Rosa Freeman Keller was raised in an atmosphere of wealth and
privilege, yet she devoted her life to social activism, most
notably in the arena of civil rights. During the turbulent
period of desegregation in New Orleans, she broke ranks with the
majority of her peers and worked tirelessly in support of
African-American efforts to achieve social, educational and
political equality with whites. In the years that followed the
civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s, she continued to
offer her energy and wisdom to causes and organizations
dedicated to making our city a better place for all of its
citizens. We atNew Orleans Public Library are proud that Rosa
Keller was "one of our own." In 1953, she began her long
association with the Library when she became the first woman
appointed to its board of directors, a post she held for the
next twenty-six years. Her dedicated service to New Orleans
Public Library and her courageous and energetic efforts to
further the cause of equal opportunity for all are honored