168:. In such an atmosphere, no library was founded for the community until the George Cleveland Hall Branch Library opened in 1932. The first branch built in a black neighborhood, the library had a variety of patrons from various racial & economic groups. Rollins became the head of the children's department, where she worked until retiring in 1963.
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Much of the literature available to young children in the earlier half of the twentieth century was rife with stereotypical portrayals of blacks, including false dialects, illustrations, and offensive words. While many libraries nationwide did not have a segregationist agenda, neither were they quick
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The rest of
Rollins's books were biographies, in keeping with her strong sentiment that they were the best kind of books for young children: “ includes the greatest number of Negro authors. It is here that all children can build a firm foundation of knowledge of and respect for Negroes. They will be
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Rollins was a storyteller. In “The Art of
Storytelling,” she wrote, "Storytelling is a wonderful way of breaking down barriers, or getting acquainted with new people, and drawing groups and individuals together." Her stories were based on positive news articles about blacks, folk tales, or stories
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from 1934-1936. It is not surprising
Rollins chose to concentrate in children's literature, calling learning to read at a young age "the best thing I ever did." Rollins's grandmother, a former slave, was a pivotal person in her life. She helped Rollins cultivate her love of reading by allowing her
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Rollins worked with the library director, Vivian Harsh, to make the library welcoming to the multicultural, socioeconomically diverse patrons. Under their guidance, the library hosted discussion groups, lectures, a Negro
History Club, and book fairs. In addition to her work with children, Rollins
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Chicago's black population swelled as more families moved north for better education, work and living conditions. Racism (de jure & de facto) was rampant, contrasting with the benign attitude towards blacks before 1915. Since then, tensions had progressed, and culminated in events like the
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After completing her elementary education, Rollins attended black high schools in St Louis, Missouri, Holly
Springs, Mississippi, and Quindoro, Kansas, where she graduated in 1916. After earning her teaching certificate, she taught at the school her family had set up before leaving to attend
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was written to create an index of “books that Negro children could enjoy without self-consciousness, books with which they could identify satisfactorily, books that white children could read and so learn what Negro young people and families were like.” She also believed that positive black
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Rollins became a children's librarian at the
Chicago Public Library in 1927. Initially, she worked at the Hardin Square Branch Library, where she became known as a prolific storyteller. Though she did not earn a degree, Rollins received library training from
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is a bibliography of books suitable for young
African-American children that sought to eliminate negative black stereotypes. Biographies, nonfiction, and sports genres are represented alongside picture and fiction books for children and young adults.
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in 1974 with a doctorate of humane letters. Despite
Rollins' long career promoting education, this was the first degree she had ever received: “But you can still touch me even now—it's the only degree I've ever had.”
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Rollins, C. H., & Baker, A. (1967). We build together; a reader's guide to Negro life and literature for elementary and high school use. (3rd ed.). Champaign, Ill: National
Council of Teachers of English.
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in 1972, the first
African-American to do so. On October 21, 1989, the children's room at the Hall Branch Library was named in Rollins' honor. The Charlemae Hill Rollins Colloquium is held twice a year at
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543:"Charlemae Hill Rollins." Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 27. Edited by Ashyia Henderson. Gale Group, 2001. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008.
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honored Rollins by naming their annual President's Program after the former ALSC President. The program takes place annually at the American Library Association's Annual Conference.
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hoping to find better living conditions, but discovered that black children were excluded from attending school. Undeterred, Rollins's family founded a school which Rollins attended.
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Graham, P. T. (2002). A right to read: segregation and civil rights in Alabama's public libraries, 1900–1965. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
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Charlemae Hill Rollins . Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 23. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008.
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Lawrence, C., Hutcherson, J., & Thomas, J. L. (1981). Storytelling for teachers and school library media specialists. Minneapolis, Minn: T.S. Denison.
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Rollins was primarily concerned with providing materials that portrayed African-Americans in a positive light, as well as materials by and about blacks.
