From: Mary Mathews Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 9:43 AM To: All-Staff <all-staff@auctr.edu> Subject: RE: Arrangements for Mrs. Amanda Rudd mother of Loretta Parham Good morning, I think it's of particular note that beyond being Loretta Parham's mother, Amanda S. Rudd was quite notable in her own right. She was a librarian and history maker. Mrs. Rudd was the Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library (CPL) 1982 -1985. She was the first woman and first African American to head CPL, the second largest library system in the country with over 90 locations at that time. To date, there has not been another African American Commissioner, making her the only African American to hold this position. She was also one of the first African Americans to head a major public library system, preceded only by Clara Stanton Jones at the Detroit Public Library. Many librarians of color got started at CPL under Mrs. Rudd, including the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. Dr. Hayden worked as a children's and young adult librarian and wrote a letter to Mrs. Parham this week about how she benefitted from her mother's guidance. Other librarians you may know include members of the HBCU Library Alliance who worked at CPL under Mrs. Rudd. This includes Bettye Black, Director of the Langston University Library, Murle E. Kenerson, Interim Dean, Libraries & Media Centers, Tennessee State University and our own Loretta Parham. I am also a CPL alum, beginning my library career at CPL. When I graduated from the Case Western Reserve School of Information and Library Science, as the most accomplished alumni at that time, Mrs. Rudd was the commencement speaker. What a wonderful way to transition from school to work knowing that someone who looked like me ran a major library system (much bigger than Detroit) serving more than 3 million people. After commencement I asked her about jobs at CPL and three months later I started my first job as a librarian. Below are links to articles that appeared at the time she was appointed Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. https://books.google.com/books?id=tkEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=amanda+rudd+commissioner+chicago+public+library&source=bl&ots=zOTJH1Xw3y&sig=5f4AgeltTiFpJcY3Zt9489-aqo0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio2-qI9Y3SAhWFNiYKHXxkBkUQ6AEIOTAG#v=onepage&q=amanda%20rudd%20commissioner%20chicago%20public%20library&f=false<https://books.google.com/books?id=tkEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=amanda+rudd+commissioner+chicago+public+library&source=bl&ots=zOTJH1Xw3y&sig=5f4AgeltTiFpJcY3Zt9489-aqo0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio2-qI9Y3SAhWFNiYKHXxkBkUQ6AEIOTAG> https://books.google.com/books?id=zC00PgNSAlkC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=amanda+rudd+commissioner+chicago+public+library&source=bl&ots=7GUsf7qvZv&sig=AkdWE8shT503UGtWhK9jLUqHZ2A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio2-qI9Y3SAhWFNiYKHXxkBkUQ6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q=amanda%20rudd%20commissioner%20chicago%20public%20library&f=false<https://books.google.com/books?id=zC00PgNSAlkC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=amanda+rudd+commissioner+chicago+public+library&source=bl&ots=7GUsf7qvZv&sig=AkdWE8shT503UGtWhK9jLUqHZ2A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio2-qI9Y3SAhWFNiYKHXxkBkUQ6AEIKDAC> I've also shared the comments from the two HBCULA members when they learned of her passing. Mary C. Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Black, Bettye R [ Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 5:14 PM To: Sandra Phoenix <sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>>> Subject: RE: Passing of Mrs. Parham's mother I met Mrs. Amanda Rudd in 1978 when I first worked at the Chicago Public Library. A few years later I moved on and was sitting at the Reference Desk at the Brooklyn Public Library when Mrs. Rudd walked up to the Reference Desk to my amazement and said to me in her direct way "What are you doing here? You need to come on back where you belong." I was surprised that she remembered me and a few years later I did return to Chicago and worked with her again. I always appreciated her direct way of approaching situations even while shaking in my boots. During my second