Middle Georgia Regional Library dedicates book collection to Herbert Tuggle
The library's first African American Head of Reference
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Middle Georgia’s first African American Head of Reference, Herbert Tuggle, was honored and remembered at a dedication ceremony on Wednesday for his contributions to African American history at the Washington Memorial Library.
People from near and far gathered to witness the dedication of the library’s African American book collection to Tuggle, who is known as the “Keeper of African American History in Macon.”
“He believed that just because you grew up in a small county does not mean that you don’t have access to services and goods needed,” Muriel McDowell Jackson, the head of the Genealogical and Historical Room at the Washington Memorial Library (MGRL), said. “His goal was to make sure that everyone had exposure to things like Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, as well as John Grisham.”
Tuggle started at the Amelia Hutchings Library in 1959, where he slowly built up the African American collection. When he moved to the Washington Memorial Library in 1970, he was able to bring that collection with him and foster it, according to Jackson.
“He was very adamant about preserving African-American history in Macon, Georgia and the world at-large,” former MGRL Director Thomas Jones said.
Wednesday’s dedication brought together a handful of people who spoke about how Tuggle’s contributions have impacted African American representation in Macon’s public libraries and also how he influenced them personally.
“If we don’t tell our own story, nobody else can do it for us,” Jackson said. “So it’s up to us to do it. He gave us a standard of locating good books that can stand the test of time.”
Wednesday’s recognition came during Black History Month and also as the library continues to celebrate a historic milestone.
“No other time would have been as special,” Jackson said. “We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary in this building, opened in November of 1923, and so it just ties in with history.”
Tuggle’s family is proud of his accomplishments.
“He took his time to preserve things and put them away. Now people are really trying to learn about who they are, where they came from, where their roots are, and it’s amazing that he was ahead of his time because he knew these things were important,” Tuggle’s sister, Mildred Tuggle Kitchens, said.
