The origins of the first New Orleans Public Library date back to 1843 in a single French Quarter house at the corner of Customhouse (now Iberville) and Bourbon streets.
Prior to 1946, more than a century later, segregated New Orleans had just one library to serve the entire black population of the city. Opened in 1915, the Dryades Street Branch Library, located Uptown, was the only one in existence.
Black community leaders demanded more services. They desired services for the large downtown Negro population. In response, the library administration began to provide book distribution to several black housing projects and schools.
Mrs. Mildred Robichaux Rousseve
Many of our readers speak fondly of Mrs. Mildred Rousseve. She was the first librarian at Nora Navra Library and remained as head librarian there for nearly 20 years. She also, earlier in her career, helped start the Bookmobile Service of New Orleans that served the black community during segregation. Much of its success was due to her. She was called “a missionary for books” and received many accolades and awards upon her retirement. She was a graduate of McDonogh No. 35, N.O. Normal School for teachers, and Straight University. She passed away on 24 December 1994, at the age of 89, leaving behind two sons and a daughter. She is buried in St. Louis No. 3 Cemetery in New Orleans.
June 12, 1946 “Branch No. 9″
Valena C. Jones School
Since a permanent library branch for people of color was needed downtown, especially in the Seventh Ward of the city, a temporary “Branch No. 9” was set up on June 12,1946 inside the Valena C. Jones School. A room in the school was made available for the summer, however by September other arrangements had to be made. The hours of operation were from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. three nights a week. Mrs. Mildred Robichaux Rousseve, the wife of Charles B. Rousseve (the noted Creole historian) served briefly as branch head. When Mrs. Rousseve returned to teaching in the public schools, she was succeeded by her daughter, Theresa Rousseve.
October 1946
By the fall term of 1946, the library space at Jones Elementary was returned to the students for classroom use. Branch No. 9 then moved into a “prefabricated hut” located on a parcel of ground at 1902 St. Bernard Avenue. The hut was purchased by the library board from the War Assets Administration for $302.40. Two of the army surplus huts were combined to form a structure of a single rectangular room measuring 32 feet by 54 feet.
On October 8, 1946, Branch No. 9 opened to the public. The number of book users grew rapidly due to its proximity to Corpus Christi Catholic School, as well as continued use by Valena C. Jones students in the area. Branch No. 9 soon gained the enthusiastic support of community leaders throughout the Seventh Ward.
November 15, 1948
As Branch No. 9 continued in operation, an event took place in 1948 that would have a tremendous impact on the future of the 7th Ward library. Three years later (1948) the Orleans Parish School Board received a gift of $15,181.63 from the estate of a young Jewish woman, Miss Nora Navra, who had passed away on August 16, 1946.
Members of the board decided to use a portion of the money she left to purchase the remainder of the lot adjacent to the temporary Branch No. 9 structure. They planned to eventually construct a permanent-colored library branch which would be named the Nora Navra Branch Library.
Pictured above is a young Miss Nora Navra with her brother, Leon. Since childhood, she was a frequent user of the Napoleon Branch Library in New Orleans. She never became a public figure and passed away in 1946. When her will was read and finally probated in 1948, she left $15,181.63 to the N. O. Library Board which was used toward construction of the Nora Navra Library. For this reason, the library was named in her honor.
1950-1954
In October 1950, the Board selected Jules K. de la Vergne as architect for the new Navra facility, and in early 1953 the city administration finally committed $15,000 for construction of the new branch. In August of that year, a former drug store located at 1700 North Galvez Street served as the temporary library branch while permanent construction was underway.
Early Construction
Finally, seven months later, the new structure was completed. On April 4, 1954, the staff, with the appointment of Miss Dora Guichard as librarian, moved into the new building. Hundreds of area residents came to view the new facility.
Nora Navra Memorial Library
The dedication of the Nora Navra Memorial Branch took place on May 2,1954 at 1902 St. Bernard Avenue.
Dedication – 1954
The structure was presented to Alvin Lopez (president of the Community Guild and a representative of residents of the area) by Mayor de Lesseps “Chep” Morrison. Miss Fannie C. Williams (principal of Valena C. Jones School) and Charles G. Smithers (Library Board Chairman) presented citations to the organizations that helped with promoting the branch.