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from 1957 to 1958. She was the first black librarian to hold the position. She also chaired the Jane Addams Children's Book Award Committee for the
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Rollins crusaded to change the content in many children's and young adult books to accurately portray black life. Her first publication in 1941,
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Miller, Marilyn L. Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth A Biographical Dictionary. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2003. <
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cemented Rollins's reputation as a prominent leader in children's literature. Publishers began sending her copies of books to evaluate.
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Charlemae Hill Rollins . Notable Black American Women, 1. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008.
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prepared for the first introduction to the concept of different skin color…They now can feel that America is indeed their country”
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561:"Charlemae Hill Rollins." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Apr. 2010.
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literature could also help foster tolerance between races by knocking these stereotypical conceptions down.
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in 1919, after Joseph returned from World War I. Their son, Joseph Walter Rollins, Jr., was born in 1920.
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We Build Together: A Reader's Guide to Negro Life and Literature for Elementary and High School Use,
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We Build Together: A Reader's Guide to Negro Life and Literature for Elementary and High School Use
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We Build Together: A Reader's Guide to Negro Life and Literature for Elementary and High School Use
527:"Chicago and Its Eight Reasons: Walter White Considers the Causes of the 1919 Chicago Race Riot".
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Christmas Gif', an Anthology of Christmas Poems, Songs and Stories Written by and about Negroes'
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Christmas Gif', an Anthology of Christmas Poems, Songs and Stories Written by and about Negroes
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also set up a reading guidance clinic for parents. Black writers visited the library including
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as well as after her retirement, she instituted substantial reforms in children's literature.
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in Nashville, Tennessee. She also began teaching a course in Children's Literature at
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Rollins, C. (1974). Charlemae Rollins--librarian and storyteller. American Libraries.
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in 1963. Her passion for storytelling is reflected in the variety of excerpts from
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642:"Guide to the Joseph W. Rollins, Sr. and Charlemae Rollins Collection, 1897-1989"
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access to her library. This passion helped drive Rollins to become a librarian.
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http://www.netlibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=125651
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Turner, G. T. (1997). Follow in their footsteps. New York: Cobblehill Books.
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The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the
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Rollins served as president of the Children's Services Division of the
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Besides these contributions to librarianship, Rollins also taught at
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After retiring, Rollins turned her hand to writing. She published
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Good American Award of the Chicago Committee of One-hundred, 1962
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in the summer of 1932, and the graduate library program of the
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Mapping the Stacks: A Guide to Black Chicago's Hidden Archives
531:. History Matters (October 1919). Retrieved on 12/6/2008 from
604:"Charlemae Rollins President's Program Planning Committee"
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She also edited and contributed to countless other works.
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University of Chicago Graduate Library School alumni
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Rollins died on February 3, 1979, at the age of 81.
99:(June 20, 1897 – February 3, 1979) was a pioneering
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319:Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen, and TV
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307:They Showed the Way: Forty American Negro Leaders
341:American Library Association Honorary Membership
433:Plaque from the Black Librarians' Caucus, 1976
290:In all, Rollins wrote or co-wrote six books:
282:at the University of Chicago from 1941-1977.
215:to invite blacks to utilize the collections.
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648:. DuSable Museum of African American History
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608:Association for Library Service to Children
280:Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
406:Children's Reading Round Table Award, 1963
372:National Conference of Christians and Jews
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377:American Library Association Letter, 1953
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403:Three (3) Negro Centennial Awards, 1963
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422:Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes
411:Women's National Book Association
409:Constance Lindsay Skinner Award,
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325:Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes
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701:Columbia College Chicago alumni
610:. American Library Association
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696:Howard University alumni
418:Coretta Scott King Award
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426:Torchbearers Award of
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157:University of Chicago
252:Booker T. Washington
248:Paul Laurence Dunbar
201:Roosevelt University
123:Rollins was born in
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210:Literature reforms
178:Zora Neale Hurston
133:Oklahoma Territory
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428:Alpha Kappa Alpha
384:Woman of the Year
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335:Honors and awards
233:We Build Together
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63:(1979-02-03)
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438:References
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101:librarian
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529:Crisis
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