Charlemae Hill Rollins Papers

 

Dates: 1900-1994
Size: 56 linear feet in 14 boxes with 39 photographs, 1 audiocassette
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628

Collection

Number:

 1980/01
Immediate source of acquisition: Donated by Joseph Rollins in 1980
Conditions governing use: Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection
Conditions governing access: Materials are open without restrictions
Preferred Citation:

When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is:

Charlemae Hill Rollins Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Finding aid author Beverly A. Cook, February 2022

Abstract

Charlemae Rollins served as children’s librarian at the Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library from 1932 to 1963 and was a nationally recognized pioneer in the development of multicultural children’s literature. Her papers include correspondence, scrapbooks, clipping files, memorabilia, photographs and published and unpublished essays, as well as Rollins’ personal library.

Biographical /Historical

As an African American librarian, Charlemae Hill Rollins worked for the creation of well-written children’s literature free of racial and ethnic distortion. She played a critical role in changing the image of the African American in children’s literature. She was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi on June 20, 1897 to Allen G. and Birdie (Tucker) Hill. Her mother, a schoolteacher in Yazoo, Mississippi before marriage, graduated from Rust College. Her father, son of the local doctor, owned a farm in Silver Creek, Mississippi. Charlemae Hill Rollins was the oldest of five children.

The family migrated to the Oklahoma Territory in 1904. Once the territory became a state in 1907, other Black families migrated there. Rollin’s father built a school for Black children that she attended until she was thirteen. Rollins finished her secondary schooling in St. Louis, Missouri and Holly Springs, Mississippi. She graduated from high school at Western University in Quindaro, Kansas in 1916. She returned home, got a teaching certificate, and taught there for a short time. She married Joseph Walter Rollins in 1918 and remained in Oklahoma while he served overseas in France. After his return in 1919, the family migrated to Chicago. Except for short visits, Rollins spent the rest of her life in Chicago, Illinois.

Charlemae Hill Rollins began her career as a junior library assistant at the Hardin Square Branch in 1926. She decided she liked the work and attended summer sessions at Columbia University School of Library Science (1932) and the University of Chicago (1934-36). After years of lobbying, the Chicago Public Library opened a full-service library in the Black community at 48th Michigan. The library was named in honor of Dr. George Cleveland Hall and opened on January 18, 1932. Vivian G. Harsh was the library director and Rollins became its first children’s librarian. She held that position for thirty-one years, retiring from the Chicago Public Library in 1963.

Throughout the 1930s Rollins performed the ordinary duties of a librarian and made extraordinary efforts on behalf of children. She did reference work, had a regular story telling hour, prepared book reviews, made book selections, and ran workshops for both parents and teachers. As a member of the book selection committee of the Children’s Department of the Chicago Public library she played a pivotal role in educating her colleagues on the detrimental effects to children in the African American community of ethnic and racial misrepresentations.

At the request of the National Teachers Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Rollins worked for several years on We Build Together: A Reader’s Guide to Negro Life and Literature for Elementary and High School Use. Published in 1941 by NCTE, it was an immediate success. It was revised and published in 1948 and 1967. Rollins wrote the introductory essay and discussed the criteria which teachers should use in selecting books about the African diaspora to be used in the classroom. The publication of this book opened many opportunities for her to write, lecture and teach. She waged a campaign both locally and nationally to improve the book publishing and selection of African American materials for children’s books. She and Harsh created a Reading Guidance Clinic for parents at Hall. They also formed a partnership between the community, scholars and librarians in their Book Review and Lecture Forum. This forum ran for over twenty years. Since the Illinois Writers Project used Hall as their unofficial meeting place, Rollins encountered many of the writers of the Black Chicago Renaissance who espoused her belief that Black literature should have a positive message.

Rollins retired from the Chicago Public Library in 1963 and devoted herself to writing full-time. She published Christmas Gif’ an Anthology of Christmas Poems, Songs and Stories Written by and About Negroes (1963); They Showed the Way: Forty American Negro Leaders (1964); Famous American Negro Poets (1965); Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen and TV (1967) and Black Troubadour Langston Hughes (1970). Charlemae Hill Rollins died on February 2, 1979.

Rollin’s legacy continues. On November 19, 1977, the Charlemae Hill Rollins Collection of Children’s literature was dedicated at the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library. The presentation was made by her son, Joseph J. Rollins Jr. The Rollins Colloquium was initiated in 1980 at the North Carolina Central University in Durham. It was dedicated to improving services to children. In 1989, the City of Chicago and Hall Branch dedicated its children’s area to be called “The Charlemae Hill Rollins Children’s Room. During the dedication of this room, her former patrons, colleagues, and friends sent in testimonials about Charlemae Hill Rollins and her impact upon their lives.

