Indianapolis, IN – August 3, 2018 – The Department of Library and Information Science at the IU School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI has established the Wilma Gibbs Moore Graduate Endowed Scholarship, honoring IU alumna Wilma L. Moore of Indianapolis. The scholarship will memorialize Moore, whose contributions to the historical record of African Americans in Indiana are well documented.*
Moore graduated from Crispus Attucks High School and received her B.S. in sociology and her master’s in library science (M.L.S.) from Indiana University. She worked at Indiana University Libraries and the Indiana Public Library (formerly IMCPL), and retired from the Indiana Historical Society after 30 years.
She served as editor of Black History News & Notes, and was contributing editor of Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. She received the Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History and the Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions in the field of history.
Moore participated in a number of local organizations serving the Indianapolis community, among them the Indiana African American Genealogy Group, Indiana Freedom Trails, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the Indiana Landmarks’ African American Landmarks Committee, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center at Indiana University, and Crispus Attucks High School and Museum.
“Mrs. Moore dedicated her life to building a more inclusive history and we would like to keep her legacy alive by building a more inclusive profession in her honor,” said Andrea Copeland, chair of the Department of Library and Information Science.
The library and archives profession has not kept pace with the increasing diversity in the U.S. In 2009, the Department of Library and Information Science took its first significant steps in addressing this problem for the state of Indiana by collaborating with the Indiana State Library to receive a $1 million federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to increase ethnic diversity in the state’s libraries. Thirty-two students received an M.L.S. as a result of this program and many went on to leadership positions in Indiana libraries, archives, and museums. This new scholarship will enable students to attend the IU School of Informatics and Computing to pursue a degree in library and information science.
Those who wish to donate to the scholarship and help us reach the funding levels necessary to establish a permanent endowment in Wilma L. Moore’s name may contact Stacy Zearing, Director of Development, IU School of Informatics and Computing with any questions. To donate online, click the button below and select the “Wilma Gibbs Moore Graduate Endowed Scholarship” from the drop-down menu.
Contact: Stacy Zearing
Email/phone: szearing@iupui.edu; 317-274-7518
* Per Indiana University Foundation policy, new endowment accounts which do not become fully funded at the required stated minimum through pledges/gifts at the time of the establishment of the account and through fulfilled pledges/gifts after five years will be converted, and all gifts will be made available to support the intent outlined in the supporting agreement.
The Indiana University Foundation solicits tax-deductible private contributions for the benefit of Indiana University and is registered to solicit charitable contributions in all states requiring registration. For our full disclosure statement, see http://go.iu.edu/89n.
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