Von D. Mizell Library Collection, Circa 1964-1985
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 2 Hollinger Boxes
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
Von D. Mizell Library Collection, AARLCC Special Collections, Broward County Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
The collection Von D. Mizell Library Collection contains materials documenting the activities and history of the Von D. Mizell Library, one of the original branches in 1974 of the Broward County Library system, as well as the Fort Lauderdale city library system that preceeded it. The materials are comprised of photographs, photo slides, negatives, printed negatives, forms with monthly statistics, financial documents, social outreach documents, brochures for events, newspaper articles, and a printed history of the Mizell Library. It also includes a small part of the original book collection from the Von D. Mizell Library, as well as artwork that hung in the library building.
- Biographical / historical:
The Von D. Mizell Library, a former branch of the Broward County Library system, originated from the first Black library established in the City of Fort Lauderdale. In 1945, Reverend Ivory Mizell made space in his office for a small lending library and solicited books when he learned that the only city library did not provide services to the Black community. In 1952, the City of Fort Lauderdale provided space in a one room building at Sunland Park (now the Joseph C. Carter Park) for the creation of the Sunland Park Library. Over time, the Sunland Park Library met with increased demands and reopened in 1970 as the Northwest Branch of the Fort Lauderdale library system in the old Zeno Building at 1107 Northwest Sistrunk Boulevard with a wider range of services and a staff of seven.
In 1974, Northwest Branch became a part of the newly-established Broward County Library system, and was renamed the Von D. Mizell Library in 1975. Beginning in 1975, the Von D. Mizell Library also functioned as the headquarters for the Broward County Library Libary-In-Action Project.
In 1980 the library relocated five blocks east to the Von D. Mizell Library Center and All Purpose Building at 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard (the former site of Provident Hospital) with a staff of twelve and an expanded collection, including a large collection of books written by and for the people of the African diaspora.
Samuel Morrison (1936-), the Director of Broward County's Library Division, presented plans in 1995 for a new African American Research Library and Cultural Center. The plans were approved and the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). AARLCC opened in October 2002, replacing the Von D. Mizell Library. The Friends of Von D. Mizell Library had been integral to the effort to fundraise for AARLCC's construction and to finding community members to give input into the design and purpose of the building; they reincorporated as the Friends of AARLCC.
- Acquisition information:
- The materials were transferred to the AARLCC Special Collections in 2002 (Accession AARLCC-2002.9).
- Processing information:
This collection received file level processing. This finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as acquisitions to the collection.
- Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into eight series: Series I. Background and Dedication, Series II. Reports, Series III. Flyers and Brochures, Series IV. Newspaper Articles, Series V. Educational Materials, Series VI. Audio-Visual Materials, Series VII. Photographs and Negatives, and Series VIII. Friends of the Von D. Mizell Library.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
The Von D. Mizell Library Collection is open for research.
- Preferred citation:
Von D. Mizell Library Collection, AARLCC Special Collections, Broward County Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library2650 Sistrunk BoulevardFort LauderdaleFL33311USA
