Dulcina DeBerry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dulcina DeBerry
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| Born | June 12, 1878 |
| Died | December 29, 1969 (aged 91) Cleveland, Ohio, US
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| Nationality | American |
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| Occupation | Librarian, educator |
Dulcina DeBerry (born June 12, 1878 – died December 29, 1969) was an American teacher and librarian. She made history in 1940 by becoming the first African American librarian in Madison County, Alabama. She helped open the very first public library for the black community in the Huntsville area.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dulcina B. Torrence was born on June 12, 1878. Her hometown was York, South Carolina. She completed a two-year program to become a teacher. Later, she earned a degree from Shaw University.
Her first job was teaching in King's Mountain, North Carolina. Around 1903, she attended Talladega College. There, she met her future husband, Perfect DeBerry. He was studying to become a minister. For 35 years, Dulcina taught children. She lived with her family in North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio.
Work as a Librarian
After she retired from teaching, DeBerry moved. In 1940, she went to Huntsville, Alabama. She moved there to care for her elderly mother. Dulcina loved to read books. She was upset to learn that the Huntsville Public Library did not allow African Americans. There were no other library services for them.
She spoke to the librarian at the main branch. This librarian secretly lent DeBerry books. The librarian then set up a meeting for DeBerry with the library director. The director agreed to ask for money from the Works Progress Administration. This money would help create library resources for African Americans.
DeBerry was given a small space. It was in the basement of the nearby Lakeside Methodist Church. Just ten days later, the new library opened its doors.
Focus on Children's Reading
A main goal of the new library was to help children learn to read. DeBerry started a summer reading club. She also held a story hour for children. Teachers in the Madison County schools could use library books in their classrooms.
DeBerry also organized important black citizens. They served on the library's board. In November 1940, the library moved. It went to Winston Street School and was named the Winston Street Branch Library. By 1943, the Huntsville Library officially made it one of its branches. DeBerry remained the librarian.
Dulcina DeBerry Library
In 1947, the library moved again. It went to a bigger building. It was then renamed the Dulcina DeBerry Library. Money for the library mostly came from the African American community. They held fundraisers to support it. In 1948, the city began giving the library money each year.
In 1951, the library moved once more. It shared a space with a community center. DeBerry retired from the library that same year. She returned home to Raleigh, North Carolina. In the 1960s, Huntsville started a project called Urban Renewal. Because of this, the library moved again. In 1968, the library board decided to focus on bookmobiles. The Dulcina DeBerry Library closed in October 1968.
Later Life and Death
DeBerry and her husband later moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Dulcina DeBerry passed away there on December 29, 1969.
