1960 as Montgomery Branch Library on Cleveland Avenue. Designed by architect James Miller Davis, it served the black population at a time the main facility on High Street prohibited their patronage. Planned to contain 15,000 volumes, this structure has meeting rooms and areas for adults, teen-agers and children. Judge Frank Johnson ordered desegregation of Montgomery libraries in 1962. The first public library for blacks opened in 1948 in two rooms of the Community House of City Federation of Negro Women's Clubs on South Union Street. Librarian Bertha Williams, the first black employee of the city library system, led that branch for its twelve years of operation and became head librarian of this one upon its opening. Change of name to Rosa Parks Branch came with re-naming of Cleveland Avenue for heroine of Bus Boycott.

Side 2
Bertha Pleasant Williams

First black employee of Montgomery library system, Bertha Pleasant Williams received a high school degree in Fairfield, AL in 1939, a degree from Alabama State College (now ASU) in 1943, and, in 1949, a BLS degree from Atlanta University. Her first job was elementary teacher at Snow Hill Institute, teaching all subjects. Upon Montgomery's funding a public library for blacks in 1948, Williams came as librarian, receiving special recognition "so that adults and children of Afro-American communities can have their first use of Public Library Services." For twelve years served in this capacity, and in 1960, when new branch library opened on Cleveland Avenue, she became the Head Librarian, working there for over nine years. Upon leaving city library, she moved to Alabama State University Library for seven years and as Head of the rare Book Collection and archives for another seven. In 1993, Alabama State University recognized her fifty years of contributions to library service and education with a special Golden Graduation Diploma. Bertha Williams served as President of Montgomery Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. between 1954-1956 as she continued as Head Librarian of the Union Street Library for Coloreds. The Alabama Library Association also honored Bertha Williams.
Details
HM NumberHM1CR7
Tags
Year Placed2012
Placed ByThe Fortitude Foundation - Montgomery Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. & the Alabama Historical Association
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Sunday, October 26th, 2014 at 5:47am PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16S E 564273 N 3580441
Decimal Degrees32.35906667, -86.31686667
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 32° 21.544', W 86° 19.012'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds32° 21' 32.64" N, 86° 19' 0.72" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)334
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 1276-1298 Rosa L Parks Ave, Montgomery AL 36108, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. What historical period does the marker represent?
  3. What historical place does the marker represent?
  4. What type of marker is it?
  5. What class is the marker?
  6. What style is the marker?
  7. Does the marker have a number?
  8. This marker needs at least one picture.
  9. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  10. Is the marker in the median?