Bertha Pleasant Williams (1923–2008) was the first African-American professional librarian in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...

, United States. In 1948 the segregated city required a certified librarian as a prerequisite to open a library for the city's African American residents. Williams, who had recently graduated from

Atlanta University Clark Atlanta University (CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private, Methodist, historically black research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Clark Atlanta is the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the Southern United States. Founde ...

, took the position, established the Union Street Library, and worked in libraries for most of her life.

Life and career

Williams was born June 29, 1923, in Montgomery, Alabama. She was one of seven children of Mary Green Pleasant and Reuben P. Pleasant. Williams earned a bachelor's degree in library science from

Alabama State University Alabama State University (ASU) is a public historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867, ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. History Alabama State University was founded in 1867 as the Lin ...

in 1943, and a master's degree in library science from Atlanta University in 1946. Soon after her graduation city officials approached Williams about opening a library, and she accepted the position. Williams opened the branch of the city library in two rooms of a house at 409 S. Union Street. Williams spent much of her professional life in the Montgomery Library System, and worked in the library field for fifty years. Williams died November 24, 2008. Williams also worked at Alabama State University Library for fourteen years, and served as Head of the rare Book Collection and archives for seven of those years. Williams met Robert H. Williams at Alabama State University, and the two married in 1950. They had one son, Richard Williams.

Honors

In 2012, the Montgomery City Council voted to rename the Rosa Parks Library branch to the Bertha Pleasant-Williams Library at the Rosa Parks Avenue Branch. The branch opened in 1960, and was the second library in the system to serve blacks. Williams became the head librarian when the branch opened, and worked there for nine years.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Bertha Pleasant 1923 births 2008 deaths American librarians African-American librarians American women librarians Alabama State University alumni People from Montgomery, Alabama Alabama State University faculty 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 20th-century American people American women academics 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women