WVU Libraries

Victorine Louistall Monroe made history twice at West Virginia University. She received her master’s in education from WVU in 1945, making her the first known Black female to be awarded a graduate degree from the University. Then, Monroe made history again in 1966 when WVU hired her to teach Library Science, making her the University’s first Black faculty member.

In April, WVU Libraries unveiled a portrait of Monroe (1912-2006), Professor Emerita of Library Science, the first painting to be commissioned as part of the Inclusive Portrait Project, in the Downtown Library’s Robinson Reading Room.

“We are excited to celebrate Victorine Louistall Monroe with this portrait,” Libraries Dean Karen Diaz said. “A true Mountaineer, Victorine broke several barriers throughout her life and set a shining example for future generations to emulate.”

Monroe graduated from Kelly Miller High School in Clarksburg and earned her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State College. She received her master’s in education from WVU in 1945, making her the first known Black female to be awarded a graduate degree from the University.

She taught at Kelly Miller High School and worked as a librarian at Roosevelt-Wilson High School. Then, in 1966, Monroe made history again when WVU hired her to teach Library Science and she became the University’s first Black faculty member.

While at WVU, she was inducted in the Order of Vandalia and served as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for eight years. She retired in 1978.

In addition, Monroe was a member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was appointed to the West Virginia Library Commission by former Governor Jay Rockefeller serving from 1980-1992.

The West Virginia and Regional History Center holds a collection of Monroe’s papers that document her education, career, and personal life, including correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, awards, and other material.

WVU Libraries and the WVRHC received a $5,000 grant from Women of WVU last year to support The Inclusive Portrait Project. The initiative’s goal is the creation of three portraits – one portrait each year for the next three years – painted by a current BFA or MFA student or recent graduate of the WVU program who identifies as female.

The portraits will be installed in the Libraries’ Milano and Robinson rooms on a semi-permanent basis and added to the WVRHC’s collection.

Anna Allen, the artist who painted Monroe’s portrait, is a 2021 WVU BFA painting graduate and West Virginia native. Allen grew up with an appreciation for the beauty of nature and a love for her family. As a student, Allen discovered her affinity for oil painting. The prolonged experience of creating a portrait in oil allows her to meditate on the person she paints, capturing the subtleties of their personality in addition to their appearance.