Francine Henderson, Vice Executive Chairman

Since completing her graduate degree (MSLS) in Library Studies from Atlanta University in 1970, Francine Henderson’s career has encompassed donor relations, fund-raising, public programming, and the development of Africana Diaspora library collections in conjunction with academic departments in institutions of higher learning. Ms. Henderson also holds a certificate in Information Management and Records Retention from the Easter and Southern African Management Institute in Tanzania. Throughout her career, Ms. Henderson helped shape public library in Atlanta and Fulton County. After her graduation from Atlanta University, she joined the Atlanta Public Library as coordinator of the four Model Cities Libraries that served inner city neighborhoods such as Peoplestown and Mechanicsville. She also served as the first curator of the library’s Special Collections Department at the Central Library. She was instrumental in managing the centralization and development of the Negro History Collection of Non-Circulating Books renamed the Samuel W. Williams Collection on Black America in honor of Atlanta civic leader Rev. Samuel W. Williams in 1971, which became the core collection of the Auburn Avenue Research Library.

Over the years, she has advocated and developed strong library resources at Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University), the University of Botswana in Southern Africa, Atlanta University, Emory University, and the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum (both in Atlanta) George Washington University, and in her current position at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History.
Ms. Henderson rejoined the library system as the third Research Library Administrator in 2003. During her tenure at the Research Library, she aimed to achieve one of her primary goals for the research institution, to put the AARL “on the map”, and—with the staff—they have succeeded in doing so. Ms. Henderson’s many accomplishments while with Library Systems include establishing Traditions, a quarterly newsletter, as well as the Ashley Bryan African American Children’s Picture Book and Art Collection for use by caregivers and teachers wanting to present positive and sensitive imagery about children of African descent. She was also instrumental in the acquisition of numerous collections and personal papers such as those of the Rev. Hosea Williams, former Georgia State Representative Robert A. “Bob” Holmes, and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Collection. Ms. Henderson retired in September 2013 after serving ten years as the Research Library Administrator of the Auburn Research Library on African American Culture and History.