Alma Smith Jacobs
Encyclopedia
Alma Smith Jacobs was the first African American to serve as Montana State Librarian. She served as Head Librarian at the Great Falls Public Library from 1954–1973, and in 1973 was named Montana State Librarian, serving until 1981.[1]
Alma Smith was born in Lewistown, Montana
, the daughter of Martin Luther and Emma Smith She moved with her family to Great Falls, Montana
in 1923.[2] After receiving a bachelor's degree in sociology from Talladega College in Alabama in 1938, she served as bookmobile librarian traveling throughout the south. In 1942 she received a bachelor’s degree in library science from Columbia University
, and became Assistant Librarian at Talladega College, Alabama. In 1946 she returned to Great Falls, Montana, to serve as Catalog Librarian at the Great Falls Public Library, and in 1954 was promoted Head Librarian serving until 1973. She was the driving force behind the construction of the city’s modern library in the 1967, and the expansion and development of the rural library service program throughout Montana. In 1973 she was selected as Montana State Librarian where she was instrumental in development of library federations in Montana. She became the first African American president of the Montana Library Association, the first African American president of the Pacific Northwest Library Association, and the first Montanan to serve on the Executive Board of the American Library Association
.[3]
In addition to her work on behalf of libraries, Jacobs was a leader in civil rights activities throughout Montana. She served on the Great Falls Interracial Council, working to break down racial barriers within the community and for airmen at Malmstrom Air Force Base
. She was active in the Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and co-founded the Montana Committee for the Humanities.
She was active in the Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, served as president of the Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, and was a national board member of the United Church Women. In 1999 the Great Falls Tribune
named Alma Jacobs one of the top 100 Montanans in the 20th Century, and in 2010 the Great Falls Tribune named Alma Jacobs one of the top 125 Montana Newsmakers.
In June 2009 the City of Great Falls proclaimed Alma Smith Jacobs Week, and the Great Falls Public Library dedicated a new plaza named "The Alma Jacobs Memorial Plaza," citing her as “an exceptional librarian and community leader.”[4]
Alma Smith was born in Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
, the daughter of Martin Luther and Emma Smith She moved with her family to Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
in 1923.[2] After receiving a bachelor's degree in sociology from Talladega College in Alabama in 1938, she served as bookmobile librarian traveling throughout the south. In 1942 she received a bachelor’s degree in library science from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and became Assistant Librarian at Talladega College, Alabama. In 1946 she returned to Great Falls, Montana, to serve as Catalog Librarian at the Great Falls Public Library, and in 1954 was promoted Head Librarian serving until 1973. She was the driving force behind the construction of the city’s modern library in the 1967, and the expansion and development of the rural library service program throughout Montana. In 1973 she was selected as Montana State Librarian where she was instrumental in development of library federations in Montana. She became the first African American president of the Montana Library Association, the first African American president of the Pacific Northwest Library Association, and the first Montanan to serve on the Executive Board of the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
.[3]
In addition to her work on behalf of libraries, Jacobs was a leader in civil rights activities throughout Montana. She served on the Great Falls Interracial Council, working to break down racial barriers within the community and for airmen at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom...
. She was active in the Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and co-founded the Montana Committee for the Humanities.
She was active in the Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, served as president of the Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, and was a national board member of the United Church Women. In 1999 the Great Falls Tribune
Great Falls Tribune
The Great Falls Tribune is a daily morning newspaper printed in Great Falls, Montana. Its Sunday circulation is 36,763, with 33,434 on weekdays...
named Alma Jacobs one of the top 100 Montanans in the 20th Century, and in 2010 the Great Falls Tribune named Alma Jacobs one of the top 125 Montana Newsmakers.
In June 2009 the City of Great Falls proclaimed Alma Smith Jacobs Week, and the Great Falls Public Library dedicated a new plaza named "The Alma Jacobs Memorial Plaza," citing her as “an exceptional librarian and community leader.”[4]