The
J. Murrey Atkins Library of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
announces the installation of a permanent exhibit, “The World of Harry
Golden,” based on the library’s extensive collection of Golden’s papers.
Golden (1903-1981) was the publisher of The Carolina Israelite and the
author of more than twenty books, including Only in America and
For 2C Plain, which were on the bestseller list at the same time in 1959.
Golden used humor to attack what he described as “the
inherent absurdity of segregation in the South,” and his reputation as a
civil rights advocate was such that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked him to
write a testimonial for his first book in 1958. In his famous Letter from
the Birmingham Jail, King also recognized Golden as one of a small group of
Southern journalists who “had written about our struggle in eloquent and
prophetic terms.”
The Harry Golden Papers contain approximately 300,000 items
and constitute one of the library’s most noteworthy research collections--not
only because the papers were produced by a person who was important in his own
right but also because of the many different perspectives they offer on the rich
tapestry of U. S. history in the middle years of the twentieth century.
The exhibit was made possible by the generosity of Mrs.
Anita Stewart Brown, a devoted friend of Golden, who endowed the Harry Golden
Fund. It was designed and fabricated by Studio Displays, Inc. and curated by
Robert Weis and Robin Brabham.
The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Atkins
Library and is available for viewing during all hours that the library is open
(http://library.uncc.edu/hours/).
For more information on the Harry Golden Papers, please contact Atkins Library Special Collections. (http://specialcollections.uncc.edu/)
Posted in: announcements exhibits
MAY 5, 2009 @ 11:25 AM
May is Older Americans Month
"Today's
seniors are shrugging off traditional stereotypes about growing old. Instead,
they are living healthy and active lives, engaged in multiple endeavors."
- Barbara E. Riley, Director of Ohio’s Department of Aging
In recognition of Older American’s Month, the J. Murrey Atkins Library and
UNC Charlotte's Interdisciplinary
Gerontology Program are presenting several Displays showcasing relevant
books, documents and demographic maps pertaining to this dynamic population.
Statistics show within the next 40 years, people over the age of 65 will
increase to over 22% of the entire American population! You will find the
Displays on Atkins Library's main floor, within the main Atrium.
According to www.aoa.gov, "When
Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans
had reached their 65th birthdays. About a third of older Americans lived in
poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older
Americans and their concerns was growing, however. In April of 1963, President
John F. Kennedy's meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens served as
a prelude to designating May as 'Senior Citizens Month.'
Thanks to President Jimmy Carter's 1980 designation, what was
once called Senior Citizens Month, is now called "Older Americans Month," and
has become a tradition.
Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the
contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular
those who defended our country. Every President since JFK has issued a formal
proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay
tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month
is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs and other
such activities."
Source:
http://www.aoa.gov/AoAroot/Press_Room/Observances/oam/archive/archive.aspx
Enjoy these informative Displays! For more interesting statistics
regarding Older Americans,
click here.
