Eliza Atkins Gleason facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eliza Atkins Gleason
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| Born | December 15, 1909 |
| Died | December 15, 2009 (aged 100) |
| Education | Fisk University (B.A) University of Illinois (B.A.S) University of California Berkeley (M.A) University of Chicago (Ph.D) |
| Occupation | Librarian and Professor |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Maurice Francis Gleason |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Simon Green Atkins Oleona Pegram Atkins |
| Relatives | Jasper Alston Atkins (brother) |
Eliza Atkins Gleason (born December 15, 1909 – died December 15, 2009) was a very important American librarian and professor. She made history as the first African American person to earn a doctorate degree in Library Science. This is the highest degree you can get in studying how libraries work.
In 1941, Eliza Gleason started something amazing. She created and became the first leader (Dean) of the School of Library Service at Atlanta University. This school became super important. By 1986, it had trained 90 percent of all African-American librarians in the country. This shows how much she helped people get an education and become librarians.
Early Life and Education
Eliza Atkins Gleason was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her parents were Simon Green Atkins and Oleona Pegram Atkins. Both of her parents were educators, meaning they worked in schools. Her mother was a teacher. Her father was even more special. He founded a college called Slater State College. Today, that college is known as Winston-Salem State University.
After finishing high school, Eliza went to college. She earned her first degree, a bachelor's degree, from the University of Illinois in 1931. Soon after, she got her first job working in a library. This was in Louisville, Kentucky, at a place called Louisville Municipal College. This college was specifically for African-American students. Eliza quickly became the head librarian there. Her sister, Olie Atkins Carpenter, had also been a librarian at the same college.
In 1936, Eliza continued her studies. She earned her master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Then, she moved to Chicago to pursue an even higher degree. In 1940, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Her Ph.D. paper was called The Southern Negro and the Public Library. It was a detailed study about how public libraries served African Americans in the Southern United States. This paper, published in 1941, was the first complete history of library access in the South. It especially focused on libraries for African Americans.
A Career of Firsts
After getting her Ph.D., Eliza Gleason became the director of libraries at Talladega College in Alabama. But her biggest achievement was yet to come. In 1941, she made history again. She created and became the first Dean of the School of Library Service at Atlanta University. This was a huge step forward for library education.
In 1946, Eliza left Atlanta to join her husband, Dr. Maurice Francis Gleason. He was a doctor setting up his medical practice in Illinois after serving in the military. Eliza and Maurice had married in 1937. They had a daughter named Joy Gleason Carew. Joy later became a professor at the University of Louisville.
Eliza continued her work in education. She taught at Woodrow Wilson Junior College and Chicago Teachers College. She also gave special lectures at the University of Chicago. In 1964, she became an associate professor of library science. This was at the South Chicago branch of the Illinois Teachers College.
Eliza Gleason was also a pioneer in professional organizations. From 1942 to 1946, she was the first African American to serve on the board of the American Library Association. This is a very important group for librarians in America. Later, in 1978, she was appointed to the Chicago Public Library board. She also became the executive director of the Chicago Black United Fund.
Lasting Legacy
Eliza Atkins Gleason lived a long and impactful life. She passed away in 2009, on her 100th birthday. Her contributions to libraries and education are still remembered today.
In 2010, after her death, she was honored by the University of Louisville. She was added to their College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Honor. This shows how much they valued her work.
To keep her memory alive, the American Library Association gives out a special award. It's called the Eliza Atkins Gleason Book Award. This award is given every three years. It celebrates the best book written in English about library history. This includes the history of libraries, librarians, and how books have shaped culture.
Some people who have received this award include Dr. Cheryl Knott, Christine Pawley, David Allan, Carl Ostrowski, and Louise Robbins.