Sources

Scope and Contents

Charlemae Hill Rollins (CHR) was a pioneering librarian, author and storyteller with the Chicago Public Library for more than thirty years. She worked in the Bronzeville community at the George Cleveland Hall branch alongside Vivian G. Harsh, first African American branch manager in the library system. Her papers span the years 1906 through the early 1990s. Her papers include biographical information, manuscripts, programs, and photographs. Rollins garnered national and international attention with the publication of We Build Together in 1941. She revised it in 1948 and 1967.

Arrangement

Her papers are arranged in twelve series: Biographical, Manuscripts, Correspondence, Newspaper Clippings, Organizations, Pamphlets, Programs, Subject Research Files, Serials, Plaques and Awards, Memorabilia and Photographs.

Related Materials

Related materials at the Chicago Public Library include:

Related materials at other institutions include:

Collection Inventory

Series 1: Biography, 1958-1994, undated

Scope and Content

This series contains biographical information on Charlemae Hill Rollins (CHR) along with the many testaments that the library received in the wake of her retirement. Biography contains her initial copyright applications for Christmas Gif and We Build Together as well as her son, Joseph Rollins certificate of renewal registrations. Her life is on showcase through the documents and newspaper clippings of her honors while working at the Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Arrangement

This series is in chronological order.

Box 1 Folder 1 Biography, “You—and the Newberry Caldecott awards” Top of the News 1958 October
Box 1 Folder 2 Biography, Census report, 1960 1960
Box 1 Folder 3 Biography, Newspaper clipping, “She will close book on career” in Chicago Tribune 1963
Box 1 Folder 4 Biography, CHR copyright applications for manuscripts 1963-1993
Box 1 Folder 5 Biography, Newspaper clipping, “Skinner award to Mrs. Rollins” Chicago Defender 1970
Box 1 Folder 6 Biography, Doctor of Humane Letters degree, Columbia University 1974
Box 1 Folder 7 Biography, Charlemae Hill Rollins biographical statement 1979
Box 1 Folder 8 Biography, Charlemae Hill Rollins biographical statement undated
Box 1 Folder 9 Biography, Black Caucus Newsletter 1979
Box 1 Folder 10 Biography, Funeral program 1979
Box 1 Folder 11 Biography, Obituary for CHR in Chicago Sun-Times 1979
Box 1 Folder 12 Biography, Obituary for CHR in JET magazine 1979 February 22
Box 1 Folder 13 Biography, Tribute to CHR from Johnson Publishing Company [Doris Saunders] 1979
Box 1 Folder 14 Biography, Tribute to CHR from Operation Push [Jesse Jackson] 1979
Box 1 Folder 15 Biography, CHR Colloquium [see Tar Heel Libraries, May-June 1992] 1980
Box 1 Folder 16 Biography, Biographical sketch by Holly Willett in Dictionary of American Biography 1987
Box 1 Folder 17 Biography, City of Chicago proclamation to CHR 1989 October 12
Box 1 Folder 18 Biography, Charlemae Hill Rollins testimonials 1989
Box 1 Folder 19 Biography, News release, “Hall Branch Children’s room named in honor of CHR” 1989
Box 1 Folder 20 Biography, CHR Foundation 1990-1992
Box 1 Folder 21 Biography, CHR Colloquium, [Revisiting Realism] 1994

 

Series 2: Manuscripts, 1900-1979, undated

Scope and Content

This series has two subseries: Manuscripts by Charlemae Hill Rollins and her mother and Manuscripts by others. Subseries A contains a manuscript written by CHR’s mother, Birdie Tucker, which is a memoir written during the 50thanniversary of her marriage. The other manuscripts are by CHR and highlight her mission to create stories about African American lives for children to read and her ground-breaking treatise We Build Together which is a curriculum for choosing books for children. Subseries B contains manuscripts by other early African American librarians and writers of her era along with the special poem written by Gwendolyn Brooks when Charlemae Hill Rollins retired.

Arrangement

These subseries are in alphabetical order.

Series 2, Subseries A: Manuscripts by Charlemae Hill Rollins (CHR) and Birdie Tucker, 1943-1969

