Women's History Month

Dorothy I. Height 

Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, born in 1912, was a prominent figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. Denied admission to Barnard College due to her race, she pursued education at New York University. Height's career in social work and leadership at the Harlem YWCA laid the foundation for her pivotal role in the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), where she served as president for 40 years. She advocated for voter registration and supported civil rights activists financially. Height's influence extended beyond the United States; she traveled internationally and received numerous awards, including the Citizens Medal Award and the Congressional Gold Medal. Despite facing gender discrimination in the Civil Rights Movement, she persisted, advocating for women's inclusion and contributing to major events like the March on Washington. Height's legacy of activism and leadership continued until her passing in 2010, leaving an indelible mark on history. DC Public Library named the Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library in her honor.

Lillian J. Huff

Huff, who served as the president of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association and on the Democratic National Committee, played a key role in securing funding from the U.S. Congress to build the original Lamond-Riggs branch. Huff served as the first president of the Friends of the Lamond-Riggs Library and also vice president of the Federation of Friends of D.C. Public Library. She was also the elected leader of the city’s delegation to the White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services in 1978. President Jimmy Carter appointed Huff as the vice chair of the Pre-White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services. The reimagined Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library opened in 2022. 

Juanita E. Thornton

In 1984, an apartment building was razed and a Wendy's restaurant was scheduled to be constructed on the site. The next day Juanita E. Thornton, a former teacher with the DC Schools Public System, spoke with Hardy Franklin, at that time Director of the Department of DC Public Libraries, and told him: "We have beef, bread, booze and beer. We need another B: books". A library "would provide good mental health. It is necessary for the growth of our cities, harmony among the races, justice and peace". The slogan for the construction of the new library was "Books Not Burgers." In 1988, the land was turned over to DC Public Library. The new library opened in 1990. Juanita E. Thornton died one month after the library opened. In October 1992, the Shepherd Park/Juanita E. Thornton Library was named in her memory.