Virginia Proctor Powell Florence facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Virginia Proctor Powell Florence
Florence in 1923
Born	October 1, 1897
Died	1991
Known for	first black woman in the United States to earn a degree in library science

Virginia Proctor Powell Florence (born October 1, 1897 – died 1991) was a very important person in African-American history. She also made a big mark in the history of librarianship, which is about libraries and books. In 1923, she became the first black woman in the United States to get a degree in library science. This meant she was officially trained to work in libraries. She was also the second African-American person ever to get this kind of training, after Edward Christopher Williams.

Early Life and Learning

Virginia Proctor Powell Florence was born on October 1, 1897. She was the only child of Socrates Edward and Caroline Elizabeth Powell. Her family lived in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. Virginia lived there until 1913, when both her parents passed away. After this, she moved to Pittsburgh to live with her aunt.

High School and College Years

Virginia graduated from Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh in 1915. She then went to Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, just like her mother. In 1919, Virginia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied English literature there. After college, she moved back to Pittsburgh. Even though she had a good education, she could not find a teaching job. For a while, she worked at her aunt's salon as a beautician.

A New Path to Libraries

Virginia loved children and books. Her future husband, Charles Wilbur Florence, saw this passion. He encouraged her to think about a career in librarianship. At that time, it was very hard for African-Americans to get into mostly white universities. But Virginia was considered for the Pittsburgh Carnegie Library School. This school is now part of the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences.

School officials talked a lot about letting a black person into the program. They worried about how white students would react. They also thought it would be hard for Virginia to find a job after graduating. No library in Pittsburgh had ever hired a black person with formal training. But in 1922, the school decided to accept Virginia. They based their decision on her excellent grades from Oberlin College.

Even after being accepted, Virginia faced unfair treatment. She was not allowed to help white library visitors directly. She had to let a white person answer their questions. Despite these challenges, she finished library school in one year. In 1923, she earned her Bachelor of Library Science degree.

Career in Librarianship

Virginia Proctor Powell Florence is famous for her role in library history. But her first few jobs were not in libraries. After graduating from Oberlin, she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. She worked for the YWCA as a secretary. She helped with a group for young black girls. After just one year, she returned to Pittsburgh.

Becoming a Teacher and a Librarian

Back in Pittsburgh, Virginia wanted to become a teacher. At Oberlin, she had joined community groups and book clubs. She truly loved working with children. She thought her experience with the YWCA and her English degree would be enough. But the Pittsburgh school system did not agree. The schools allowed black students, but they were not ready for black teachers. So, Virginia could not get a teaching job. She worked in her aunt's beauty salon for two years.

Charles Wilbur Florence saw that the salon job was not what Virginia wanted. He strongly encouraged her to study librarianship. He knew she had the right mix of good grades, determination, and a love for books and children. Because of his support, Virginia applied to the Carnegie Library School. She was accepted, even with the school's worries about her race.

Working in New York

After graduating, Virginia applied to libraries across the country. She looked for places that might hire an African-American librarian. The New York Public Library system hired her. She worked there until 1927. After leaving, she achieved another first. She became the first African-American to pass the New York high school librarian's exam. After passing the test, Virginia became a librarian at Seward Park High School in Brooklyn.

Life as a University First Lady

On July 18, 1931, Virginia Proctor Powell married Charles Wilbur Florence. They had waited to marry so they could focus on their education and careers. Charles was also very accomplished. He earned degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He also studied at Harvard for two years, working toward a doctorate.

While in Boston, Charles was chosen to be the president of Lincoln University of Missouri. This university is in Jefferson City, Missouri. After their wedding, the couple moved to Jefferson City. Virginia took a break from librarianship for eight years. She became the "First Lady" of Lincoln University. People in Missouri described her as a stylish and soft-spoken person. She enjoyed social teas and reading clubs.

Return to Librarianship

In 1938, the couple moved again for Charles's career. This time, they went to Richmond, Virginia. Virginia could not find work for herself in Richmond. So, she took a job in Washington, D.C., away from her husband. This move allowed her to return to librarianship. She worked at Cordoza High School until 1945. Due to some health issues, Virginia stopped working in Washington, D.C. and returned to Richmond.

Virginia's health improved, and she went back to her library career. She worked in the Richmond school system at Maggie L. Walker Senior High School. She retired from librarianship in 1965. Even after retiring, she and her husband cared deeply about social justice. In 1968, Virginia wrote that they were very interested in Civil Rights. They worked with their church, the YWCA, and a group called the Richmond Crusade for Voters.

Virginia Proctor Powell Florence passed away in 1991. She was 93 years old and living in Richmond.

Honors and Recognition

Virginia Florence's important work in librarianship was recognized many years later. In 1981, the University of Pittsburgh honored her. They gave her a Special Award for Outstanding Professional Service. In 2004, after she had passed away, they placed a plaque in her honor. It is in the lobby of the Information Sciences Building.

The American Library Association also recognized her efforts. They included Virginia Florence in their list of "100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century." She was ranked number 34 on this special list.