Hallie Beachem Brooks
Hallie Beachem Brooks (1907 – 1985) was a prominent African-American librarian, educator, and academic who worked to advance literacy and educational opportunities for African-Americans. She was a Professor of Library Science at Atlanta University, published numerous book reviews, and mentored African-American library students.
Education[edit]
Brooks earned a certificate from the Indiana State Public Library Training Course in 1924.[1] She earned an AB from Butler University in 1934 and a BLS from Columbia University in 1940.[1] Brooks received her MA from the University of Chicago in 1946[2] with a thesis entitled "A description of Negro news-stand magazines and an analysis of the contents of a selected number of Negro magazines".
Career[edit]
In 1942, Brooks joined Atlanta University as a part-time faculty member.[2] She was also at this time the librarian to the Atlanta University Laboratory Elementary School and enrolled as a summer student at the University of Chicago.[1] From 1942 to 1944, she directed a library field service program funded by the Carnegie Corporation, which offered resources and consultation to southern regional libraries seeking to improve their coverage and services to African-Americans.[3]
In 1946, Brooks was promoted to a full-time position at Atlanta University.[2] In 1948, she was promoted to assistant professor.[2] In addition to teaching, she continued to work for the Atlanta University Laboratory Elementary Schools, and by 1952, she was the Library Supervisor there.[4] In 1954, Brooks went on sabbatical, and spent some of her time touring and learning from European libraries and presses.[2] In 1957, she was promoted to the rank of associate professor.[2] In 1959, Brooks was promoted to the rank of professor. In 1965, Brooks edited a conference proceedings entitled The role of the library in improving education in the South. In 1977, Brooks retired from Atlanta University after 47 years of service.[2][5] In 1983, she was awarded Emerita status.[2]
Legacy[edit]
Atlanta University Department of Library Sciences periodically awards a scholarship in her honor.[6]
Publications[edit]
- A description of Negro news-stand magazines and an analysis of the contents of a selected number of Negro magazines. MA Thesis. 1946.
- The role of the library in improving education in the South; papers. 1965: Atlanta University. (OCoLC)609447924
- Lovers of Freedom Will Be Free. Book Review, "Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates; Stories of the Underground Railroad by Anna L. Curtis". Phylon, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1951. DOI: 10.2307/272330
- Play Songs of the Deep South by Altona Trent Johns. Book Review. Phylon, Vol. 6, No. 2 (2nd Qtr, 1945), p. 193
- Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin. Book Review. Phylon, Vol. 21, No. 3 (3rd Qtr., 1960), pp. 296–297
- Meet North Africa by John Gunther, Sam Epstein, Beryl Epstein. Book Review. The Phylon Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 2 (2nd Qtr, 1958), p. 237
- The First Book of Negroes by Langston Hughes. Book Review. Phylon, Vol. 14, No. 3 (3rd Qtr, 1953), pp. 343–344
- A Look down the Lonesome Road: What a Liberal Living amid Segregationists Can Do, Say and Accomplish by Ralph Creger, Erwin McDonald. Book Review. Phylon, Vol. 25, No. 4 (4th Qtr, 1964), pp. 414–415
- Belafonte: An Unauthorized Biography by Arnold Shaw. Book Review. Phylon, Vol. 21, No. 3 (3rd Qtr, 1960), pp. 294–296
- Oral History Interview, recording of Hallie Beachem Brooks by E. Bernard West.
References[edit]
| Archives at | ||||||
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| How to use archival material |
- ^ a b c "The Atlanta University Bulletin".
- ^ a b c d e f g h Woodson, Almeta Gould (1991). "Fifty Years of Service". The Georgia Librarian (Fall).
- ^ Kent, Allen; Lancour, Harold (1969). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, Volume 2. New York: Marcel Dekker Ltd. ISBN 9780824720025.
- ^ "The Atlanta University Bulletin" (PDF). Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Atlanta University - Program Brochures".
- ^ "Clark Atlanta University 2004-2006 Graduate Catalog" (PDF). Clark Atlanta University.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- African-American librarians
- American librarians
- African-American educators
- African-American women educators
- 1907 births
- 1985 deaths
- Butler University alumni
- Columbia University School of Library Service alumni
- University of Chicago alumni
- Clark Atlanta University faculty
- American women librarians
- 20th-century African-American women
- 20th-century African-American people
- 20th-century American educators
- American women academics