Miriam Matthews in undated photo, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Note: Mary Mallory will be speaking about Miriam Matthews and other influential women in Los Angeles history March 7, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the West Valley Regional Branch Library, 19036 Vanowen Street, Reseda, CA 91335

At a time when African Americans found themselves stuck at the back of the bus, denied educational and work opportunities because of their race, black librarian Miriam Matthews set out to acknowledge and honor the achievements and contributions of her fellow citizens. She worked to educate and inform patrons not just through library programs and books, but by her own scholarship, combining her love of learning, curiosity, and service to become one of Los Angeles’ leading librarians and historians for 35 years. Serving as Los Angeles’ first African American librarian, the education dynamo revealed the city’s often hidden and distorted past, acknowledging the leading role people of color played in Los Angeles’ founding.

Born in Pensacola, Florida August 6, 1905, Matthews’ family moved to California in 1907 in search of greater opportunity and freedom from segregation. Discovering a love of reading and researching, she excelled at school, assertively advocating for her full education. After graduating from high school at 16, Matthews spent two years at University of California, Southern branch here in Los Angeles before finishing her degree from University of California, Berkeley, and a certificate in librarianship a year later. Continue reading →