For Black History Month, we wanted to highlight the plethora of library resources that feature Alberta Henry (1920-2005). Henry did a great deal of things to fight for equality during her life, many of which occurred right here in Utah including serving as the President of the Salt Lake City National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for twelve years (1980-1992). She was also a major advocate for educational equality and received an honorary degree from the University of Utah (1971). The Marriott Library hosts collections, archives, interviews, and more about Alberta Henry’s work and life.

One of the biggest primary resource collections is the Alberta Henry papers. These contain files that detail Henry’s work as the president of the Salt Lake City branch of the NAACP. They also have records of the Rainbow Honor Society, a multicultural student organization that she founded. Photos from this collection were used in last year’s “Better Days” campaign, whose goal was to highlight important women figures in Utah’s history.

Another collection is found in the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women’s Legacy Archive. This highlight gives contexts for historical photos that are stored in our archives as well as links to oral histories and interviews featuring Alberta Henry.

Another set of interviews can be found in the book, Feed My Sheep: the Life of Alberta Henry by Coleen Whitley. The book, which was published by the University of Utah Press, is available online in our catalog for students, staff, & faculty.

Finally, come see a gorgeous work of art titled “A Revelation for Alberta” by Marilyn Cohen. This art piece is featured near the library’s administration suite on level 5.

To learn more about what the University of Utah is doing to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day, visit their page. 

For more information on the library’s Anti-racism Resources, visit this page.