Box 2 Folder 1 Manuscripts, Hill, Birdie Tucker. “Silver Creek” circa 1953
Box 2 Folder 2 Manuscripts, CHR, African American Christmas folklore [included are Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Countee Cullen, Gwendolyn Brooks and Effie Lee Newsome undated
Box 2 Folder 3 Manuscripts, CHR, “Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes” [Chapter 1-4] circa 1969
Box 2 Folder 4 Manuscripts, CHR, “Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes” [Chapter 5-8] circa 1969
Box 2 Folder 5 Manuscripts, CHR, “Christmas Gif” advance reading copy 1963
Box 2 Folder 6 Manuscripts, CHR, “Christmas Gif” jacket and notes undated
Box 2 Folder 7 Manuscripts, CHR, “Christmas Gif” illustration circa 1963
Box 2 Folder 8 Manuscripts, CHR, “Christmas Gif” research notes on African American folklore undated
Box 2 Folder 9 Manuscripts, CHR, “Clara Ingram Judson” in Elementary English 1953
Box 2 Folder 10 Manuscripts, CHR, “Critical Criteria” in Community 1962
Box 2 Folder 11 Manuscripts, CHR, “Don Goes to the Store” 1969
Box 2 Folder 12 Manuscripts, CHR, “Duffy” 1969
Box 2 Folder 13 Manuscripts, CHR, “Famous Americans” 1969
Box 2 Folder 14 Manuscripts, CHR, “Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen and Television” 1967
Box 2 Folder 15 Manuscripts, CHR, “Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen and Television” (edits) circa 1966
Box 2 Folder 16 Manuscripts, CHR, “I Like Animals” 1969
Box 2 Folder 17 Manuscripts, CHR, “Library Work with Negroes” in Illinois Libraries 1943
Box 2 Folder 18 Manuscripts, CHR, “Listen” 1969
Box 2 Folder 19 Manuscripts, CHR, “Locked Out” 1969
Box 2 Folder 20 Manuscripts, CHR, “The Magic World of Books” 1954
Box 2 Folder 21 Manuscripts, CHR, “Poems” 1969
Box 2 Folder 22 Manuscripts, CHR, “Signs” 1969
Box 2 Folder 23 Manuscripts, CHR, “Sissy” undated
Box 2 Folder 24 Manuscripts, CHR, “We Build Together,” revised edition 1948
Box 3 Folder 1 Manuscripts, CHR, “Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen and Television” galleys (1 of 3) Oversize 1967
Box 3 Folder 2 Manuscripts, CHR, “Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen and Television” galleys (2 of 3) Oversize 1967
Box 3 Folder 3 Manuscripts, CHR, “Famous Negro Entertainers of Stage, Screen and Television” galleys (3 of 3) Oversized 1967

Series 2, Subseries B: Manuscripts by others, 1900-1979, undated

Box 4 Folder 1 Manuscripts by others, Brooks, Gwendolyn, “For Charlemae Rollins” 1963 May 25
Box 4 Folder 2 Manuscripts by others, Burroughs, Margaret, “Langston Hughes tribute” 1967
Box 4 Folder 3 Manuscripts by others, David, Jay and Catherine Greene, ed. “Born Black” 1970
Box 4 Folder 4 Manuscripts by others, Hughes, Langston, “8 Poems of Christmas” undated
Box 4 Folder 5 Manuscripts by others, Hughes, Langston, “Let America be American again” undated
Box 4 Folder 6 Manuscripts by others, Jones, Virginia Lacey, “A Tribute to Charlemae Hill Rollins” 1979
Box 4 Folder 7 Manuscripts by others, Knox, Eva, “Araminta’s Goat” 1963
Box 4 Folder 8 Manuscripts by others, Peterkin, Julia, “A Plantation Christmas” 1941
Box 4 Folder 9 Manuscripts by others, Thornton, Eileen and Dorothy Cole, Library Masterpieces 1956
Box 4 Folder 10 Manuscripts by others, Washington, Booker T, “Anxious Days and Sleepless Nights” from Up From Slavery 1900
Box 4 Folder 11 Manuscripts by others, Wikramanyake, Marina, “The Free Negro in Antebellum South Carolina” 1966

Series 3: Correspondence, 1906-1974, undated

Scope and Content

CHR corresponded with people in the humanities, educational field, and publishing world to effect change in the type of materials that were being disseminated to African American children. She reached out across gender and racial lines to make sure that people understood and were complying.

Arrangement

This series is in alphabetical order by correspondent’s last name.

