Unveiling of the Ruth Brown statue in Bartlesville Public Library

Speech by Mr. Gene Winn, retired librarian, on the occasion of the unveiling of the statue of Miss Ruth Brown, his predecessor at the Bartlesville Public Library. Miss Brown was fired for ostensibly being a communist sympathizer. In fact, she was fired for her civil rights activities such as trying to integrate the public library, going with African-American friends to downtown soda fountains in (vain) attempts to be served at the counter, and helping to form the first CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) group south of the Mason Dixon Line. Bartlesville Women's Network raised funds to commission the statue, which was created by artist Janice Albro.