Libby Clark facts for kids

Libby Elizabeth Clark (1918–2012) was an amazing African-American journalist. She achieved many great things, like starting her own magazine in Los Angeles. She also wrote for newspapers and even created her own public relations company.

Early Life and Education

Libby Clark was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She later studied and graduated from Columbia University, a well-known school.

A Career in Journalism

Libby Clark had a long and successful career in journalism.

Starting a Magazine

In 1954, Libby Clark started FEM magazine. This magazine was created for women, especially African American women. Clark wanted the magazine to share important information. She also wanted to show businesses how much African American women bought, so they would advertise in her magazine.

Newspaper Writing

Clark wrote for several newspapers. She worked for the Chester Times and the West Coast office of the Pittsburgh Courier. For 50 years, she wrote about food and social issues for the Los Angeles Sentinel. Her column, "Food For Thought," was very popular. It connected food articles with important social topics. This column was shared in 150 different newspapers!

Books and Resources

From 1989 to 1994, Clark published "The Plum Book." This was an annual guide that listed important people in the black community in Los Angeles and Southern California. She gave it away for free to leaders and politicians to help the community. She also helped edit and co-write the Black Family Reunion Cookbook. This cookbook sold over 250,000 copies and became a best-seller in 1991.

In 1951, the University of Southern California (USC) chose Clark for a special job. She traveled with a group of USC students on a two-month trip to Europe. Her task was to report on their activities during the tour.

Public Relations Work

Libby Clark also used her writing skills in public relations. She became the first African-American person in California to be licensed to own a public relations company, called Libby Clark Associates. She ran this company for 50 years!

In 1969, Los Angeles County hired her. She became the public information officer for the new Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital. This meant she helped share information about the hospital with the public.

One of her co-workers in public relations was an author named William Karl Thomas. He wrote a novel called "Cleo" in 2013, which was inspired by his work with Libby Clark. In his book, he mentioned her friendships with famous people like Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, James Baldwin, and Tom Bradley. He also included parts from her reports on Nigerian Independence in Africa from 1960. These reports featured interviews with important figures like Golda Meir and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Recognition and Awards

Libby Clark received many honors for her work. When she was 85 years old, she earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association. In 1992, a special dinner was held to celebrate her five decades of work in journalism. The money raised at this event went to a scholarship fund that helps African-American students. Many important politicians from California praised her for her years of service to the community.

Later Years

Libby Clark passed away in 2012 in Inglewood, California.