A. Mercer Daniel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
A. Mercer Daniel
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| Born | May 27, 1887 |
| Died | February 17, 1976 (aged 88) Washington, D.C., US
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| Occupation | Librarian, lawyer, educator |
A. Mercer Daniel (born May 27, 1887 – died February 17, 1976) was an important American librarian and lawyer. He was the first African American to join the American Association of Law Libraries. Daniel worked as a librarian for the U.S. Department of War. Later, he became the main librarian at Howard University School of Law for over 35 years. Throughout his life, Daniel fought against unfair treatment based on race. He was a strong activist, especially during the time of the Civil Rights Movement.
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Early Life and Learning
Allen Mercer Daniel was born in Rochester, New York on May 27, 1887. He grew up in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. His parents had both gone to Storer College. They ran a hotel and boarding house called Lockwood House. When Daniel was a teenager, he helped edit a book. It was called The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry by author Joseph Barry.
Daniel studied business at Howard University and finished in 1906. He then went to Howard University's Law School and graduated in 1909. After that, he became a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He worked as a lawyer at the War Department for several years.
In 1910, he married Portia Bird. They had one son, who they named A. Mercer Daniel, Jr.
Working as a Librarian and Teacher
Daniel started working as a librarian in 1909. He was in the Office of the Chief of Finance within the U.S. Department of War. During this time, he also wrote for an African American newspaper. It was called The McDowell Times.
In 1923, he started a part-time job at the Howard University Law Library. He became a full-time Assistant Librarian in 1924. Daniel worked very hard to help Howard's law library grow. By 1933, the library was much bigger and better. It met the standards of the American Bar Association. Because of this, the library was allowed to join the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). This made Daniel the first African American member of the AALL.
His Work with the American Association of Law Libraries
Daniel was a very active member of the AALL. He was the first African American to try to get elected to an important leadership role in the group. When the D.C. chapter of AALL was started in 1939, Daniel was one of its first members. He led three different committees for AALL. He also served on many other committees during his career.
Daniel faced a lot of unfair treatment because of his race. Staff at AALL often complained when he asked for equal places to stay or eat at conferences. For example, in 1935, the AALL held its meeting in Denver, Colorado. Staff told Daniel that the Brown Palace Hotel would not let him use the dining room or lobby.
In 1941, the AALL decided to hold its meeting at a hotel in Virginia. This hotel did not allow African Americans. Because of this, Daniel could not attend his first conference since joining AALL in 1933. Later, in 1954, when AALL had its meeting in Miami, Florida, Daniel was only allowed in the dining room if he was with two or more white members.
Later Career
In 1940, Daniel became the main law librarian at Howard. He also started teaching law as an assistant professor. He even served as the acting dean of the Howard University School of Law several times. This included the summer of 1954. When Daniel retired from the law library in 1956, its collection had become three times larger in just 25 years.
Fighting for Fairness
Daniel was an activist who fought against unfair treatment throughout his life. He worked to help Black people get nominated to attend the Military Academy at West Point. He also led a protest after a terrible event in 1915. He called for new laws to stop mob violence.
While studying old laws in Washington, D.C., Daniel made an important discovery. This was during student protests in 1943–1944. He found two laws from 1872 and 1873 that said restaurants in D.C. could not separate people by race. These laws were thought to be lost, but Daniel found them. They were later used to legally end unfair treatment in Washington, D.C.
Retirement and Passing
After Daniel retired from Howard University in 1956, he was named "Librarian Emeritus." This means he was honored for his long service. He kept on doing research and writing. He wrote book reviews and articles for journals like Journal of Negro History. He was known as an expert on the abolitionist John Brown. Daniel wrote about Brown's raid and the history of Harper's Ferry, where he grew up.
Daniel passed away on February 17, 1976, in Washington, D.C.
His Lasting Impact
In October 1971, Howard University's law library was renamed the Allen Mercer Daniel Law Library. This was to honor him. During his time at Howard, Daniel worked with a student named Thurgood Marshall. Marshall later became a famous Supreme Court Justice. Marshall helped Daniel create the law school's first library card catalog in 1933. Marshall also attended and spoke at the library's dedication ceremony.
In 2010, Daniel was honored again. He was part of the first group of people to be added to the American Association of Law Libraries Hall of Fame.
