By mid-19th century America, decisions about what was valuable to history were made almost entirely by white, educated elites. They were also the people most likely to erect a facility for the archiving of historic knowledge. 

In 1918, Anniston was the recipient of a Carnegie library, a gift from businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Carnegie Anniston Public Library was segregated by race. (1) Black Annistonians used the much smaller Carver Library on West 14th Street.

On a cloudy Monday morning in September 1963, four white Annistonians walked in solidarity with two black Annistonians as they did the unheard of—they entered the Public Library. Would the same fate befall this group as it had to one of their members the day before? 

On Sunday, September 15, 1963, Reverends William B. McClain and Nimrod Q. Reynolds were attacked by a mob of whites as they attempted to peacefully integrate the Anniston Public Library. Although America was moving toward desegregated public facilities, the culture of Anniston was not yet ready to change. 

McClain and Reynolds’ symbolic action had been endorsed by Anniston’s Human Relations Council, and the event had been planned in secret, but somehow the mob found out.The reverends were severely beaten and fled for their lives. Rev. Reynolds was seriously injured and spent several days in bed. (2) (3) 

The next day, the group of six entered the Library without incident and McClain and Smitherman checked out books.