Box 5 Folder 1 Correspondence, Abbott, Harry 1956
Box 5 Folder 2 Correspondence, Algar, Harold to CHR 1969, April 11
Box 5 Folder 3 Correspondence, Bontemps, Arna 1960
Box 5 Folder 4 Correspondence, Brooks, Gwendolyn 1970
Box 5 Folder 5 Correspondence, Clift, David 1960s
Box 5 Folder 6 Correspondence, Cone, Spencer 1970
Box 5 Folder 7 Correspondence, Darling, Kathy 1970
Box 5 Folder 8 Correspondence, Deaderick, Lucile 1944
Box 5 Folder 9 Correspondence, DeBoer, Henrietta 1969
Box 5 Folder 10 Correspondence, Greer, Glyden to CHR 1971-1973
Box 5 Folder 11 Correspondence, Hogan, Robert [NCTE national council of teachers of English] 1968
Box 5 Folder 12 Correspondence, Hughes, Langston 1963-1964
Box 5 Folder 13 Correspondence, Kraus, Joe W. [Illinois State University] 1970
Box 5 Folder 14 Correspondence, Ladenson, Alex 1974
Box 5 Folder 15 Correspondence, Literature for Disadvantaged Children 1968
Box 5 Folder 16 Correspondence, Margaret 1969
Box 5 Folder 17 Correspondence, McClintock, Lillian 1968
Box 5 Folder 18 Correspondence, Miller, Marjorie M. circa 1969
Box 5 Folder 19 Correspondence, Mollie 1971 May 17
Box 5 Folder 20 Correspondence, Myers, Gary 1970
Box 5 Folder 21 Correspondence, Naughton, Marjorie 1970
Box 5 Folder 22 Correspondence, Newsome, Steve undated
Box 5 Folder 23 Correspondence, Peters, Mary 1971
Box 5 Folder 24 Correspondence, Phi Delta Kappa sorority congratulatory telegrams 1960
Box 5 Folder 25 Correspondence, Rand McNally shipping order 1971
Box 5 Folder 26 Correspondence, Rodin, Carl 1933
Box 5 Folder 27 Correspondence, Rollins Retirement cards circa 1963
Box 5 Folder 28 Correspondence, Rossiter, William 1972
Box 5 Folder 29 Correspondence, Rubin, Caroline to CHR 1971 May 3
Box 5 Folder 30 Correspondence, Shackelford, Jane to CHR 1970
Box 5 Folder 31 Correspondence, Silbergerg, Sophie 1971
Box 5 Folder 32 Correspondence, Sister Helen (SS Peter and Paul Convent) 1970
Box 5 Folder 33 Correspondence, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament 1969
Box 5 Folder 34 Correspondence, Smith, Cynthia [NCTE] 1970
Box 5 Folder 35 Correspondence, Taswell, Naomi 1960
Box 5 Folder 36 Correspondence, Thompson, Era Bell [see Grace Burley and Langston Hughes photographs] undated
Box 5 Folder 37 Correspondence, Townsend, Virginia 1960
Box 5 Folder 38 Correspondence, WBEE Radio 1963
Box 5 Folder 39 Correspondence, Will, Marie 1968
Box 5 Folder 40 Correspondence, Wukich, Stella [Gary School District] 1969
Box 5 Folder 41 Correspondence, Tate, Inez circa 1971
Box 5 Folder 42 Other Correspondence, Kennleyside, Marjorie to Hennie Cisco 1964
Box 5 Folder 43 Other Correspondence, Washington, Booker T to S. Laing Williams 1906
Box 5 Folder 44 Miscellaneous correspondence undated

 

Series 4: Newspaper clippings, 1932-1993, undated

Scope and Content

This series of newspaper clippings follow Charlemae Hill Rollins career from 1932 to her retirement in 1970 and her continued work in the field after retirement.

Arrangement

This series is in chronological order.

Box 6 Folder 1 Newspaper clipping, Hayes, Frank, “Negro avid followers of nonfiction literature; new library completed”, Chicago Daily News, [from Charlemae Hill Rollins scrapbook] 1932 May 4
Box 6 Folder 2 Newspaper clipping, “Negro Culture Collection,” Chicago Defender [from Charlemae Hill Rollins scrapbook] 1936 November 1
Box 6 Folder 3 Newspaper clipping, Clark, Herma, “When Chicago was Young”, Chicago Tribune, [from Charlemae Hill Rollins scrapbook] 1937 October 17
Box 6 Folder 4 Newspaper clipping, Powell, Alice, “Children’s Librarian at book bazaar brings wealth of experience, interest” Newport NewsDaily Press, 1957 November 17
Box 6 Folder 5 Newspaper clipping, “Nat’l Children’s Library Chief to Give area Talks,” Newport NewsDaily Press, 1957 November 10
Box 6 Folder 6 Newspaper clipping, Farley, Jane. “Librarian helped change face of children’s books,” Milwaukee Journal 1965 July 23
Box 6 Folder 7 Newspaper clipping, “Guide to Books on Afro-American History” undated
Box 6 Folder 8 Newspaper clipping, “Woman Author to Deliver Eleanor Welch lecture,” The Pantagraph 1970 April 22
Box 6 Folder 9 Newspaper clipping, Constantine, Peggy, “An award winning librarian and story- teller,” Chicago Sun-Times 1970 April 8
Box 6 Folder 10 Newspaper clipping, Christensen, Kathryn, “Charlemae and her long affair with books” Chicago Daily News 1974 June 7
Box 6 Folder 11 Newspaper clipping, “A Page from the Book of Pride,” Philadelphia Tribune 1990 February 22
Box 6 Folder 12 Newspaper clipping, Wells, Earl and Eursla, “Anthology of Christmas customs will have new debut at book fair,” The Miami Times 1993 November 18

Series 5: Organizations, 1959-1977

Scope and Content

This series contains the wide range of organizations that CHR worked with both inside and outside of the United States.

Arrangement

This series is in alphabetical order.

Box 6 Folder 13 Organizations, Dodd, Mead books by and about Negroes circa 1970
Box 6 Folder 14 Organizations, DuSable Museum facts circa 1973
Box 6 Folder 15 Organizations, Jane Addams Peace Association/Women and International League for Peace and Freedom (WILP) 1967
Box 6 Folder 16 Organizations, Phi Delta Kappa 1969
Box 6 Folder 17 Organizations, Roosevelt University faculty publications 1959
Box 6 Folder 18 Organizations, South African Institute of Race Relations 42nd annual report 1970-1971
Box 6 Folder 19 Organizations, Third World Press 1967-1977

Series 6: Pamphlets, undated

Scope and Contents

These pamphlets are items she collected.

