Clara Stanton Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clara Stanton Jones
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Jones c. 1970
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| President of the American Library Association | |
| In office 1976–1977 |
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| Preceded by | Allie Beth Martin |
| Succeeded by | Eric Moon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 14, 1913 St. Louis, Missouri, US |
| Died | September 30, 2012 (aged 99) Oakland, California, US |
| Spouse | Albert DeWitt Jones |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Librarian |
Clara Stanton Jones (born May 14, 1913 – died September 30, 2012) was a very important librarian. She made history by becoming the first African-American president of the American Library Association (ALA). This happened in 1976. Before that, in 1970, she was also the first African American and the first woman to lead a big library system in America. She was the director of the Detroit Public Library. Clara Stanton Jones worked hard to make libraries better for everyone.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family
Clara Stanton Jones was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 14, 1913. She grew up in a loving Catholic family. Even when she was very young, she loved visiting the library. She remembered being one of the smallest kids there. She was also one of the few Black children at that local library.
Clara's mother, Etta J. Stanton, was a school teacher. She taught in Catholic schools to help support the family. This helped Clara go to college. Her father, Ralph Herbert Stanton, worked for an insurance company. Clara grew up in a part of St. Louis where Black and white people lived separately. But she felt lucky to have many Black mentors and role models.
Education Journey
Education was very important in Clara's family. Even though schools in St. Louis were separated by race, she got a good education. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college.
In 1930, Clara went to Milwaukee State Teacher's College. She was inspired by her older brothers who were already in college. She was one of only six Black students there. Later, she moved to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. There, she studied English and History. It was at Spelman that she decided to become a librarian instead of a teacher.
The librarians at Clark Atlanta University Library encouraged her. She worked there as a typist. Clara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman in 1934. Then, in 1938, she got her degree in Library Science from the University of Michigan.
A Career in Libraries
Clara Stanton Jones started working in libraries right after finishing her studies in 1938. She worked at Dillard University in New Orleans and Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Most of her career was spent at the Detroit Public Library. In 1970, she became the director of this large library system. This was a huge step! She was the first African American and the first woman to hold such an important position.
Not everyone was happy about her becoming director. Some people even resigned. But Clara didn't let these challenges stop her. Her secretary remembered that Clara always focused on helping others. She used her power to help people succeed. Clara retired from the Detroit Public Library in 1978.
Fighting for Awareness: Racism and Sexism
In 1976, the American Library Association (ALA) passed a special rule. It was called the "Resolution on Racism and Sexism Awareness." This rule aimed to make people more aware of racism and sexism.
In 1977, some people wanted to get rid of this rule. They thought its words were unclear. They worried it might lead to censorship, which means stopping people from reading certain books. This would go against the Library Bill of Rights, which says libraries should offer all kinds of information.
But Clara Stanton Jones, who was the ALA president at the time, strongly disagreed. She believed the rule was important. She said it didn't mean censoring books. Instead, it encouraged librarians to learn more about racism and sexism. It also helped them teach library users about these issues.
Clara argued that the rule was a guide to help librarians. It helped them deal with problems that hurt "human freedom." She famously said, "If the resolution is imperfect, try to make it perfect, but not by destroying it first!" Thanks to her strong efforts, the resolution was not removed.
Major Achievements
Clara Stanton Jones achieved many great things:
- In 1970, she became the director of the Detroit Public Library. This made her the first African American and first woman to lead a major library system in the U.S.
- She was the first Black president of the American Library Association from 1976 to 1977.
- During her time as president, she helped the ALA keep its "Resolution on Racism and Sexism Awareness." This rule encouraged librarians to raise awareness about racism and sexism.
- In 1978, President Jimmy Carter chose her to be a Commissioner for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. She served until 1982.
- In 1984, she co-founded "Black Women Stirring the Waters." This was a discussion group for Black women in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- She received the Trailblazer Award in 1990. This is the highest award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. It honors people who have made outstanding and unique contributions.
Later Life and Legacy
Clara Stanton Jones passed away peacefully on September 30, 2012, in Oakland, California. She was 99 years old. She left behind her three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Her children created the Albert D. and Clara Stanton Jones Scholarship fund in 2007. This scholarship helps students at the University of Michigan who want to become librarians, especially those interested in urban libraries.
In 2018, Clara Stanton Jones was honored by being added to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
Professional Memberships
Clara Stanton Jones was a member of many important groups:
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Association for the Study of Negro Life and History
- Black Caucus of the American Library Association
- Black Women Stirring the Waters discussion group
- NAACP
- National Council of Negro Women
- Public Library Association
- Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association
- Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
See also
- Library science
- List of African-American firsts
- List of presidents of the American Library Association
