Pearl Woolridge, 2021-06-24

Containers:

Box 1

Scope and content:

Afua Ferdnance interviews Pearl Woolridge on June 24, 2021, at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Pearl Woolridge was born on July 11, 1954 to parents Littie and Joseph Woolridge in Winterpock, Virginia. She describes her family roots in Virginia and history of enslaved ancestors. Pearl discusses her childhood, growing up in a rural area and attending segregated schools until her sophomore year of high school. Pearl recalls her experience attending the University of Virginia as a first-generation college student. She graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. Later in her life she obtained a Masters in Library Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. After she earned her library degree, she worked as a library specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University. She held additional librarian positions such as a medical librarian and a Black studies librarian at University of Pittsburgh.

Pearl discusses her career at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. She worked as the Head of Special Collections in May 2001 prior to the opening of the library. She shares memories from AARLCC's opening day and the challenges of hiring staff and accepting collections. She highlights AARLCC Special Collections, such as the Dorothy Porter Wesley Collection, Sixto Campano Collection, Daniel M. Johnson Collection, Alex Haley Papers, Vivian and John Hewitt Collection, and the Reverend Clinton Mack Collection. She later became the Head of Adults Services at AARLCC and retired in June 2021.

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