Emily Wheelock Reed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emily Wheelock Reed
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| Born | 1910 |
| Died | May 19, 2000 (aged 89) Cockeysville, Maryland, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Known for | civil rights activism |
Emily Wheelock Reed (born 1910, died 2000) was an American librarian. She was also a brave activist for civil rights. Emily Reed is famous for her work in Alabama. She was the director of the Alabama Public Library Service Division. During the 1950s, she stood up for a children's book called The Rabbits' Wedding. This happened during the important Civil Rights Movement.
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Early Life and Education
Emily Wheelock Reed was born in Asheville, North Carolina in 1910. When she was one year old, her family moved to the Midwest. She grew up and went to school in Culver, Indiana.
Emily studied at Indiana University and earned her first college degree. She was a very good student and joined a special honor society called Phi Beta Kappa. Later, she earned her library degree from the University of Michigan. This degree helped her become a professional librarian.
A Career in Libraries
Emily Reed worked in many different libraries during her career. She worked in public libraries and university libraries. She helped people find books and information.
Some of the places she worked include the University of Michigan and Florida State University. She also worked at the Detroit Public Library and in Hawaii State Public Library System on Kauai. Her work took her to the State Library of Louisiana and the District of Columbia Public Library System. She also worked at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore.
Standing Up for Books
Emily Reed is best known for a big challenge she faced in Alabama. She was the director of the Alabama Public Library Service Division. This was during the Civil Rights Movement, a time when many people fought for equal rights.
In 1958, a children's book called The Rabbits' Wedding caused a controversy. The book was about a black rabbit and a white rabbit getting married. Some people in Alabama did not like this book. They thought it promoted ideas they disagreed with.
Emily Reed believed that all books should be available to everyone. She bravely defended the book and the right to read it. She stood up for what she believed was right, even when it was difficult.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1960, Emily Reed left Alabama. She moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the District of Columbia Library System. Six years later, she became a director at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland. She worked there until she retired in 1977.
Emily Reed passed away on May 19, 2000, at the age of 89. She was living in a retirement community in Cockeysville, Maryland.
Her courage in defending The Rabbits' Wedding left an important mark. The American Library Association (ALA) later honored her. In July 2000, after her death, she received the Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor award. This award recognized her commitment to intellectual freedom.
Her story also inspired a play called Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones. The play shows the events around The Rabbits' Wedding controversy. It features characters inspired by Emily Reed and others involved in the real-life events. The play has been performed in many cities across the United States.
