MIDWEEK MUSINGS: 2 MiNORITIES WiTH A SOUTHERN PAST

 In honor of WOMEN'S month the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) provided a peek into a special community relationship  between Arkansan white and black women and insight of the relationship between Jewish women and Black Christian women.  

The program was entitled Memories of the Ottenheimer Brothers and Rocket Plant on 10th & Spring Street even though we diverted to hear a bit re: libraries which were separate but not equal.

Rhonda Stewart, geneology and local history specialist in CALS presented an interesting look at the history between these groups. Jimmy Pfeifer, local historian, also contributed to her presentation.

  First of all, we were introduced to Vera Snook, a transplant from Illinois, a fierce librarian who built the State's library system.  The Negro library on 9th  existed before her arrival but it was kept running and upgraded under her watch.'26-'48.  In '41, a bigger building was opened on 16th & High thanks to her perseverance and help fundraising for the new structure.. 

Full integration didn't start until after her. Black Adults were allowed in '51, 7th grade and up. This was before Brown vs Brown.

We also heard about the Women's Emergency Committee  (WEC)1400, mostly white, well-off ladies from the PTA , AAUW  secretish as they were laws around ties to NAACO but they pulled together. White and Black, Jews and Christians. Open Our schools.Door to door, car pooling to polls and nudging of husbands. Yes, the power of women. Improving community lives. 

So how do the Ottenheimers come into the story. They were the first factory owners to hire a Black Women work force and help improve  lives more than these workers could have ever earned elsewhere although not equal...

Take a look at the chart below.

This made a big difference in these women's lives. The company eventually merged into Kellwood who sold to Sears and local Jewish-owned department stores like Cohen's and Blass. 

I am looking forward to learning more. But history was made... And we can learn from history and try to do better with each generation. Thanks to strong women, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

*Some of the workers' families were present for the program.