Jessie Carson

Jessie M. Carson (March 29, 1876 – September 6, 1959) was an American librarian who was appointed the director of children's libraries for the American Committee for Devastated France in 1920.[1] Along with several other children's librarians on leave of absence from the New York Public Library, Carson rehabilitated four libraries devastated by the war and began training young French women in American librarianship practices.[2] She is credited with making lasting change in French libraries, particularly by extending services to children, who had not traditionally been served by French libraries.[3]

Carson was born in Bellevue, Pennsylvania on March 19, 1876. She died in Rye, New York on September 6, 1959 at the age of 83.[4][5]

A novel based on Carson's life, titled Miss Morgan's Book Brigade, was written by Janet Skeslien Charles and was released in 2024 by Simon & Schuster.[6][7]

References

1. Carter, Julia. "Our Libraries Delight the Children of France". Public Libraries: A Monthly Review of Library Matters and Methods. 26: 252.
2. Benoit, Gaetan (2014-05-14). Eugene Morel: Pioneer of Public Libraries in France. Litwin Books. ISBN 9781936117321.
3. "The French Connection | American Libraries Magazine". American Libraries Magazine. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
4. "U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925". Ancestry. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
5. "Jessie M. Carson". Daily News. 8 September 1959. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
6. Matheson, Hilary (2024-07-11). "Montana native pens novel on life of American librarian who helped modernize French libraries". Daily Inter Lake. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
7. Ward, Lucinda (2024-04-01). "Miss Morgan's Book Brigade". Library Journal. Retrieved 2024-11-08.