Arrangement

This series is in alphabetical order.

Box 6 Folder 20 Pamphlets, Fillmore, Lowell. Things to be remembered undated
Box 6 Folder 21 Pamphlets, Freeman, James Dillet, The World is the Song God sings undated
Box 6 Folder 22 Pamphlets, Walk in Love undated

Series 7: Programs, 1955-1992

Scope and Content

This series highlights the programs and honors that Charlemae Hill Rollins received from the publishing and educational world. The program for the dedication of the CHR Children’s’ Room is included along with programs in her honor after her death.

Arrangement

This series is in chronological order.

Box 6 Folder 23 Programs, Grolier Society Award 1955
Box 6 Folder 24 Programs, Marshall High School Gwendolyn Brooks poetry contest 1966
Box 6 Folder 25 Programs, African American history week salute James Mercer Langston Hughes 1968 February 4
Box 6 Folder 26 Programs, Children’s Readings Round Table award dinner 1969 May 8
Box 6 Folder 27 Programs, Women’s National Book Association Constance Lindsay Skinner award dinner 1970 April 10
Box 6 Folder 28 Programs, Eleanor Weir Welch lecture 1970 April 23
Box 6 Folder 29 Programs, Johnson Publishing Company Building official opening ceremonies 1972 May 16
Box 6 Folder 30 Programs, American Library Association annual conference 1972
Box 6 Folder 31 Programs, American Library Association annual conference 1973
Box 6 Folder 32 Programs, Tribute to William Christopher Handy 1978 November 20
Box 6 Folder 33 Programs, 47th Anniversary of the George Cleveland Hall Branch 1979 January 27
Box 6 Folder 34 Programs, Charlemae Hill Rollins Children’s room Dedication 1989 October 21
Box 6 Folder 35 Programs, Children’s Services Department second annual Charlemae Hill Rollins celebration 1990 October 16
Box 6 Folder 36 Programs, Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) 1991, 1995
Box 6 Folder 37 Programs, Fourth annual celebration “The Southeast District salutes CHR 1992 October 12, 15
Box 6 Folder 38 Programs, Charlemae Rollins annual celebration at Hall 1992 October 13

Series 8: Subject Research Files, 1956-1978

Scope and Content

This series contains articles and clippings she kept on subjects she was interested in.

Arrangement

This series is in alphabetical order.

Box 6 Folder 39 Aaron, Henry 1958
Box 6 Folder 40 Birmingham bombing, New York Times 1963 September 17
Box 6 Folder 41 Butler, Susan Dart 1978
Box 6 Folder 42 Columbia College Chicago circa 1960s
Box 6 Folder 43 Daley, Richard J. 1977
Box 6 Folder 44 Gibson, Althea 1957
Box 6 Folder 45 Hughes, Langston 1967
Box 6 Folder 46 Kenniebrew, Alonzo Homer 1974
Box 6 Folder 47 Moore, Archie 1960
Box 6 Folder 48 Newcombe, Donald 1957
Box 6 Folder 49 Owens, Jesse 1956

 

Series 9: Serials and Newsletters, 1945-1994

Scope and Content

These serials highlight the African American library profession in America and shed light on the Charlemae Hill Rollins colloquium in North Carolina.

Arrangement

This series is in alphabetical order.

Box 7 Folder 1 Afro-Am Press circa 1960s
Box 7 Folder 2 Afro-Americana, a selection of books available from Bookazine Company circa 1969
Box 7 Folder 3 American Libraries 1976 April
Box 7 Folder 4 American Libraries 1977 March
Box 7 Folder 5 American Libraries 1978 January
Box 7 Folder 6 American Libraries 1978 February
Box 7 Folder 7 American Libraries 1978 March
Box 7 Folder 8 Black Caucus Newsletter 1979 May
Box 7 Folder 9 Chicago History 1977-1978
Box 7 Folder 10 Chicago Public Library Book Bulletin 1946 February
Box 7 Folder 11 Chicago Public Library What’s New in Books 1970 May
Box 7 Folder 12 Horn Book 1945, January-February
Box 7 Folder 13 Illinois Libraries 1968 April-June
Box 7 Folder 14 Interracial Books for Children 1968
Box 7 Folder 15 Memberline [ALA] 1992
Box 7 Folder 16 Nimm 1969
Box 7 Folder 17 Scholastic Score 1965
Box 7 Folder 18 Tar Heel Libraries [2] 1992 May-June
Box 7 Folder 19 Tar Heel Libraries 1994 March-April
Box 7 Folder 20 Top of the News, ALA Division of Libraries for Children and Young People 1948 May
Box 7 Folder 21 Top of the News, ALA Division of Libraries for Children and Young People proceedings 1948 September

Series 10: Plaques and Awards, 1952-1976

Scope and Content

This series contains honors and awards given to Charlemae Hill Rollins throughout her career.

