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African American Librarians In Kentucky, Reinette F. Jones

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

Kentucky was the first North American state to establish a free public library exclusively for African Americans. The library, located in Louisville, Kentucky, was managed by Thomas Fountain Blue, the first African American to manage a public library. The establishing of the Colored Library and Thomas Fountain Blue's Apprentice Training Program was the beginning of librarianship and libraries for African Americans in Kentucky.