Activating History for Justice at Duke
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Outreach >
      • Press Release
    • Methods
    • Acknowledgements
  • REPORT
    • Executive Summary
    • Recommendations
    • Proposed sites
    • Bibliography
  • RESEARCH
    • Existing Memorials
    • Photo Gallery
  • Story Bank
    • Activism
    • Backbone
    • Spacemakers
    • Firsts
  • CONNECTIONS
    • Duke: Student Voices
    • Duke: The Institution
    • Durham
    • Other Universities
    • Non-University
  • CONTACT
    • Submissions
    • Social Media

Spacemakers




Architects of Community

lillian griggs, librarian leader

By Jair Oballe
Griggs was the first professionally trained public librarian in the state and the first librarian In Duke’s Women’s College, serving from 1930-1949.[1] She started the first bookmobiles in the country, bringing books to underserved and rural areas. Griggs also established branch libraries in Durham’s mill district and high school, and assisted in setting up the Durham Colored Library for the African-American population in 1916.[2] The concept of open stacks was an anomaly at the time, but despite opposition, Griggs fought for students to have direct access.[3] Reaching out to local furnishing companies, Griggs acquired art and furniture to create “booklover’s rooms,” where “poetry, drama, and music evenings were held for the students.”[4]

[1]. Biographical Reference Collection 1972 – 2004, Box 12, Duke University Archives.
[2]. See Fuller to Bertram, 16 December 1916, Board of Trustees Correspondence, Box 1, DCL Archives.
[3]. Woman's College Library planning, 1930-1934, Guide to the Lillian Baker Griggs Papers, 1930 - 1949 Box 3.
[4]. Biographical Reference Collection 1972 – 2004, Box 12.
Picture






Copyright © 2018
Designed by Helen Yu and Natalia Espinosa
HOME

ABOUT US
Our Team
Outreach
Methods
Acknowledgements


​CONTACT US
​Social Media
REPORT
Executive Summary
Recommendations
Site Proposals
​Bibliography


​
RESOURCES
Existing Memorials
Photo Archives
STORY BANK
Activism
Backbone
Spacemakers
Firsts


​CONNECTIONS
Within Duke
​Duke Student Voices
Other Universities
Non-University

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Outreach >
      • Press Release
    • Methods
    • Acknowledgements
  • REPORT
    • Executive Summary
    • Recommendations
    • Proposed sites
    • Bibliography
  • RESEARCH
    • Existing Memorials
    • Photo Gallery
  • Story Bank
    • Activism
    • Backbone
    • Spacemakers
    • Firsts
  • CONNECTIONS
    • Duke: Student Voices
    • Duke: The Institution
    • Durham
    • Other Universities
    • Non-University
  • CONTACT
    • Submissions
    • Social Media