HPL News - Visit Us at Houston Public Library

Date: April 11, 2025

Houston Public Library (HPL) invites the community to join a daylong celebration of free, family-friendly events this Saturday at branch locations citywide! From a star-studded storytime to enriching workshops and engaging online activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Headlining the day is comedian, actress, and author Tiffany Haddish, who will be joining us for “A Special Storytime with Tiffany Haddish,” reading from her inspiring children’s book Layla the Last Black Unicorn.

Other exciting highlights include:
•    StoryBook Easter – Celebrate the season with stories, crafts, and Easter fun for little ones.
•    No Vitals? No Problem! – Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence – A fascinating family history talk with renowned genealogist Judy Russell (a.k.a. The Legal Genealogist).
•    AARP Free Tax Help – Last-minute tax prep assistance from certified professionals.
•    STEM Workshop – Hands-on learning for curious minds.
•    Get Fit Exercise Class – Move your body and boost your health.
•    Stretch Your Dollar – Smart money tips to make your budget go further.
•    Board Games for All Ages – Unplug and play with friends and family.
•    Clutch Coding for Kids – Fun, beginner-friendly tech skills for the next generation of coders.
•    Preserve Your Memories: Digital Conversion Workshop – Learn how to digitize old photos, videos, and keepsakes

And so much more happening at neighborhood libraries across Houston!
Visit HPL’s events calendar for a full schedule and participating branch locations.

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HRC Quarterly Newsletters: April 2025 Gregory Griot

