The Passing of John Hope Franklin

John Hope Franklin died March 25 at the age of 94. The Associated Press called him "a towering scholar and pioneer of African-American studies who wrote the seminal text on the black experience in the U.S. and worked on the landmark Supreme Court case that outlawed public school segregation." He lived a remarkable life. His name is etched in my librarian memory because, in the 1970s when I began my career at the Detroit Public Library, his book From Slavery to Freedom was the most reliable source for black history that we had available. More than 60 years after being published, the book remains as relevant today as it was then–before publishers really understood that there was a market, indeed a hunger, for books about African-American history. Don Sager, longtime ALA member and former commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, wrote to me this morning to remind me that Franklin's passing is a loss for librarians, and that his life is something for us to celebrate. Franklin served on the board of trustees of the Chicago Public Library during the period Sager was commissioner. "A major champion of civil rights," said Sager, "John Hope Franklin was also a strong advocate of equal access to library resources, preservation of historical materials, and outreach to Chicago's diverse communities. The city and the Chicago Public Library greatly benefitted from his commitment and dedication to the important role that public libraries played in education, cultural enrichment, and free access to information. His presence on the Board was an inspiration to the Library Board and staff."   Sager recalled, "The last time I met him was at a farewell party arranged in his honor, on the occasion of his departure from Chicago to assume faculty and research responsibilities at Duke University. The event was held at the Bakery, near Lincoln Park. Louis Szathmary, the owner of the restaurant and a chef of national renown, arranged an exceptional dinner. There were many praises regarding Dr. Franklin's civic and cultural contributions, and he was presented with a rare orchid by an anonymous donor in appreciation for his service. We learned that orchids were his passion, and he was very proud of his collection. Unfortunately, the weather that night turned very cold and snowy. A taxi was called, and both Dr. Franklin and his orchid were bundled up to brave the journey home. When I called his home the next morning, I learned that the orchid had not survived the trip. Despite the mishap, there was a happy ending. Another donor replaced the frozen plant."