A new historical marker is set to be unveiled to designate the site of the former Granville Street Colored Library in Oxford.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place Friday, Sept. 15 at 12 noon at 314 Granville St. Former U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield is scheduled to attend and give remarks during the ceremony, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.
The Granville Street Colored Library opened its doors to the African American community on June 12, 1942. Maude Warren Lassiter served as the library’s director for many years and she and the library hold a special place in the history of Oxford and Granville County. The Granville Street Colored Library received visits from numerous African American leaders throughout its history including poet and social activist Langston Hughes,
educator and President of Howard University Mordecai Johnson, and historian and longtime Duke University professor John Hope Franklin.
In 1965, the Granville County Library System integrated and added the Granville Street Library as a new branch. Helen Currin Amis served as branch manager until 1975 when the Granville Street branch closed and was merged with the Richard H. Thornton Library.
The historical marker was made possible by a partnership between the Granville County Library System Board of Trustees and First Baptist Church of Oxford. Funding for the marker came from the Granville County Library System Memorial Fund.
For more information about the event, contact the Thornton Branch Library at 919-693-1121.
