First Dauphin County library named after African Americans

The Spark

On June 3, the Dauphin County Library System had its first Library named after an historic African-American couple. The Kline Library located in the Allison Hill area of Harrisburg was renamed the George & Hettie Love Memorial Library. This library is the first library in the county named after African Americans. About a year ago, Dauphin County Board Member Ruby Doub wanted to honor Hettie Love by remaining a library after her.

"She became, quote unquote, a hidden figure of Harrisburg, despite the fact that she was well known throughout the community. She finally was getting noted, for having been the first African-American woman to graduate with her MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Penn in 1947, "said Ryan McCrory, Executive Director of the Dauphin County Library System.

George and Hettie Love were both educators and civil rights activities. George earned his bachelors, master's, and PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, serving as the first African-American employed as a high school teacher in the Philadelphia school system.

"He went on to also be the, assistant commissioner for basic education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. When he moved, here to Harrisburg, he oversaw in that capacity the desegregation of schools. He was involved with local businesses, the local church, as well as, as well as his fraternity. And so, he kind of led the way in a, in a number of ways, just as much as he did, without quite becoming he wasn't quite the trailblazer, that she was in the sense of being the first, but he was just as important in the role in which education plays, in the citizens of the, of the Commonwealth, "said McCrory.

The Dauphin County Library System is also working to create a community room at the George and Hettie Love Memorial Library to honor their commitment to education and the community.

"One of the things that we're going to do in the coming months is actually name the community room in the George and Hettie Love Memorial Library, the Klein Family Community Room, as a way of honoring their, long term commitment to the to that library as well as, their future commitment, "said McCory.

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