In this issue: The Voices of Gregory: John Hightower; Volunteer Spotlight: Andrea Estrada; Preserving the Black PressThe Voices of Gregory: John Hightower by Aleah Parsons, MLIS | Archivist II/Oral History ArchivistHere at the African American History Research Center (AAHRC), we prioritize conducting oral histories with alumni who remember the school and the community of Fourth Ward during the 20th Century. The following is a recollection of John Hightower’s experience at the Gregory School. A New Start in Houston & Attending the Gregory School John Hightower was born in 1937 in Huntsville, Texas, to David and Daisy Hightower. John spent the first few years of his life living on his grandparents’ farm in Huntsville. He remembers fondly swimming in water holes, riding his horse, playing with his dog and just being a boy. All of that changed when John moved with his family to Houston, Texas, around 1940. He and his family moved to Fourth Ward and lived on Shaw Street next to Antioch Baptist Church. About a year later John began attending the Gregory School. Because of his schooling in Huntsville, John was far ahead of the other students in his class and often felt bored in school. At the Gregory School, Principal Butte, known as a strict disciplinarian to all students, decided to skip John from the fourth to the fifth grade. Shortly after, he was skipped to the sixth grade, but this was not enough for John, who had his own dreams of attending Booker T. Washington High School in Houston and playing basketball. John pretended to be his father and successfully enrolled himself into Booker T. Washington to achieve his dream. Sadly, after a couple of days, his mother found out and made him go back to the Gregory School. John recalls being afraid to return to the Gregory School believing that Principal Butte would punish him for leaving. However, Principal Butte was merciful towards John and promised to keep him busy for the rest of his time at the Gregory School. In 1950, John successfully graduated from the Gregory School and went on to achieve his dream of attending Booker T. Washington and playing basketball, which he was very good at. To learn more about other Gregory School Alumni check out our oral history collection Houston Oral History Project - Gregory School Interviews - Houston Public Library Digital Archives (oclc.org) on the Houston Public Library Digital Archives and stay tuned for the publishing of John Hightower’s oral history.Volunteer Spotlight: Andrea EstradaI’m Andrea Estrada and I’ve been a volunteer with the AAHRC for about a year and a half. I’m a history and general science studies student at Austin Community College. I’m a born and raised Houstonian, and I grew up visiting HPL’s libraries as often as I could, leaving with an armful of books. I plan on attending the University of North Texas this fall to finish my bachelor’s degree in information science, and hopefully I will complete my MLIS to continue to work in archives. Outside of school and my volunteer work, I love to travel to U.S. National Parks (I’ve visited 15 of the 64 parks so far!), cross-stitch, play Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, and read. Volunteer Work at the AAHRC: I’ve worked on a wide array of projects and collections during my time at AAHRC. Some of my favorites include writing metadata for oral histories of local community figures, transcribing correspondence written during World War II between Clifford and Hortense Smith, and inventorying a collection donated by the Houston branch of The Links, Inc., which included photos of Links members with U.S. Representative Mickey Leland. I’ve also helped organize and inventory funeral programs of local community members as well as cassettes and CDs with sermons recorded at Trinity United Methodist Church. I’m currently processing a collection of works donated by Dr. Michael Botson that he used to write his book Labor, Civil Rights, and The Hughes Tool Company. The contents of the collection include handwritten notes, photos, and recorded interviews with retirees from the Hughes Tool Company who fought against unfair wage scales based on race. Although I’ve never processed a collection by myself, the archivists here at AAHRC have been very helpful and patient, giving me guidance and experience that I wouldn’t ordinarily have until at least a couple of years down the line in my academic career. In between my projects, I also enjoy walking around the reading room and browsing the books, wishing I could check them out. Through my time here, I’ve been able to learn so much more about Houston’s African American history while also acquiring skills and general archives knowledge that I will be able to apply in my future studies and career. It has been such a rewarding experience to volunteer at AAHRC and I encourage anyone with time and an interest in history and public service to volunteer as well!Preserving the Black Pressby Sheena Wilson | ManagerNewspapers are an invaluable primary resource that document the rich, multifaceted history of communities across the world. These publications have chronicled pivotal moments of both success and struggle in the daily lives of Black communities globally. Local Houston newspapers, such as the Houston Informer, Houston Defender, Houston Forward Times, and the Negro Labor News among others, have provided essential voices to the community, offering perspectives often omitted from mainstream media. While the need for access to historical newspapers is clear, preserving physical copies poses significant challenges. Over time, the naturally acidic nature of paper causes it to deteriorate when exposed to fluctuating environmental factors like humidity, light, and temperature. Limited storage space and financial constraints further hinder efforts to properly archive and maintain these historical documents. To ensure these records remain publicly accessible, we have undertaken a newspaper digitization project in recent years to tackle these preservation challenges. By converting microform and physical newspapers into digital formats, we aim to ensure their longevity, increase user-friendliness, and enable continued use for future generations. Most importantly, the digitized papers will be searchable, making them a more valuable tool for researchers. Houston Forward Times The Houston Forward Times stands as the largest Black-owned and independently operated newspaper in Houston and the American South. Launched in 1960 by Julius Carter, this weekly publication focuses on stories relevant to Houston's Black community, departing from the national scope of most newspapers to provide a narrative that reflects the interests of its local readership.Front page of the Houston Forward Times. May 2, 1970.The Houston Forward Times digitization project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Grant # LS-252486-OLS-22). * (2023) and Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Grant # LS-256843-OLS-24). * 2024Read digital issues of the Houston Forward Times: https://cdm17006.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17006coll12/searchThe Houston Informer The Houston Informer, established in 1919 by C.F. Richardson Sr., was a prominent weekly newspaper that gave voice to the Black community in Houston and across the state. The Informer frequently published content addressing issues of importance to the community, including discriminatory voting practices and education. In later years, the Houston Informer merged with the Texas Freeman, becoming the Informer and Texas Freeman, before eventually being renamed simply as the Informer. A smaller-scale project is underway to digitize and upload this periodical online. Front page of the Houston Informer. January 22, 1927.Read digital issues of The Houston Informer:https://cdm17006.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17006coll183/searchBrowse a list of historical African American newspapers available at the research center from cities in Texas and Louisiana:https://houstonlibrary.org/ld.php?content_id=66825685 Request a SpeakerAre you interested in deepening your understanding of Houston’s African American history? The African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus offers a wealth of resources to support your research and learning. We provide both virtual and in-person workshops and presentations that delve into our extensive archives and research materials.If you would like to request a speaker for your event or learn more about our outreach offerings, email us at hpl.gregoryschool@houstontx.gov.Sign up to receive our other HRC eNewsletters!...

A visit from Tiffany Haddish and Layla, the Last Black Unicorn!

Big thanks to Tiffany Haddish and the She Ready Foundation for bringing a whirlwind of storytime fun to Heights Library with Layla, the Last Black Unicorn! If you missed it, check out the video on our YouTube channel!...

Celebrate Saturday with Free Fun Events at HPL; Popular Actress and Author Will Headline Event