Arrangement

This series is in chronological order.

Box 8 Folder 1 National Conference of Christians and Jews (see Box 10) 1952 February 18
Box 8 Folder 2 Grolier Society Award (see Box 10) 1955 July 4
Box 8 Folder 3 National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Distinguished Service in the Field of Education (see Box 10) 1956 April
Box 8 Folder 4 Good American Award from the Chicago Committee of 100 1962
Box 8 Folder 5

Children’s Reading Round Table

(see Box 10)

 1963
Box 8 Folder 6 100th Year Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation Merit Award 1963
Box 8 Folder 7 WBEE Radio proudly salutes… (see Box 10) 1963 January 9
Box 8 Folder 8 Constance Lindsay Skinner Achievement Award 1970
Box 8 Folder 9 Women’s National Book Association presents The Constance Lindsay Skinner Award 1970
Box 8 Folder 10 Friends of the Harriet M Harris YWCA presents the 1973 Senior Black Women’s Award 1973
Box 9 Folder 1 Century of Negro Progress Exposition [McCormick Place] 1963
Box 9 Folder 2 Coretta Scott King Award 1971
Box 9 Folder 3 Certificate of Merit from the National Association of Media Women, Inc. (see Box 10) 1974 January
Box 9 Folder 4 National Black Caucus Librarians, ALA honors Charlemae Rollins 1976
Box 9 Folder 5 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Service Award 1972
Box 9 Folder 6 Major Charles L Hunt Post VFW No 2024 Ladies Auxiliary in Chicago, IL on October 17, 1936, 1972 1972
Box 11 Folder 2 Young People and Children’s Department Department, Skokie Public Library 1973

 

Series 11: Memorabilia, 1932-1971, undated

Scope and Content

Memorabilia is divided into two subseries: Memorabilia and Scrapbook.

Memorabilia contains the 1938 journal of Charlemae Hill Rollins.

The staff of Hall and other friends and colleagues put together a scrapbook for Mrs. Rollins on the occasion of her retirement (1963) titled “This is Your Professional Life Charlemae H. Rollins. For preservation purposes, this scrapbook has been dismantled, but its order and headings have been maintained.

Arrangement

Items are arranged according to size in Memorabilia. The scrapbook is in its original order.

Series 11, Subseries A: Memorabilia, 1938-1971, undated

Box 10 Folder 1 American Library Association annual conference flags 1971 June 20-26
Box 10 Folder 2 Illustrated sheets from children’s books undated
Box 10 Folder 3 Engraved wooden name plate for desk undated
Box 10 Folder 4 Diary of CHR 1938
Box 10 Folder 5 Chicago Public Library gold card circa 1963
Box 10 Folder 6 Honorary membership card from American Library Association undated
Box 10 Folder 7 Christmas Gif audiotape 1963 November 1
Box 11 Folder 1 Scrapbook album cover, “This is Your Professional Life Charlemae H Rollins. (See Boxes 12 and 13) 1963

