Minerva J. France

Minerva J. France set a precedent for Black women in librarianship and higher education, paving the way for others to follow. The daughter of a cook and railroad worker from Kentucky, she moved to Westerville and attended the public school there.

Her passion for learning and education led her to pursue library science, a rare career path for Black women at that time. In 1923, France was 17 years old and just embarking on her own library journey. France received her bachelor’s from the West Virginia Collegiate Institute, spent time at Columbia University, and ultimately landed a job as a librarian and English instructor at Wilberforce College.

While at Wilberforce, France regularly made the one-hour trip to Columbus to take night classes for her master’s degree. She graduated in 1934 but passed away from an illness the following year. The Public Opinion stated that at the time of her death, she was “on the threshold of a brilliant career” – but in reality, France already achieved what others had only dreamed of.

This school is proudly dedicated to honor the education, life, and legacy of Minerva J. France.

Information presented above is sourced from the Westerville Public Library History Museum and its "Breaking the Ice: Trailblazing Women of Westerville" exhibit, available online at https://westervillelibrary.org/museum. Learn more about how the Westerville Public Library and our local schools collaborated to bring the Minerva J. France story to light in this press release. You can also learn more about Minerva France through this video created by the Westerville Public Library History Museum: https://youtu.be/DeKedX3vVLs