Pauline Short Robinson Papers

Pauline Esther Short was born January 31, 1915 in Gay, Oklahoma. She graduated from Emily Griffith Opportunity High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver, as well as graduate degrees from Michigan State and Columbia University. Robinson majored in education, history, and political science and minored in psychology, literature, and natural sciences. She was married to Howard Osborne Robinson (b. Kansas; 1916).

In 1943, Robinson became Denver's first black librarian. She established one of the largest summer reading programs in the country, introduced Reading is Fundamental to Denver (1966), and served on teh selection committees for the nation's two most prestigious children's book awards. Her namesake library branch located at 33rd and Holly opened in 1995. "Of all the honors, the truest satisfaction that I've received throughout my career has been encouraging young people to continue their education and to prepare for their lifelong goals," she said at the dedication.

(Excerpt from "5 Points News", May 2016)