From the ALA Library History Round Table courtesy of Allison Sutton, we 
learn of the passing of a true LIS education trailblazer. I am forwarding 
Ms. Sutton's message posted on the LHRT list below:

Eliza Atkins Gleason, a trailblazer in library science education passed on 
December 15, 2009, her 100th birthday. Gleason was a quiet, but no less 
important torch bearer in our field. She was a 1931 graduate (B.S.) of the 
University of Illinois' GSLIS and a 1935 graduate (M.S.) of the University 
of California, Berkeley.  She was the first African American to receive a 
Ph.D. in library science which she earned in 1940 at the University of 
Chicago. Gleason was also the founding Dean of the Atlanta University 
Library School.

Obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/winstonsalem/obituary.aspx?n=eliza-atkins-gleason&pid=137723460

For more information on Gleason, you may locate the following essay in the 
Library Literature database.

TITLE:    SPOTLIGHT: ELIZA ATKINS GLEASON, RUTH HILL JONES AND DELLA JONES
SOURCE:    Kentucky Libraries 73 no4 20-1 Fall 2009
AUTHOR:    REINETME F. JONES; LINDA KOMPANIK; WAYNE ONKST

As you know, the Library History Round Table presents an award, in 
Gleason's name, every three years. Read more... 
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/orsawards/gleasoneliza/gleasoneliza.cfm

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/winstonsalem/obituary.aspx?n=eliza-atkins-gleason&pid=137723460

Allison Sutton
Psychology & Social Work Librarian
Education & Social Science Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Office: 217-244-1866
Fax: 217-333-2214

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lp
Lorna Peterson