Charlemae Hill Rollins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlemae Hill Rollins
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| Born | June 20, 1897 Yazoo City, Mississippi, US |
| Died | February 3, 1979 (aged 81) Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Notable works | We Build Together: A Reader's Guide to Negro Life and Literature for Elementary and High School Use |
Charlemae Hill Rollins (June 20, 1897 – February 3, 1979) was a very important librarian, writer, and storyteller. She focused on African-American literature for children. For 31 years, she led the children's department at the Chicago Public Library. She made big changes to children's books, both during and after her time there.
Contents
Charlemae Rollins's Early Life
Charlemae Rollins was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Her father, Allen G. Hill, was a farmer. Her mother, Birdie Tucker Hill, was a teacher. Her family moved to Beggs in Oklahoma Territory. They hoped for a better life there. But they found that black children could not go to school. So, Rollins's family started their own school, and she went there.
After elementary school, Rollins attended high schools for black students. She went to schools in St. Louis, Missouri, Holly Springs, Mississippi, and Quindoro, Kansas. She finished high school in 1916. She then earned her teaching certificate. She taught at her family's school before going to Howard University. After one year, she returned home. She married Joseph Walter Rollins on April 8, 1918. The couple moved to Chicago in 1919. Their son, Joseph Walter Rollins, Jr., was born in 1920.
Becoming a Librarian
Rollins became a children's librarian in Chicago in 1927. She first worked at the Hardin Square Branch Library. There, she became known for telling many wonderful stories. Rollins did not earn a college degree at first. But she got library training in the summer of 1932. She also studied at the University of Chicago from 1934 to 1936.
Rollins loved reading from a young age. She called learning to read "the best thing I ever did." Her grandmother, who was a former slave, was very important to her. She let Rollins read books from her own library. This love for books led Rollins to become a librarian.
Working at the Chicago Public Library
Many black families moved to Chicago for better education and jobs. But unfair treatment (racism) was still common. Tensions grew, leading to events like the Chicago race riot of 1919. For a long time, there was no library for the black community. Then, the George Cleveland Hall Branch Library opened in 1932. It was the first library built in a black neighborhood. People from all backgrounds visited this library. Rollins became the head of the children's department. She worked there until she retired in 1963.
Rollins worked with the library director, Vivian Harsh. They made the library a welcoming place for everyone. The library held discussion groups and lectures. It also had a Negro History Club and book fairs. Rollins also helped parents with reading guidance. Many famous black writers visited the library. These included Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Margaret Walker, and Langston Hughes. Rollins became good friends with Langston Hughes.
Besides her library work, Rollins also taught. She taught at Morgan College in Maryland. She also taught summer classes at Fisk University in Tennessee. In 1949, she began teaching children's literature at Roosevelt University. She taught there until 1979.
Charlemae Rollins passed away on February 3, 1979. She was 81 years old.
Changing Children's Books
In the early 1900s, many children's books showed black people in unfair ways. They used untrue language and pictures. Rollins worked hard to change this. She wanted books to show black life accurately.
Her first book, We Build Together, came out in 1941. It was a list of good books for young African-American children. It aimed to remove negative stereotypes. This list included biographies, non-fiction, and sports books. It also had picture and fiction books for all ages.
Rollins wanted to provide books that showed black people in a positive light. She also wanted books written by and about black people. We Build Together helped children enjoy books without feeling self-conscious. It also helped white children learn about black young people and families. Rollins believed good books could help people understand each other better. We Build Together made Rollins a leader in children's literature. Publishers started sending her books to review.
Rollins was also a famous storyteller. She wrote that storytelling is a great way to connect with people. Her stories came from positive news about black people. She also told folk tales and stories her grandmother shared.
After retiring, Rollins started writing more books. In 1963, she published Christmas Gif. This book was a collection of Christmas poems, songs, and stories. It featured works by and about black people. Her love for storytelling is clear in this book. It included writings from Paul Laurence Dunbar, Booker T. Washington, and Gwendolyn Brooks.
Rollins also wrote biographies. She felt these were the best books for young children. She believed biographies helped all children learn about and respect black people. They could build a strong understanding of different cultures.
Leadership Roles
Rollins was a leader in the library world. She was president of the Children's Services Division of the American Library Association. This was from 1957 to 1958. She was the first black librarian to hold this important position.
She also led other committees. She chaired the Jane Addams Children's Book Award Committee. This committee was for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She also chaired the Newbery-Caldecott Award Committee from 1956-1957. Rollins was also on the advisory committee for the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. She served there from 1941 to 1977.
Books Written by Charlemae Rollins
Charlemae Rollins wrote or helped write six books:
- We Build Together: A Reader's Guide to Negro Life and Literature for Elementary and High School Use , 1941
- Christmas Gif', an Anthology of Christmas Poems, Songs and Stories Written by and about Negroes', 1963
- They Showed the Way: Forty American Negro Leaders, 1964
- Famous American Negro Poets 1965
- Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen, and TV, 1967
- Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes, 1971
She also edited and contributed to many other works.
Honors and Awards
Rollins received many honors for her work. In 1972, she became an honorary life member of the ALA. She was the first African-American to receive this honor. On October 21, 1989, the children's room at the Hall Branch Library was named after her.
A special event called the Charlemae Hill Rollins Colloquium is held twice a year. It takes place at North Carolina Central University. People there discuss how to make library services better for children.
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) also honored Rollins. They named their yearly President's Program after her. This program happens at the American Library Association's Annual Conference.
In 1974, Columbia College gave Rollins an honorary doctorate degree. This was her first degree. She said, "But you can still touch me even now—it's the only degree I've ever had."
She also received these awards:
- American Brotherhood Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1952
- American Library Association Letter, 1953
- Grolier Society Award, 1955
- Woman of the Year, Zeta Phi Beta, 1956
- Honorary membership in Phi Delta Kappa, 1959
- Good American Award of the Chicago Committee of One-hundred, 1962
- Three (3) Negro Centennial Awards, 1963
- Children's Reading Round Table Award, 1963
- Constance Lindsay Skinner Award, Women's National Book Association 1970
- The Coretta Scott King Award in 1971 for her biography Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes
- Torchbearers Award of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, 1972
- Plaque from the Black Librarians' Caucus, 1976
