Title:WHAT's YOUR HISTORY

January 25, 2012 Celebrate Black History Month at Your Public Library The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County will commemorate the significant contributions of African-Americans to our history and culture during Black History Month in February.

“We Know Who We Are” Program Series at the Main Library Follow the lives and lineage of William L. Mallory, Sr., Dr. John Bryant, and Bootsy Collins—three Cincinnatians who made a difference—during the “We Know Who We Are” program series at the Main Library (800 Vine Street), Saturday, February 4, 11, and 25, at 2:00 p.m. (See Page 2 for more details.)

Programs at Other Library Locations Get an up close and personal account of life as a black man fighting in the Civil War with re-enactor James Hunn (pictured, left) at the Forest Park Branch Library (655 Waycross Road), Tuesday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. Other branch Library locations will honor Black History Month with special programs celebrating the art and history of African-Americans. (See Page 3 for a complete list of programs.) PHOTO CAPTION: In 1972, Mr. Mallory, left, received an Honorary Doctrine of Law from Central State University from Dr. Louis Jackson.

Library Resources Explore more about the contributions of African-Americans to society with resources available for free from your Public Library. Our collection includes nonfiction and fiction books, video documentaries, archival newspapers, US Census and military records, and websites to help you learn more about civil rights and African-American genealogy, business, music, literature, and military history. http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/booklists/?id=africanamericanfamilycommunity

of 4 More about the “We Know Who We Are” Program Series

WILLIAM L. MALLORY, SR.—FEBRUARY 4, 2:00 P.M. Mallory was born and raised in the West End, where he attended Bloom Junior High School. In addition to an interest in politics, he enjoyed sports, including softball and track, and held the record at Bloom for the broad jump. As a young man, he worked variety of jobs, such as selling newspapers in front of City Hall and unloading freight cars. He was also a bus boy, a junkman, an iceman, a camp counselor, a porter and a bowling alley attendant.

Mallory was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1966 and served for 28 years in the Ohio legislature. In 1974 he won election as Majority Floor Leader, the first African-American to serve in that role. When he retired in 1994, he was the longest serving majority leader in the history of Ohio. PHOTO CAPTION: A baby picture of William Mallory taken around 1932.

DR. JOHN BRYANT—FEBRUARY 11, 2:00 P.M. Dr. Bryant grew up in Walnut Hills, and upon graduating from Withrow High School in 1954, enlisted in the US Army, where he served three years, including a stint in Korea. Using the GI Bill, he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati in 1957 and became a member of the basketball team (the same team Oscar Robertson played on that went to the NCAA Final Four in 1959 and 1960).

Dr. John Bryant returned to his alma mater, Withrow High School, where he taught in the business department. In 1965, he and Williard Stargel at Walnut Hills High School became the first African-American head coaches of integrated football teams in the area. In 1968, he returned to UC to complete a doctorate in education. During that same year, he served as an assistant coach for UC’s basketball team, joining Red Paige, who also coached for the football team—both men were the first African-Americans hired by UC to serve on the coaching staffs. PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Bryant coached the 1966 Withrow High School basketball team.

Dr. Bryant has remained a dedicated professional, enriching the lives of students at the high school and college level. For 19 years he taught at Wilmington College. In 1990, he became the Executive Director of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, and he has also served on many educational and cultural boards, including CET, the Ohio Humanities Council, and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

BOOTSY COLLINS—FEBRUARY 25, 2:00 P.M. Raised by a single parent, his mother Nettie, Bootsy Collins grew up with his brother Phelps (Catfish) and his sister Brenda, living in several Cincinnati neighborhoods including Over-the-Rhine, West End, and Walnut Hills. When the family moved to Evanston, Bootsy, then 13, joined his brother’s band as a bass player and became part of the house band at King Records, which was also located in Evanston.

Rising to national prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Bootsy’s driving bass guitar and humorous persona established him as one of the leading names in funk. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Recently, he started the Bootsy Collins Foundation to provide more music education opportunities to youth. PHOTO CAPTION: A young Bootsy Collins playing bass guitar for James Brown in the early 1970s.

of 4 More Black History Month Programs at Your Public Library

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 12:00 P.M. Avondale Branch Library, 3566 Reading Rd., 513-369-4440 WHAT'S YOUR HISTORY? Celebrate Black History Month by recording your own family's history. Bring family pictures and make a scrapbook page. Share family stories and read about famous African-Americans.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2:00 P.M. Mariemont Branch Library, 3810 Pocahontas Ave., 513-369-4467 AFRICAN FOLKTALE MASKS • Teaching Artist Karen Overmyer will read the African folktale "Who's in Rabbit's House" and talk about the beautiful art of mask making. Then, using natural materials (dried corn, bird seed, leaves, and twigs), create masks of inventive folktale creatures.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1:00 P.M. College Hill Branch Library, 1400 W. North Bend Rd., 513-369-6036 AFRICAN-AMERICAN READ-IN • All ages are invited to an African-American read-in celebration. College Hill Branch Manager Arnice Smith will use her storytelling skills to bring the works of African-American authors to life.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 4:00 P.M. Bond Hill Branch Library, 1740 Langdon Farm Rd., 513-369-4445 AFTERNOON ART • Celebrate Black History Month with a craft. Sponsored by the Kersten Fund.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 6:30 P.M. Forest Park Branch Library, 655 Waycross Rd., 513-369-4478 AFRICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIER • Celebrate Black History Month with James Hunn, African-American Civil War re-enactor (pictured left). He will do a first person portrayal of Joseph Miller, a soldier in the 124th United States Colored Troops. You will get an up close and personal account of what life was like for a black man fighting in the Civil War. Registration required. To register, call or visit http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2:00 P.M. Hyde Park Branch Library, 2747 Erie Ave., 513-369-4456 WHO'S THAT ARTIST? Meet Romare Bearden • Explore African-American art through the story My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden's Childhood Journey. Create a colorful collage in the style of this talented and original visual artist. Program presented by Natalie Hager of the Kennedy Heights Art Center. Ages 6-10.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 3:00 P.M. Norwood Branch Library, 4325 Montgomery Rd., 513-369-6037 AFRICAN FOLKTALE MASKS • Join the Kennedy Heights Art Center as we explore African folktales and mask making. We will read the African folktale "Who's in Rabbit's House" and learn about the beautiful art of mask making through the illustrations of Leo and Diane Dillon. Then, using natural materials (dried corn, birdseed, leaves, and twigs), create masks of inventive folktale creatures. Sponsored by the Kennedy Arts Center. Registration required. To register, call or visit http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1:00 P.M. Deer Park Branch Library, 3970 E. Galbraith Rd., 513-369-4450 Page 3 of 4 THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: ITS HISTORY, ITS PEOPLE, ITS GLORY • Look at the history of slavery and the Underground Railroad. Using a timeline, pictures, slave shackles, photographs, navigational tools, and true stories of actual historical figures, children can re-create elements of this incredible journey. Registration required. To register, call or visit http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/.