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California’s First African American Librarian

Shows a portrait of Miriam Matthews wearing a blue suit
Miriam Matthews. Photographed by Judith Sedwick. Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

Miriam Matthews, often referred to as the “Dean of Los Angeles Black History,” is the first African American librarian in California. She’s hired as a librarian by the Los Angeles Public Library in 1927.  When she retires in 1960, she manages 12 branches.

Matthews builds a remarkable collection of books, art work, and documents chronicling African American life in California back to 1781.  She is always willing to share her collections and knowledge with librarians, researchers and members of the public.

In addition to her library work, Matthews pushes for Los Angeles to observe Negro History Week.  It takes two years of lobbying by matthews and other but in 1931 Los Angeles joins the other cities around the country celebrating the week.

Later, the week expands to become National Black History Month.

Shows the exterior of the Los Angeles Public library
Los Angeles Public Library [1992-5837] California State Library

In 2004, the Hyde Park branch library of the Los Angeles Public Library is rebuilt and renamed the  Hyde Park Miriam Matthews branch library. 

At the opening ceremony, the Los Angeles Times quotes City Council Member Bernard C. Parks, “Miriam Matthews faced gender and racial discrimination while ‘breaking down not the glass ceiling, but the stone ceiling.’“