Richmond, Virginia (April 20, 1921 -November 9, 2009) age 88yrs

Effie Lee Morris was an African American children’s librarian, educator, and activist. She is best known for her pioneering public library services for minorities. She also served the visually impaired community. Morris earned her Master of Science in Library Science in 1956 from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She developed Cleveland Public Library’s first Negro History Week. She was also New York Public Library’s first children’s specialist for visually impaired patrons. She was the first coordinator of children’s services at San Francisco Public Library. She was also the first African American to hold an administrative position there. Morris also served on the committees for prominent children’s book awards. These included the Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. This last one is now known as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. She wrote the original selection criteria for the Coretta Scott King Award. Her criteria helped it become an official award for the American Library Association (ALA) in 1982.