Cleora Clanton (October 27, 1891 – September 16, 1968) was an American librarian. She helped open a branch library for the community in Dallas, Texas.
Cleora Clanton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 27, 1891 Dallas, Texas |
| Died | September 16, 1968 (aged 76) Dallas |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | librarian |
| Parent(s) | Robert Allen Clanton and Susanna Elizabeth Webb |
Early life
editClanton was born on October 27, 1891[1] to parents Robert Allen Clanton and Susanna Elizabeth Webb in Dallas, Texas.[2]
Career
editIn 1915, Clanton began her library career when she accepted a position with the Dallas Public Library. Over the years, she was appointed to branch librarian, assistant librarian, and eventually acting librarian before becoming head of the Dallas Public Library in 1927.[2] After her promotion, she had to face the libraries financial crisis due to a lack of funding.[3] In 1924, she revealed that there was an increase of over 5, 000 book loans from the Dallas Public Library, despite the increased popularity of radio.[4] Although there was an increase, Clanton reported the library needed $25,000 worth of repairs.[3] While she was head of the Dallas Public Library, Clanton was also elected President of the Texas Library Association.[5]
In 1929, Dallas had two libraries, Central and Oak Cliff. Clanton was one of the major advocates for branch libraries.[6] She also created bookmobiles as a resource to reach more of the Dallas population.[3] This was in part due to the drop in library book loans due to WW2.[7] She also actively supported the creation of a library branch to serve Dallas' African-American community.[3] In 1941, Clanton was selected for the Library Publicity Honor Roll.[8]
“Probably no institution in the city touches the lives of the citizens at more points than the public library”
Clanton on the importance of libraries.[9]
In the 1950s, she fought against the United States censorship of reading materials. She spoke in front of the City Council of Dallas to advocate for the allowance of pamphlet funding of material that the Council deemed "un-American."[10] When ordered to remove Communist material from the library, she refused on the basis that knowledge of Communism was not in itself harmful.[11] In 1955, she retired and was succeeded by James Meeks.[12] Although she was replaced, she kept her role as associate librarian with a salary of $500 a month.[3] Before retiring, she helped lead the campaign for construction of a new library building in downtown Dallas.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Cleora Clanton". Find A Grave. Archived from the original on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- ^ a b c Mauldin Cottrell, Debbie. "CLANTON, CLEORA". tshaonline.org. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Michael V. Hazel (2001). The Dallas Public Library: Celebrating a Century of Service, 1901-2001. University of North Texas Press. pp. 67–99. ISBN 9781574411416. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Radio Does Not Interfere with Dallas Library". Sweetwater Daily Reporter. Texas. February 19, 1924.
- ^ "Dallas Librarian Named President". San Antonio Express. Texas. November 1, 1931.
- ^ "History of Oak Lawn Branch Library". oaklawnlibrarydallas.com. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Texans Reading Less". Morning Avalanche. Texas. October 23, 1943.
- ^ D'Loizeaux, Marie (July 1941). "Library Publicity Honor Roll of 1941". ALA Bulletin. 35 (7). American Library Association: 450–452. JSTOR 25690790.
- ^ "Dallas Public Library Overview" (PDF). dallascityhall.com. September 15, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ "Subversive Literature". Greenville Evening Banner. Texas. February 27, 1953.
- ^ Gerem, Yves (2004). A Marmac Guide to Dallas. Pelican Publishing. p. 668. ISBN 9781589801998. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Assumes Duties". Amarillo Daily News. Texas. January 6, 1955.
