"Virginia Proctor Powell Florence" (October 1,1897-1991)

Born in Wilkinsburg Pennsylvania,Florence Virginia Proctor Powell received her early education in local public schools.After both parents died,she moved to Pittsburgh to live with her aunt.In 1915,she graduated from Fifth Avenue High School High School.She also received her Bachelor's degree in English from Oberlin College in 1919.Her first job was in St.Paul,Minnesota,with the YWCA'S Colored girls'section as secretary.After a year,she returned to Pittsburgh to work in her Aunt's beauty parlor.Her aspirations for employment in the Pittsburgh school system were discouraged because of racism but her fiance Charles,aware of her love of children and literature,introduced Florence  to the idea of a career in library science.After applying to the Carnegie Library School,she was admitted in 1922,and completed the course of study within a year.Unfortunately,because school officials were uncertain about placing the first African-American graduate,Florence did not receive her diploma until several years later.She began her new career in 1923 at the New York Public Library,continuing for four years.Upon taking and passing the New York high school librarian exam,she was appointed librarian at the Seward High School in Brooklyn,remaining there until 1931.That same year she married her fiancé and moved to Jefferson City,Missiouri,where Charles was president and she was called "the "First Lady of Lincoln University.The couple moved back east in 1938.Florence resumed her career,and Charles became chairman of the English department at Virginia Union University in Richmond.She was also librarian at Cardoza High School in Washington D.C..,until 1945.After an an illness,she continued at Maggie L.Walker Senior High School.Florence was widowed in 1974.