News from the Second Floor

News from the Second Floor

February 3, 2016

Newspaper clipping from the Times Tribune in August of 1953

Celebrate and remember Black History Month with the Reference department’s collection of African American people and events.

Newspaper clipping from the Times Tribune on August 10, 2014

Helen Mitchell Brown made history as Scranton’s first black teacher in the Scranton school district in 1953. Ms. Brown was 22 when she began teaching and studied elementary education at Marywood College (now known as Marywood University).

Her legacy still remains through the generations of families she has taught. To the left, you will see the original article that was published in the Times Tribune celebrating Ms. Brown’s success.

The African American Homecoming Celebration welcomes friends (far and near) back to their Scranton hometown. In the past, this celebration has brought together more than 100 friends and family members. Scranton native Thornton Carroll started the annual event back in 2007. Pictured to the right is Homecoming Celebration from 2014.

There are more people and stories to discover. You can visit the reference department any time to browse all of their local history files.