The Rev. Morris Burrell of the Mount Zion Baptist Church gave the invocation while the Rev. James J. Walsh of Corpus Christi Church gave the benediction. St. Augustine High School’s Band performed and the vocal music was provided by Joseph S. Clark High School’s Choir.
Well-known local attorney and civil rights leader, A. P. Tureaud, gave the keynote address. In it he stated:
“Public facilities which are provided on a racially segregated basis are not only a drain on our economic resources but are an outmoded relic of a slave psychology. Libraries tend to free the mind of bigotry and prejudice; they are supposed to be a civilizing influence on the community.”
He ended his remarks with an expression of hope that the Nora Navra Branch would be open to all people regardless of race, creed, national origin or color and with a call for an end to all segregated libraries.
Dedication – 1954
Just two weeks later, the Unites States Supreme Court issued its historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, outlawing racial segregation in public schools. One of the first to act was the New Orleans Public Library Board. As a result, by mid-1955, all local public libraries were opened to all citizens. Nora Navra and the Dryades Street Branch, both conceived as libraries for people of color, were now transformed into full members of the New Orleans Public Library System.
Nora Navra’s location amid several schools, including Corpus Christi, McDonogh No. 42 and Valena C. Jones Elementary, Andrew J. Bell Jr. High School, St. Augustine and Joseph S. Clark Senior High Schools kept the staff busy developing new and unique programs.
Mayor Marc Morial & Councilman Roy Glapion with students at Nora Navra
One year after its opening, Miss Guichard was able to report that monthly circulation was up 2,970 items and the branch’s active borrowers had increased to 5,028.
Lydia Bigard and her staff worked closely with the various schools on story times, after school programs and volunteer opportunities. The branch was also very popular with adults in the community who rallied behind it and volunteered to keep it opened during financial times.
Nora Navra Library developed a legacy unto itself. For 69 years it served the community of the 7th Ward. It was a jewel in the crown for thousands of people of color who knew the value of having access to a library in their community.
2005-2018
Unfortunately, the Nora Navra Branch was destroyed in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The building was finally demolished in 2017 and construction began on a new one. The dedication celebration for the new 7,800 square-foot building will be held on Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25, 2018.
Hopefully, the legacy of this unique and historical library will continue into the future.
Nora Navra Library [2018]
Sources:
The bulk of information on this article was taken from various short articles found in the vertical files of the New Orleans Main Library on Loyola Avenue. Thanks to the various archivists who assisted me in my search. I am extremely grateful! They also provided me with a large collection of undigitized photographs, some of which were used and displayed above.
Other sources used: The Times-Picayune, 12 June 1946 page 18; The Louisiana Weekly, 15 June 1946; The Times-Picayune, 19 January 1949, page29; New Orleans States; 03 May,1954, page 17; The Louisiana Weekly; 08 May 1954, pages 1 & 7; The Times-Picayune, 24 August 1980.
Lolita Villavasso Cherrie
A pleasure to read
I still have my library card !! I am 58 yers old , lived in the 7 ward all my life ! I love this library, lots of good memories !
A.P. Tureaud was an American hero.
I was a regular at this library when Mildred Rousseve was the librarian. It was a stone’s throw from where I lived on North Roman Street. It was really nice having a library in the neighborhood and not having to get a bus and streetcar to get to the main library on St. Charles Avenue.
I grew up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. As a young child in the 1950s we had a “Bookmobile” that was basically a library on wheels. We anxiously awaited the bookmobile & the two lady librarians to park in the Bynum Pharmacy parking lot on Piety Street. We felt fortunate.
Those were some terrible days to think that we had segregated libraries.
I got books from the library when I went to Corpus Christi school until 1948. Of course I enjoyed getting them from my aunt Mildred Rousseve. My brother Bart and I also enjoyed going with her and our aunt Irma Rousseve on the Bookmobile during the summer, especially when we took the ferry over the river to Algiers.
Thanks for the great history.
