Everett T. Moore

Everett Thomson Moore (August 6, 1909 – January 5, 1988) In 1999, American Libraries named him one of the "100 Most Important Leaders We Had in the 20th Century".

Biography Moore was born in Highland Park, California. He graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in 1931 and went on to earn his Master of Arts in English from Harvard University in 1933. After teaching at The Webb School for several years, Moore earned his library science certificate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1939. Communist and leftist literature was frequently challenged, as was literature on feminism, sex education, critiques of capitalism, and civil rights. In Alabama, a controversial new law required "that every book used in college or public school...was to be labeled to indicate that the author was or was not an advocate of Communism..." Pressure was applied to New Jersey libraries by the Sons of the American Revolution for similar labeling. The group also insisted on an application of sorts to gain access to Communist literature which they felt "should not be freely available in libraries..." included public, private, or often secret interrogations of American citizens. Current Michigan Senator Carl Levin denounced McCarthyism, stating, "To attack people personally for their political beliefs and to browbeat them for asserting their rights, is no longer something which people are willingly engaged in..."

Moore was well aware that librarians would often be at the center of this debate and acknowledged the difficulty in differentiating between serious literature and what can fairly be described as obscene. In Moore's book, Issues of Freedom in American Libraries, he explores the divided opinions of these issues. Moore quoted Reverend Wright of Texas who stated that "all America's problems will be solved if he (i.e. Reverend Wright) will be permitted to select the books that should be read." Moore, as plaintiff, challenged the Attorney General through legal action. In February 1976, one month after he retired from UCLA, Moore won his case. All librarians in California were found to be exempt from the Harmful Matter Statute by the California Court of Appeals. Moore is also included in the American Libraries' list of "100 most important leaders we had in the 20th century."

When Everett Moore realized librarians were in danger of losing their full ability to "provide people with the information they request, not to judge the uses to which that information will be put" he took legal action to assure everyone had the opportunity to access "a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations."

Works by Everett T. Moore Issues of Freedom in American Libraries. (1964) Chicago: American Library Association Bulletin Volumes 54–57, June 1960 – June 1963. Papers in civil action of Everett T. Moore ... et al. against Evelle J. Younger, Attorney General of the State of California (1972) In the United States District Court, Central District of California, J. Dollen, Anita Iceman, American Library Association, California Library Association... J. Younger, defendant: Brief for Plaintiffs (1973) "A Rationale for Bookburners: A Further Word From Ray Bradbury," American Library Association Bulletin, May 1961, pp. 403–404 also In ALA Bulletin, Vol. 55, No. 5, May 1961. pp. 403–404.

Works about Everett T. Moore Harlan, Robert D. (1978) The colonial printer: Two views: a paper read at a Clark Library Seminar on Intellectual Freedom, June 19, 1976, in honor of Everett T. Moore (William Andrews Clark Memorial Library seminar papers)