1913 – Clara Stanton Jones is Born
On this day in 1913, librarian and educator Clara Stanton Jones was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She became the first Black person and first woman to serve as director of the Detroit Public Library system in 1970 and made history as the first Black president of the American Library Association in 1976. Throughout her distinguished career, Jones championed literacy, community outreach, and expanded library services for disadvantaged communities.
1967 – The Negro Ensemble Company is Created
On this day in 1967, the Negro Ensemble Company was officially established in New York City. Formed by playwright Douglas Turner, producer Robert Hooks, and theater manager Gerald Krone, the NEC created opportunities for Black playwrights and performers often excluded from mainstream theater. Since its founding, the NEC has produced more than two hundred new plays and provided a home for thousands of cast and crew members, many of whom have gone on to become household names.
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