Alexander Allain

Alexander Peter Allain (June 27, 1920 – January 5, 1994) was an American lawyer and library advocate known for his work securing the freedom of expression. His career was devoted to securing First Amendment rights for libraries.

Allain is recognized as one of American Libraries' "100 of the Most Important Leaders we had in the 20th Century" for being "a true visionary" in his battle to uphold the First Amendment; his work with the American Library Association (ALA) included helping with the creation of the Office for Intellectual Freedom in 1967 and cofounding the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Early life Born in Louisiana, Allain received his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1942. As a young man, he served as a liaison officer in the French Navy during World War II, stationed in Casablanca. In 1953, Allain was appointed to the St. Mary Parish Library Board of Control in Louisiana. It was during this time that the United States feared communism and scrutinized libraries for harboring any information that could potentially influence the public opinion.

The Louisiana Library Association annually recognizes librarians who promote intellectual freedom in Louisiana with the Alex Allain Intellectual Freedom Award.

The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Library Association One of Allain's biggest contributions to fight for intellectual freedom within libraries was the work he did with American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom to co-found the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) in 1969.

The Freedom to Read Foundation was set up in conjunction with the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom instead of as a separate entity because of the work ALA was already doing to protect the First Amendment and intellectual freedom. When the Foundation was being planned for and organized, Allain expressed concern in a letter to the Director of the Intellectual Freedom Office, Judith Krug, that ALA members would forget what the ALA has done and continues to do for intellectual freedom by covering themselves in this new umbrella of aid and assistance in the Freedom to Read Foundation . Allain felt that there should be overlap of both organizations so that the focus remained centered on intellectual freedom and could be worked on in harmony. American Library Association Honorary Membership (1975), John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award (1979), Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor Award (1989 and 1999), Southeastern Library Association President's Award (1990) Louisiana Library Association Intellectual Freedom Award (1991).

Outside of his professional life, Allain was an avid volunteer in the community. He was a member of Rotary International, Knights of Columbus, Scouting and president of the Jeanerette, Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.