June 17, 2008
Beverly J. Moody
Fisk University, B.A. '69
School of Information and Library Science, '70
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
Current home: Dayton, Ohio
Beverly J. Moody's parents, William and Clara, who are now deceased, never attended college. Nevertheless, they wanted their only child to have a college education and historically black Fisk University was a logical choice.
Ms. Moody arrived in 1964 to major in elementary education. She worked as a library aide in the Fisk library. This experience made a great impression, as did her interactions with professors and librarians who spoke highly of the field and of the library school that she would eventually attend.
After earning her B.A. in elementary education, she moved to Cleveland to attend the School of Information and Library Science at Case Western Reserve University. She decided to major in the academic library program. A rigorous curriculum and a supportive adviser, Prof. Gary Purcell, made it possible for Ms. Moody to graduate with honors.
"I enjoyed doing research and reference work. I studied the organization of a small African American museum in Cleveland, where Mr. Icabod Flewellen, also a CASE graduate, served as curator. I invited him to speak at the black history celebration at Ohio University-Zanesville (Ohio) campus, where I received my first job as the assistant university librarian."
After a year in Zanesville, she moved to Dayton, Ohio, to accept the post as a children's librarian with the Dayton & Montgomery County Public Library. Since 1977, Ms. Moody has been the branch manager of the Dayton Metro Library.
She is a member of the Ohio Library Council, the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Posted by: Heidi Cool June 17, 2008 03:45 PM
Category: Alumni
, Legacy
, School of Information and Library Science