Leontyne Butler King

Leontyne Butler King (July 4, 1905 – January 23, 1976) was an American businesswoman and clubwoman, based in Los Angeles, California after 1938. She was especially active as a member of the Los Angeles Public Library commission.

Leontyne Butler King
An African-American woman with a high updo hairstyle and stylish 1940s makeup.
Leontyne Butler King, from a 1947 publication.
Born
Leontyne Butler

July 4, 1905
New Orleans, Louisiana
DiedJanuary 23, 1976
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Businesswoman, clubwoman, library commissioner

Early life

Leontyne Butler was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her father worked on the railroad, and died young. Her stepfather Leon E. Brown also worked for the railroad. She attended Knoxville College. She moved to Chicago with her mother, Hattie Butler Brown, and her aunt, as a teenager.[1]

Career

Los Angeles Library Commission

Leontyne King was the first black member of the five-person Los Angeles Public Library Commission,[2] serving from early 1961 into the mid-1970s.[3][4] She was appointed to the commission seat previously held by Dolores Hope.[5] She was elected vice-president of the commission in 1962,[6] and was president of the commission in 1969.[7][8] During her presidency, the library system's experimental "Service for Shut-Ins" book delivery service for elderly, disabled, and ill patrons continued,[9] bilingual library aides were hired,[10] and the libraries observed Negro History Week.[11] Black artists and writers were invited to speak in the libraries, including painter Charles White.[12] She spoke against paving green spaces in the city to build parking lots, even for library employees.[13]

King represented the Los Angeles library system at the American Library Association (ALA) meetings in 1963[14] and 1964,[3] and at the American Library Trustees Association (ALTA) in 1965 and 1973.[15][16] At the 1963 ALA meeting, she "made an eloquent plea" in her address, asking the gathered librarians to provide patrons with "more books dealing with Negro History and Achievement".[17] In 1966, she was national chair of Library Week for ALTA.[18] She served on the ALTA board of directors, representing the western region, in 1969.[19]

Fashion

In Chicago in the 1930s, King worked at a dress shop. She was later known as a fashionable clubwoman in Los Angeles.[20] "Always chic Leontyne King is a statuesque brunette," noted Jet magazine when they included her in a 1952 feature on "America's Best Dressed Women", adding that she "stresses quiet elegance and simplicity of detail in her wardrobe and depends upon furs and expensive gems to lend greater richness to her ensembles."[21] In 1954, she was commentator and director at fashion shows in Los Angeles.[22][23]

Business, church, and politics

King also owned a jukebox franchise, with machines in black-owned businesses; her son took over that venture when he was in college.[1] She was also a "family service adviser" at a funeral home.[24] She was co-founder of the Church of Divine Guidance, a Baptist congregation in Los Angeles.[25] In 1953 and 1954, King was head of the women's division of the Goodwin J. Knight for Governor Campaign committee.[26][27]

Personal life

Leontyne Butler married Celestus A. King Jr. in 1921.[28] They had a son, Celestus King III, born 1923, who served in World War II and became a prominent businessman in Los Angeles.[29] The Kings moved to Los Angeles in 1938.[1] She died from cancer in 1976, aged 70 years, in Los Angeles. Her gravesite is in Inglewood Cemetery. A tribute to King was read into the Congressional record by Representative Yvonne Braithwaite Burke a week later.[25]

References
  1. "Black leadership in Los Angeles oral history transcript: Celes King III" (1985), University of California, Los Angeles. Oral History Program.
  2. "City Library Presidency to Mrs. King". Valley Times. 1968-08-28. p. 14. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Mrs. King is Library Delegate". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1964-07-11. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Will Explore Opinions on City Library". The Van Nuys News. 1973-05-10. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Dr. Julian Nava to Head New City History Committee". Valley News. 1961-08-04. p. 16. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Angeleno Appointed to Library Board". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1962-08-25. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Baker, Erwin (1969-03-21). "Council Votes to Rescind Parks, Library Action". The Los Angeles Times. p. 24. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Burleigh, Irv (1969-08-07). "Library Board Asks to See 'Dirty' Magazine". The Los Angeles Times. p. 127. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "City Library ok's book deliveries to sick, handicapped". Belvedere Citizen / Eastside Journal. January 30, 1969. p. 13. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Service.
  10. "Must be bilingual; Libraries seek community aides". Highland Park News-Herald & Journal. November 17, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  11. "Libraries to Observe Negro History Week". Belvedere Citizen / Eastside Journal. February 6, 1969. p. 14. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  12. "Painter to Speak on Black Art at Los Angeles Library". Highland Park News-Herald & Journal. June 5, 1969. p. 13. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  13. "Save the Grass; Black-topping lawns harmful to downtown". Highland Park News-Herald & Journal. January 5, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  14. Gerri Major, "Travelogue" Jet (August 22, 1963): 38.
  15. "At Library Meet". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1965-01-30. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. Gerri Major, "Society World" Jet (September 27, 1973): 36.
  17. "Mrs. Leontyne King". Alabama Tribune. 1963-07-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  18. "Library Trustees Chief to Speak". The Los Angeles Times. 1966-04-24. p. 28. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Library Commissioner Named to U. S. Group". Belvedere Citizen / Eastside Journal. November 27, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  20. Wolfe, Evelyn de (1973-01-31). "Community Honors Black Journalist". The Los Angeles Times. p. 52. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "America's Best Dressed Women" Jet (April 24, 1952): 42-43.
  22. "Fantasies at Morocco". California Eagle. February 4, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved February 2, 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  23. "Around the Clock Fashion Show Set". California Eagle. June 24, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  24. Untitled news item, Jet (July 7, 1955): 44.
  25. Burke, Yvonne Braithwaite. "In Memory of Mrs. Leontyne King" Extension of Remarks (January 29, 1976): 1689.
  26. "Club Woman Head Division". California Eagle. December 10, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved February 2, 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  27. "Knight Backers See November Victory". California Eagle. October 21, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  28. "Mrs. Leontyne King Pinch-Hits for Earl J." The Pittsburgh Courier. 1939-11-11. p. 21. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. "Leontyne King Honored by Air Force Mothers". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1963-07-27. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via Newspapers.com.
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