Series 11, Subseries B: Scrapbook, 1932-1971, undated

Box 12 Folder 1 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins coversheet undated
Box 12 Folder 2 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biography undated
Box 12 Folder 3 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biographical sketches 1950
Box 12 Folder 4 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biography, “A Superior Librarian” 1956
Box 12 Folder 5 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biographical sketches 1958-1959
Box 12 Folder 6 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biographical sketches (ALA bulletin)---empty 1955
Box 12 Folder 7 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biographical sketches in Glamour 1955 May
Box 12 Folder 8 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biographical sketch in Library Notes 1957 April
Box 12 Folder 9 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins biographical sketches in Face and Faces from ALA Council 1958
Box 12 Folder 10 Memorabilia, CHR in the News undated
Box 12 Folder 11 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1941-1942
Box 12 Folder 12 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1943-1944
Box 12 Folder 13 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: North Carolina Negro Library Association 1944 February 4-5
Box 12 Folder 14 Memorabilia, Charlemae H. Rollins in the News 1947 January 12
Box 12 Folder 15 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Fourth Presbyterian Church 1947 March 16
Box 12 Folder 16 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: “Here’s a School that Lives the Democracy it Teachers” Chicago Defender 1947 April 26
Box 12 Folder 17 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Missouri Teachers Association convention 1948 November 4-5
Box 12 Folder 18 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1949 February - March
Box 12 Folder 19 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1949 May
Box 12 Folder 20 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Spring Book Festival 1953 March 16 - 20
Box 12 Folder 21 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: guest list undated
Box 12 Folder 22 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1949-1950
Box 12 Folder 23 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1951
Box 12 Folder 24 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1951
Box 12 Folder 25 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Illinois Library Association 1952 October 2 - 4
Box 12 Folder 26 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Children’s A Book newsletter 1953-1954
Box 12 Folder 27 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Wisconsin Library Association 1954 April 29
Box 12 Folder 28 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Wisconsin Library Association 1954 April 29
Box 12 Folder 29 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Mid-Atlantic Teenage Regional Conference at Virginia State circa 1954
Box 12 Folder 30 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: National Book Week in Durham Colored Library, Inc 1955 November 18
Box 12 Folder 31 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Negro History Week 1956 February 4
Box 12 Folder 32 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Michigan Library Community Project 1958 June 23-27
Box 12 Folder 33 Memorabilia, CHR in the News: Hampton Institute Book Bazaar and poetry festival at Villa Hotel in San Mateo, California 1957 November 21-24; 1958 July 10-12
Box 12 Folder 34 Memorabilia, CHR in the News 1958
Box 12 Folder 35 Memorabilia, CHR in the News, American Library Association Library Community Project 1959
Box 12 Folder 36 Memorabilia, CHR in the News, Library Science 1959 June 24-August 3
Box 12 Folder 37 Memorabilia, CHR in the News, Bible Women’s Day (empty) circa 1959
Box 13 Folder 1 Awards, cover page undated
Box 13 Folder 2 Awards, Honorary member Phi Delta Kappa [newspaper clips] 1947 February 8
Box 13 Folder 3 Awards, Letter $100 Librarian Award 1952 June 30
Box 13 Folder 4 Awards, National Conference of Christians and Jews 1952 February 18
Box 13 Folder 5 Awards, Zeta Woman of the Year [newspaper clipping] 1955
Box 13 Folder 6 Awards, Grolier Society 1955 July 4
Box 13 Folder 7 Awards, Distinguished Service in the Field of Education to CHR from Phi Delta Kappa 1956 April 26
Box 13 Folder 8 Publications, cover sheet undated
Box 13 Folder 9 Publications, empty sheet undated
Box 13 Folder 10 Publications, Publishers Weekly 1942 January
Box 13 Folder 11 Publications, empty sheet undated
Box 13 Folder 12 Publications, Classmate [book review] 1941 February 8
Box 13 Folder 13 Publications, Reading for Democracy 1948-1949
Box 13 Folder 14 Publications, Nane Bulletin 1950 Summer
Box 13 Folder 15 Publications, “Clara Ingram Judson” by CHR in Elementary English 1953 December
Box 13 Folder 16 Publications, CHR bibliography for the Girl Scouts of America 1954
Box 13 Folder 17 Publications, “Magic World of Books by CHR” 1954
Box 13 Folder 18 Publications, “Charlemae Rollins” by Doris Saunders, ALA Bulletin 1955 February
Box 13 Folder 19 Publications, 3 empty sheets undated
Box 13 Folder 20 Memorabilia, Mrs. Rollins’ Keepsakes- Memory Lane cover sheet undated
Box 13 Folder 21 Congratulations cards from Ruth, Clara Judson and G.J. Gayle undated
Box 13 Folder 22 Western union telegrams from Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks. Correspondence from Mary Donahey 1955 September 18-23
Box 13 Folder 23 Correspondence from Doris Gates, Beatrice Willis and Georgia 1960 February - March
Box 13 Folder 24 Correspondence, Mabel Bouldin 1959 September 7
Box 13 Folder 25 Correspondence, Dorothy Haas 1971 June 10
Box 13 Folder 26 Manuscript, The Negro: A List of Significant Books, New York Public Library 1955
Box 13 Folder 27 Serial, Garden Chatter was the name given to the newsletter for the Rosenwald Apartments [page 6, back is CHR’s notes on the growing popularity and usage of book criteria for both education and laymen 1932 January 30
Box 13 Folder 28 Biography, Marquis Who’s Who circa 1970s
Box 13 Folder 29 Newspaper clipping, “Magazine of Books” in Chicago Sunday Tribune 1958 November 2
Box 13 Folder 30 Manuscript, CHR, “The Miracle of Reading,” American Childhood 1957 November
Box 13 Folder 31 Manuscript, CHR, “Looking Ahead with CLA’s President,” Top of the News A.L.A. 1957 October
Box 13 Folder 32 Manuscript, CHR, “Story Telling-Its Value and Importance,” Elementary English 1957 March
Box 13 Folder 33 Manuscript, CHR, “Young People’s Books for Brotherhood,” Community 1956 April
Box 13 Folder 34 Manuscript, CHR, “Parents CAN Help Johnny to Read,” American Childhood 1956 December
Box 13 Folder 35 Manuscript, CHR, “A Voyage of Discovery for the Youngest Readers,” American Childhood 1954 December

Series 13: Photographs, 1940-1977, undated

Scope and Content

These photographs highlight Charlemae Hill Rollins throughout her professional life at the Chicago Public Library and the American Library Association. They show her interaction with both children, writers and other professional from the children’s publishing world.

Arrangement

These photographs are in chronological order.