tenure at Chicago I met Loretta. We both worked in the branches of CPL, had babies at the same time and both of us eventually moved on. I lost contact with her for a few years - knew where she worked followed her career but didn't see her for a while. One of my greatest joys working in the HBCU community has been reconnecting with Loretta. Girl, I got my arms around you. Tight. Bettye Bettye Black / Director of Library Services / G. Lamar Harrison Library Office: 405-466-3294 / Fax: 405-466-3459 brblack@langston.edu<mailto:brblack@langston.edu> Langston University 1-877-466-2231 P.O Box 1600, Hwy 33 East / Langston, OK 73050 www.langston.edu<http://www.langston.edu> =================== From: HBCU-LibAdmin [mailto:hbcu-libadmin-bounces@lists.hbculibraries.org] On Behalf Of Kenerson, Murle Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 2:10 PM To: Sandra Phoenix; hbcu-libadmin@lists.hbculibraries.org<mailto:hbcu-libadmin@lists.hbculibraries.org<mailto:hbcu-libadmin@lists.hbculibraries.org<mailto:hbcu-libadmin@lists.hbculibraries.org>> Cc: Hbcu-lib@lists.hbculibraries.org<mailto:Hbcu-lib@lists.hbculibraries.org<mailto:Hbcu-lib@lists.hbculibraries.org<mailto:Hbcu-lib@lists.hbculibraries.org>> Subject: RE: Passing of Mrs. Parham's mother Mrs. Amanda Rudd gave me my first job in the Chicago Public Library System in 1975. I worked at the Woodson Regional Library in Chicago for four years before attending the University of Michigan School of Library Science. After graduating from library school I had the honor and privilege of working for the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, which for me, was a big deal. Her allowing me this journey of 35 years in the field of library science has always been special to me and I will never forget it. My prayers are with Loretta and the family. Murle Murle E. Kenerson, Ed. D Associate Professor and Interim Dean, Libraries & Media Centers Brown-Daniel Library Tennessee State University 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209-1561 (615) 963-5203<tel:(615)%20963-5203> (office) (615) 963-5216<tel:(615)%20963-5216> (fax) mkenerson@tnstate.edu<mailto:mkenerson@tnstate.edu<mailto:mkenerson@tnstate.edu<mailto:mkenerson@tnstate.edu>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _____________________________________________ From: Marvelyn Thomas Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 10:30 AM To: All-Staff Subject: Arrangements for Mrs. Amanda Rudd mother of Loretta Parham Good morning: Memorial services for Mrs. Amanda S. Rudd will be held on Saturday, February 18th, 4:00 p.m. at Providence Missionary Baptist Church - temporary home of Friendship Baptist Church. The address is 2295 Benjamin E. Mays Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30311. Internment will be held for family members on February 25th at the New Prospect Baptist Church in Honea Path, SC. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Children's Literacy Initiative, Chicago. Visit www.cli.org<http://www.cli.org> to donate online in the memory of Amanda S. Rudd. Donations may also be mailed to: Chicago Literacy Initiative, 55 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 460, Chicago, IL 60604. RWWL employees desiring to send a personal expression of sympathy to Mrs. Parham, may contact Human Resources for mailing information. Thank you. Marvelyn Thomas, PHR Human Resources Director Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 (404) 978-2080 mthomas@auctr.edu<mailto:mthomas@auctr.edu> We will always provide service that exceeds the customer's expectation...Because We Care! _____________________________________________ From: Marvelyn Thomas Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 12:24 PM To: All-Staff Subject: Passing of Mrs. Parham's mother Good afternoon: It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. Amanda Rudd, mother of Mrs. Parham, CEO and Library Director. Mrs. Rudd passed on Saturday, February 11, 2017. Funeral arrangement are being made and once available will be shared with staff. Please keep Mrs. Parham and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you. Marvelyn Thomas, PHR Human Resources Director Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 (404) 978-2080 mthomas@auctr.edu<mailto:mthomas@auctr.edu> We will always provide service that exceeds the customer's expectation...Because We Care!