Curley Jones: Utah's First Black Librarian

Curley Jones: Utah's First Black Librarian

Curley Jones (1941-2015) worked as a librarian at the University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library from 1972 to 2011. He was Utah's first MLS-holding Black librarian. However, that's not all he was. He was also a resilient young man who worked hard to gain an education. A family man, with many siblings, nephews and nieces, some of whom he raised on his own. An advocate for his colleagues. A pillar of Utah's Black Baptist community. An involved member of the NAACP. Someone who worked every day to support improve his community. While figures like Reverend France Davis and Alberta Henry were leading developments in the university and Salt Lake communities, Mr. Jones was often operating behind the scenes. Though there are few records left that place a primary focus on his work, I've been able to search university archives for mentions of Curley Jones and consult his friends, family, and colleagues to reconstruct some small portions of his life. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about and honor his work and legacy at the University of Utah and in the Salt Lake Community.