Negro Library

Negro Library adds bookmobile.

The Wilson County Negro Library added bookmobile service for rural residents in 1950.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 November 1950.

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  • Azalea Cowan 
  • Mateele Gay — Matteele Floyd Gay Robinson. On 2 August 1950 Matteele Floyd, 26, of Wilson County, daughter of Ambrose and Mattie Floyd, married Harold E. Gay, 30, of Wilson County, son of Albert and Annie Bell Gay, in Nash County, N.C.
  • Mary L. Wright — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 625 East Green, Henry Wright, 51, farm mechanic; wife Lelia, 47; and children Mary L., 31, Ethel G., 23, and Roosevelt, 15; and grandchildren James H., 6, and Delois, newborn. 

Kiddie story hour at the library.

In October 1945, the Negro Library on Pender Street observed its first “kiddies story hour” for members of its book club. Librarian Pauline Coley read two books to the children, including Munro Leaf’s now-classic The Story of Ferdinand. Nine year-old Hattie Margaret Henderson was elected group leader, and Rosalind Taylor as her assistant. The reading club included Patricia Garner, Gail Peacock, Betty Handy, Doris Crooms, Helen Pepper, David Pepper, Delores Wilson, Wendell Hines, Joane Jenkins, John Barnes, Randolph Speight, Willie Wynn, Vilma Dew, David Charles Smith, and William H. Thomas Jr.


Wilson Daily Times, 27 October 1945.

Wilson County Negro Library: 1943-1964.

Local History/Genealogy Librarian Tammy Medlin will be presenting a video encore of her talk on the history of Wilson’s Negro Library, founded by African-American women in 1943, when Wilson County Public Library was strictly segregated. Tune into Facebook March 17 at 7:00 PM for an in-depth look at this important East Wilson institution.