On Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, the Douglass-Truth Branch was jamming. Neighbors, families, community leaders, elders, and library staff filled every corner of the branch at 2300 E. Yesler Way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its community-chosen name.
Almost exactly a half-century earlier, on Dec. 5, 1975, the branch was renamed in honor of abolitionists Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, a process that took years of community advocacy.
The day started with a branch history tour by children’s librarian Mynique Adams, who highlighted the importance of community and organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter (AKA-DUO) coming together to save the library then named the Yesler branch.
Together, they created a collection that celebrated and affirmed Black children, and renamed the branch to better reflect the power, pride, and beauty of the Black community.
Visitors on the tour contributed their own stories and reflections, including a very special guest. Retired librarian Audrey Wright worked at the branch in the 1960s and early 1970s, alongside librarian Jim Welsh, partnering with AKA-DUO and the Black Friends of the Yesler Library to help build the African American Collection and revitalize the branch.
It was an honor that Ms. Wright and her sister, who also worked at the branch, took the time to attend the celebration and share their knowledge and memories.
The tour also visited some of the branch’s artworks, including the “Home of Good: A Black Seattle Storyquilt,” which was donated to the collection by artist Storme Webber.
Opportunities to make art were also on hand. Crafters, artists and dreamers of all ages gathered to do creative journaling and crafts with local artist Danitra Hunter.
A Jazz quartet from Garfield High School paid homage in musical form to the longstanding partnership between Garfield High School and the branch.
People mingled, made art, made friends, and talked about the branch’s past, present and future.
The afternoon ended with a lively conversation about the branch’s African American Collection by Special Collections managing librarian Sean Lanksbury and African-American Collection curator Brian Den Hartog-Lindsey.
AKA-DUO just celebrated its 61st year of supporting the collection.
The audience, including leaders with AKA-DUO and the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, emphasized the collection’s importance as a source of community research, pride and inspiration.
Brian shared plans for preserving and expanding the collection, and revealed an exciting new addition: a first edition of a compilation titled “Slave Songs,” originally published in 1867.
“We want to re-engage the community with the collection and have it do what it was meant to do: Bring people in,” said Brian.
Many thanks to AKA-DUO and the Black Heritage Society of Washington State for their longstanding partnership and support. We are also grateful to The Seattle Public Library Foundation for sponsoring the event.
We also want to collectively recognize our Douglass-Truth staff members, who worked tirelessly for months to create a joyous and community-filled celebration that honored this branch’s resilient history, deep roots, and partnerships.
We invite everyone to stop by the branch to explore the African-American Collection, enjoy the branch’s artwork, soak up its history, or to simply browse.
Caption for top photo: From left to right, Black Heritage Society president Stephanie-Johnson-Toliver, Valerie Buford and Dolores Walker, all proud C.D. residents and library users, show off 60th anniversary tote bags. Eddie Walker’s “Sojourner Truth” painting rises in the background. Photo by Leo Carmona, The Seattle Public Library
Learn More
- Converge Media (jump to 38 minutes): Interview with Brian Den Hartog-Lindsey