Josie Cook Murray: Unsung Hero of the Civil Rights Movement

by Linda Harris Sittig

Do you own a library card?

Have you ever walked into a library to use their materials?

Have you ever checked out a library book?

Like many Americans, you most likely answered YES to at least one of the preceding questions because public libraries are a gift to American communities.

But once upon a time, many public libraries weren’t so public. During the Jim Crow Era (1877 – 1964), many public libraries, especially in the South, were restricted to whites only.

It would take the courageous actions of a young African-American woman, Josie Cook Murray to ignite the spark that would eventually become part of the flame for Civil Rights.

THE BEGINNING

Born in 1920 in Purcellville, a small southern town in western Loudoun County, Virginia, Josie was one of five children born to Junius and Bertha Cook. Her grandparents were Joseph and Lena Cook, forward-thinking African-Americans who realized the importance of education and helped establish the Willing Workers Hall as a school for children of color.

Josie’s entire childhood was defined by segregation. Schools, restaurants, and even the town library were designated whites only. This meant African-Americans could only buy a take-out meal or ice cream from a window in the back of a restaurant. All schooling for children of color ended after seventh grade because the only high school in town was reserved for whites. And no African American ever set foot in the town library.

Josie and her extended family lived in a section of town called the Color Line. And when Josie finished seventh grade without the prospect of additional education, she asked her grandmother, Lena Mama, to teach her everything about sewing.

A quick and talented learner, Josie quickly moved from hemming skirts and pants to more complicated tasks like repurposing an old outfit into a new dress. At age twenty, she married Samuel Murray, a local upholsterer with a reputation for quality work. Together, they bought a house across the street from Josie’s mother and set up their combined business in an outdoor building on their property.

By her mid-thirties, Josie attracted Black and white clients from as far away as Washington D.C., and it would be one of those clients who would change Josie’s destiny.

In December of 1956, Mrs. Mabel Moore came to The Shop. She wanted Josie to make Austrian shades for Moore’s weekend home near Hillsboro. Josie agreed, but then Mrs. Moore explained that the pattern for the shades would be in a library book.

Josie must have felt disappointed, knowing that the library was whites only. However, she agreed to the task.

After talking it over with Sam, Josie and Sam decided to go to the library together after New Year’s. And they did. Dressed as if they were going to church, they proceeded up the front walk, opened the doors, and walked in.

Josie approached the circulation desk, but the librarian told them to leave because Negroes were prohibited in the library. Josie held her ground. Then the librarian told them to call the head of the Library Board. Sam walked over to the pay phone on the wall and called Mr. Emerick, who suggested he could check the book out for Josie.

But something must have snapped in Josie, and she refused his help. Together, Josie and Sam left the library and went home. Then Josie called Mrs. Moore and told her she could not take the job because she was not allowed in the library.

Mrs. Moore was surprised and asked Josie to ‘sit tight’ until tomorrow.

Mrs. Moore called back the next day, explaining that she had discussed the situation with her brother-in-law. They both felt that Josie and Sam had every right to check out a book from the public library.

When Josie asked who the brother-in-law was, Mrs. Moore answered. “Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

What happened next set off an unheralded uproar. The town became divided over the issue of the library being open to all. Oliver E. Stone, a lawyer from Washington D.C., took on the case pro bono, representing Josie and Sam.

For many weeks, Josie and Sam were the recipients of harassment, and just when they were ready to give up…….

Well, to find out how Josie’s story ends, you will need to read my new book, OPENING CLOSED DOORS: THE STORY OF JOSIE C. MURRAY.

The book will be released on May 10th and can be ordered from bookstores and online.

It is a privilege to bring Josie’s long overdue story to light. A profound thank you goes to Linda Jackson King, Josie’s niece, who collaborated with me on Josie’s story.

~ Linda