I encourage all parents and grandparents to bring their children to the library and leave the computer at home. It is a fantastic way to develop skills, and to explore the many stories they will find. Make it a part of their educational experience.
I often think back to the many days I spent there in the 70’s and 80’s. I would walk there with a group of my boys and we would actually “read” and learn and it wasn’t because we had to, but because we wanted to. Also many of the older men in the neighborhood encouraged us to go to the library and “read”. Subsequently, I like many of those guys I hung out with have gone on to have pretty good lives, me personally a successful Air Force career and now a part of Corporate America and one of those men now telling young people to “read”. We ventured to the main library once and although it was cool, it wasn’t like our Nora Navra. My next trip home to New Orleans will definitely include a visit to the new structure.
Congratulations on the new branch and may it blaze a pathway for others like it did for me. By the way, since I left New Orleans in 1979, I’ve lived and traveled all over the world and in every place I’ve lived I’ve had a library card that I use frequently, that tiny 7th Ward library planted that seed that continues to grow.
I was a volunteer helper when Mrs Rousseve & Mrs Hunter were in charge. The original library was located on the first floor of Jones School , which I attended.
Hi Mr Spears – we think you are referring to Marion Hunter, our grandmother. We saw your post and recently discovered through family members that she did indeed work at the library. Thank you for sharing.
Ms. Hunter’s married name was Manuel. Ms. Manuel and Mr. Manuel eventually moved to Baton Rouge.
I grew up on Derbigny Street between LaHarpe and Laparouse and enjoyed learning more about Nora Navra Library, especially the origins of its name. I remember when it opened and used it often on the way home from Corpus Christi School. I was quite surprised to read your comment about a Mrs. Hunter who you remember worked there. That’s my maiden name and would love to know if that person was my mother. My family members and I never knew about this job, if she is the same Mrs. Marion Hunter you knew. We knew she worked at various places in the neighborhood, the Circle Theater and McKenzie’s, for example. But the library is a new one for all of us. Please let me know, thanks.
My Aunt, Louise LaMothe, and Mrs. Rousseve worked together for many years on one of the bookmobiles. After that, Mrs. Rousseve served as head librarian at the Nora Navra Branch. I visited her there as often as I could (during my visits with my grandmother on N. Galvez St.). I just adored Mrs. Rousseve. My Aunt Louise worked at the main library downtown for a while before becoming head librarian at the library in Algiers Point. I miss them both…
Well said Barbara!! The Dryades Branch was always closed when my mother took me to First Street U. M. Church around the corner. It has been 13 yrs. since the storm but libraries are much used these days with the many programs they offer which are listed on the computer weekly.
Hi Numa, I have added a picture of your Aunt Mildred Rousseve to our article since so many of our readers remember her so well and speak of her so fondly. It may be one as an older lady but it’s all I could find. Thanks for continuing to share so many memories from the past with us on CreoleGen. Lolita
That’s a great picture, Lolita. It reminds me of her quiet strength and gentleness. She really didn’t take any nonsense and stood her ground.
A beautiful new building!
Very informative. My great uncle lived in 7th ward and was among the founders of Morris Brown Church, later Beecher Memorial Congrgational Church a block from Valena C. Jones School. His name was Edward H. Phillips. He helped secure the land with a few others where Valena C Jones School was built. Do you have any information on him? Phillips Elementary and Junior High School was named after him. I have a good bit of info on him but was wondering what else might be available on him or other Phillips realitives.
During my time in the 50’s, the students at Valena C. Jones School were rewarded with certificates of recognition for reading a certain number of books over the Summer period.The Nora Narva Library was our resource. A real treasure!
We have such great history. THANK YOU for the research, recording and publishing of all the stories from Creolegen.
Walked from Sere St. in the St. Bernard neighborhood all the time to the library while attending M. H. Nelson School. This was in the late 50’s early 60’s ‘
I grew up in the 7th ward and always went to the Nora Narva Library. It was in walking distance from my house. As a child my mother always encouraged us to read which i still love to do. On my next visit home i will have to stop by to see the new building. It will bring back many memories.