Ola Mae Spinks was a retired librarian who led the team that organized the historic “Slave Narratives” in the U.S. Library of Congress.
- Died: June 16, 2020 (Who else died on June 16?)
- Details of death: Died in Southfield, Michigan at the age of 106.
- We invite you to share condolences for Ola Mae Spinks in our Guest Book.
Preserving vital history
Raised in the historic all-Black community of Vernon, Oklahoma, Spinks settled in Detroit as an adult, where she taught first grade before becoming a middle school librarian. A few years before her 1976 retirement, she volunteered to begin organizing a collection of narratives that tell the stories of slaves in their own words. Gathered during the Great Depression by public works employees, the narratives weren’t easily useable before Spinks and a friend began their organizational work. Done over a summer vacation, Spinks’ work provided a baseline for a team she recruited to continue from. In the end, the collection became more navigable, and the Library of Congress sent Spinks a letter of commendation to thank her for spearheading the project.
What people said about her
Full obituary: Detroit Free Press