Box 14 Photo 001 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins undated
Box 14 Photo 002 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins [negative included] undated
Box 14 Photo 003 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins [negative included] undated
Box 14 Photo 004 American Negro Exposition exhibit at Hall 1940
Box 14 Photo 005 Photograph, Mary Church Terrell, Vivian Harsh, Charlemae Hill Rollins, Edith Gano, Jesse Fountain and Ella Adkins 1941 February
Box 14 Photo 006 Photograph, Group shot of USIS Library in Bombay, India circa 1950s
Box 14 Photo 007 Photograph, Consuelo Young [second from the right] and the Indian Independence Day celebration cast. Photo by All India Radio circa 1950s
Box 14 Photo 008 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins, Harold Keith and Robert McClosky at the Sheraton Hotel in San Francisco, California. Photo by Cristof Studio 1954
Box 14 Photo 009 Photograph, Harold Keith, CHR and Robert McCloskey at Newberry Awards Dinner in San Francisco, California 1954
Box 14 Photo 010 Photograph, CHR with 1stgrade class from Willard School [negative included] 1955
Box 14 Photo 011 Photograph, CHR receiving the Grolier Award from ALA President. Photo by Standard Photo Service. 1955
Box 14 Photo 012 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins and James E Bryan. Photo by Standard Photo Service Company 1955
Box 14 Photo 013 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins and Mrs. Sirolos in front of Hall 1956 October 13
Box 14 Photo 014 Photograph, Group shot of ALA convention in Kansas City, Missouri, 1957. CHR is seated second from the right. Photo by Randazzo and Morrison, Inc. 1957
Box 14 Photo 015 Photograph, Marian Young, Charlemae Rollins, Margaret M. Elderry, Virginia Sorensen, Marc Simont, Ursula Nordstorm and Frederic Melcher circa 1957
Box 14 Photo 016 Photograph, Marc Simont, Virginia Sorensen, CHR, Marian Young and Frederic Melcher, undated (Virginia Sorensen won the Newberry Award) circa 1957
Box 14 Photo 017 Photograph, Marc Simont, Jean Merrill, CHR, Virginia Sorensen, and Frederic Melcher, undated (Virginia Sorensen won the Newberry Award) circa 1957
Box 14 Photo 018 Photograph, CHR at unidentified supper event 1959 June
Box 14 Photo 019 Photograph, Effie Lee Morris, Frances L. Spain and 2 unidentified children from The Miracle Worker. Photograph from the Board of Education 1959 November 4
Box 14 Photo 020

Photograph, CHR, Joseph Rollins Sr. and Joseph Rollins Jr

(See Box Memorabilia 10)

 circa 1960s
Box 14 Photo 021 Photograph, Bertha Jenkinson (Follett Publishing), CHR, Japanese writer, Era Bell Thompson and Yolanda Federice at dinner circa 1960s
Box 14 Photo 022 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins at Doolittle School [negative included] 1962 August
Box 14 Photo 023 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins at Doolittle School during storytelling 1962 August
Box 14 Photo 024 Photograph, CHR and Emily Summerfelt at Nobel Peace Institute for the Jane Adams Book Award ceremony 1963
Box 14 Photo 025 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins and Joseph Rollins, Sr. circa 1970
Box 14 Photo 026 Photograph, CHR holding her Doctor of Humane Letters from Columbia College 1976
Box 14 Photo 027 Photograph, Doris Saunders and Joseph Rollins. Photo by Norman Hunter 1977 November 19
Box 14 Photo 028 Photograph, Dedication of the Charlemae Hill Rollins collection at Woodson, Photo by Norman Hunter 1977 November 19
Box 14 Photo 029 Photograph, Dedication of the Charlemae Hill Rollins collection at Woodson. Photo by Norman Hunter 1977 November 19
Box 14 Photo 030 Photograph, Dedication of the Charlemae Hill Rollins collection at Woodson. Photo by Norman Hunter 1977 November 19
Box 14 Photo 031 Photograph, Dedication of the Charlemae Hill Rollins collection at Woodson. Photo by Norman Hunter 1977 November 19
Box 14 Photo 032 Photograph, Hattie Lucas Power, Woodson Director, Joseph Rollins, Ralph Newman and Donald Joyce at Dedication of the Charlemae Hill Rollins collection at Woodson. Photo by Norman Hunter 1977 November 19
Box 14 Photo 033 Photograph, Group shot of 7 women and 1 male undated
Box 14 Photo 034 Photograph, Rogers, J.A. [negatives included] undated
Box 14 Photo 035 Photograph, Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps. Photograph by Johnson Publishing Company undated
Box 14 Photo 036 Photograph, Langston Hughes at Hall Library, undated. Photo taken by Marian Hadley undated
Box 14 Photo 037 Group of unidentified school children undated
Box 14 Photo 038 Group of unidentified school children undated
Box 14 Photo 039 Photograph, Charlemae Hill Rollins and 3 unidentified women. Photo by John M. Bean undated
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