Beauvoir loses Literary Landmark status over ‘racist and wrong’ ideology, group says
Literary Landmark designation for Beauvoir, the last home and Presidential Library of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, has been rescinded by United for Libraries because of the “racist and wrong Lost Cause ideology” promoted there.
In a statement, United for Libraries says the racist ideology was promoted by Davis in his memoirs and has been carried on by the owners of Beauvoir, the Mississippi Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans.
United for Libraries says Literary Landmarks was started by Friends of the Libraries U.S.A., which became part of United for Libraries through a 2009 merger.
United for Libraries has continued the Literary Landmarks program, but does not support Friends of Libraries’ decision to add Beauvoir to the Literary Landmarks registry, says a statement from the United for Libraries executive board.
“United for Libraries has rescinded this designation, and regrets any implied endorsement of this site,” the statement says.
Dylan Mears, who currently heads Beauvoir, did not immediately return a telephone call from the Sun Herald about loss of the designation.
United for Libraries and its Literary Landmark program are working to “advance equity, diversity and inclusion,” the group says.
United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association, says it is reviewing Literary Landmark listings with guidance from an ALA committee on diversity, literacy and outreach.
“Taking on the struggle against racism, prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination is central to United for Libraries’ mission and we will continue to examine how these decisions are made and revise where necessary our selection criteria,” the statement says.
The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library at Beauvoir focuses on the Civil War and Confederate history, according to Beauvoir’s website, with more than 58,000 titles.
After Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management agency spent $8.3 million to move the library of out of the flood zone. It reopened in 2012. FEMA spent $3.2 million on repairs to the Davis home at Beauvoir, which reopened in 2008, and $3.4 million to replace other structures and contents.
President Donald Trump donated $25,000 toward restoration of Beauvoir, the Confederate Gazette reported in March 2006.
