Mildred Nilon facts for kids
Nancy Mildred Nilon (born July 26, 1920 – died September 30, 2017) was a very important librarian. She was the first African American librarian at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU). CU created a special scholarship to honor her and her husband, Charles. Charles was also the first African American professor at CU.
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Early Life and Learning
Mildred Harper, as she was known, was born on July 26, 1920, in Montgomery, Alabama. She was the youngest of three children. Her father worked for the railroad, which meant her family had more opportunities than many other African American families at that time. This allowed her to attend Alabama State Laboratory High School.
After high school, Mildred first tried teaching. However, she found that she did not enjoy it very much. So, she decided to go back to school. She earned a master's degree in Library Science from Atlanta University. Library Science is the study of how to organize, manage, and use libraries and information.
Her Career
Mildred Nilon worked in several libraries in Atlanta, Alabama, and Detroit. In 1956, she moved to Boulder, Colorado. This was because her husband, Charles, got a job teaching English at the University of Colorado.
In 1962, the University of Colorado Libraries offered her a job. They needed help with a sudden shortage of staff. She did such a good job that CU asked her to return that fall. She worked in the library's General Reference section, helping students and faculty find books and information. She also helped with Interlibrary Loans, which means getting books from other libraries for CU students.
Mildred Nilon eventually became the Assistant Director for Public Services. She held this important position until she retired in 1987. She made history as CU's first African American librarian.
Her Family
Mildred Harper met Charles Nilon at Alabama State University. They got married in 1953. They had one son, Charles Nilon, Jr. Their son graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta. Today, Charles Nilon, Jr., is a professor at the University of Missouri.
Helping the Community
Mildred Nilon was very involved in her community. She was a part of many groups, including the United Black Women of Boulder Valley. She also served on the boards of the Town and Country YWCA, the Mental Health board, and the Historic Boulder board.
Soon after moving to Boulder, the Nilons faced a challenge. They tried to buy a house outside of the Goss/Grove area, which was known as Boulder's "Black ghetto" at the time. When neighbors found out the Nilons were African American, they complained. Because of this, the homeowners changed their minds about selling the house.
However, the Nilons did not give up. They eventually bought a house outside that area. Their success helped open doors for other African American families to buy homes without facing unfair treatment. Their experience led them to work hard to end housing segregation. This means stopping the practice of separating people by race in where they could live. They also supported affordable housing for everyone in Boulder.
While at CU, the Nilons were mentors to African American students. They welcomed these students into their home and offered guidance. They also worked to increase the number of African American professors and students at the university. At that time, there were very few African Americans on campus.
Honored with a Scholarship
The Charles and Mildred Nilon Teacher Education Scholarship Fund was created to honor the Nilons. This scholarship helps students who want to improve education in schools that don't have many resources. It especially helps those schools that serve African American communities.
Mildred Nilon passed away on September 30, 2017, in Boulder. She was 97 years old.
