Julie Hunter, 2021-10-15

Containers:

Box 1

Scope and content:

Makiba Foster interviews Julie Hunter on October 15, 2021 at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Julie Varner Hunter was born on April 5, 1937 in Summerville, South Carolina to parents John Varner, welder and grocery store owner, and Mildred Collins, a homemaker. She was one of eight children. Hunter experienced racism and Ku Klux Klan activities as a young girl such as cross burnings in neighborhood yards and KKK parades through town. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics with a minor in English from Claflin College (now Claflin University) in Orangeburg, SC. She joined the student chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as president. After college, she worked as a Field Director for the NAACP and organized youth groups in the South from 1960 to 1963. In 1964, Mrs. Hunter attended library school at Atlanta University (now known as Clark Atlanta University). In Atlanta, she met Roy Hunter a professor of Biology at Morehouse College. They married in 1966.

Julie worked as the director of Atlanta University's Trevor Arnett Library after receiving her Masters degree in library science. She furthered her leadership in librarianship by working as Director of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library. Based on her prior experiences at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, Samuel Morrison recruited Julie to become the second director of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Her appointment began in September 2002.

Julie strengthened AARLCC's collections and programs, championing the preservation and access of Black history and culture in South Florida. She coordinated the Ashley Bryan Art Series Conference with children's book illustrator Ashley Bryan and librarian and educator, Dr. Henrietta M. Smith. The conference hosts an illustrator of African descent each year and the artist donates an illustration to AARLCC. Julie also oversaw the acquisition of archival collections such as the Esther Rolle Collection in 2005 which contains actress Esther Rolle's photographs, playbills, and an Emmy Award. She later worked as Assistant Library Director for Broward County Library system until 2013.

After her retirement in 2013, Julie remained active by serving in the Friends of AARLCC.

Biographical / historical:

Julie Varner Hunter was born on April 5, 1937 in Summerville, South Carolina to parents John Varner, welder and grocery store owner, and Mildred Collins, a homemaker. She was one of eight children. Hunter experienced racism and Ku Klux Klan activities as a young girl such as cross burnings in neighborhood yards and KKK parades through town. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics with a minor in English from Claflin College (now Claflin University) in Orangeburg, SC. She joined the student chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as president. After college, she worked as a Field Director for the NAACP and organized youth groups in the South from 1960 to 1963. In 1964, Mrs. Hunter attended library school at Atlanta University (now known as Clark Atlanta University). In Atlanta, she met Roy Hunter a professor of Biology at Morehouse College. They married in 1966.

Julie worked as the director of Atlanta University's Trevor Arnett Library after receiving her Masters degree in library science. She furthered her leadership in librarianship by working as Director of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library. Based on her prior experiences at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, Samuel Morrison recruited Julie to become the second director of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Her appointment began in September 2002.

Julie strengthened AARLCC's collections and programs, championing the preservation and access of Black history and culture in South Florida. She coordinated the Ashley Bryan Art Series Conference with children's book illustrator Ashley Bryan and librarian and educator, Dr. Henrietta M. Smith. The conference hosts an illustrator of African descent each year and the artist donates an illustration to AARLCC. Julie also oversaw the acquisition of archival collections such as the Esther Rolle Collection in 2005 which contains actress Esther Rolle's photographs, playbills, and an Emmy Award. She later worked as Assistant Library Director for Broward County Library system until 2013.

After her retirement in 2013, Julie remained active by serving in the Friends of AARLCC.

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