Posted September 21, 2023
Community leaders gathered on September 15 to honor the history of the former Granville Street Colored Library with the dedication of a new historic marker. Former US Representative G.K. Butterfield, who represented North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District from 2004 to 2022 was joined by Granville County District 4 Commissioner Tony Cozart, Reverend Edward Davis, Jr. of First Baptist Church, City of Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent, former CEO of NC Mutual Life Insurance Company James Speed, Reverend Willie Darby, Reverend Floyd Greenwood, Granville County Library System NC Room Specialist Mark Pace, and former Granville Street Library Branch Manager Helen Currin Amis to dedicate the historic marker.
“This marker represents the importance of literacy for generations of Granville residents,” said Commissioner Cozart. “My hope is that when people see this marker, they will strive to educate themselves and others. Literacy is how we continue to strive for equality and justice while also enjoying all of the resources that this county offers. We were so blessed to have people in this community who understood how important it was for all residents of Granville County to have access to literacy resources. I hope all those that see this marker will realize the work and sacrifice that so many were willing to put forth the to open and operate this facility that served so many members of Granville’s African American community.”
G.K. Butterfield recalled the rich history of the Granville Street Colored Library not just as an educational resource, but as a community gathering place by stating “I began my political career by meeting with Granville residents right here in this building. I was working on Howard Lee’s congressional campaign while I was a student at NC Central University and our goal was to increase African American voter registration in this district. I would meet with local community leaders to organize and register voters in Granville County where only ten percent of African American voters were registered to vote at that time. Now we have voter rolls that truly reflect Granville County’s diversity, and this is reflected in the elected officials that you see on the Board of County Commissioners, Board of Education, and cities and towns throughout this county.”
The Granville Street Colored Library opened its doors to the African American community on June 12, 1942. Maude Warren Lassiter served as the library’s director for many years and she and the library hold a special place in the history of Oxford and Granville County. The Granville Street Colored Library received visits from numerous African American leaders throughout its history including poet and social activist Langston Hughes, educator and President of Howard University Mordecai Johnson, and historian and longtime Duke University professor John Hope Franklin. In 1965, the Granville County Library System integrated and added the Granville Street Library as a new branch. Helen Currin Amis served as Branch Manager until 1975 when the Granville Street branch closed and was merged with the Richard H. Thornton Library.
The historical marker was made possible by a partnership between the Granville County Library System Board of Trustees and First Baptist Church of Oxford. Funding for the marker came from the Granville County Library System Memorial Fund. The marker can be viewed at the site of the former Granville Street Library located at 314 Granville Street in Oxford.
A video of the event can be viewed on the Granville County YouTube page by visiting www.granvillecounty.org/youtube or the Granville County Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GranvilleCountyGov