Evelyn R. Downum, librarian


Inside NAU Home \| NAU in the News \| Archives \| Submit a News Tip	Vol. 6 No. 26 \| July 15, 2009

Evelyn R. Downum, librarian

Evelyn R. Downum, a librarian at Arizona State Teachers College and for the NAU Elementary Laboratory School, died July 7, 2009, in Flagstaff. She was 93.

Mrs. Downum was born Jan. 21, 1916, in Chicago to Arthur and Rose (Anderson) Benson.

After earning a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Illinois, Mrs. Downum earned a master's degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin, where she met and in 1939 married fellow history graduate student Garland Downum.

The couple moved to Flagstaff in 1944 when Garland Downum became a history professor at Arizona State Teachers College. Mrs. Downum worked as assistant librarian at the ASC Library from 1956 to 1959 and as the librarian at the College Elementary School from 1958 to 1966.

She left ASC for one school year (1966-67) to set up the new library at the new Thomas Elementary School, which needed an experienced children's librarian. In the fall of 1967 she returned to NAU as children's librarian for the newly named NAU Elementary Laboratory School. She remained in that position until she retired in 1981.

Mrs. Downum also was an instructor of children's literature in the College of Education in 1965 and 1966, and upon her return from Thomas School, continued teaching children's literature from 1967 until her retirement in 1981.

“For 26 years I did what I wanted to do—teach children's literature, my special love, to college students and be a children's librarian,” Mrs. Downum said. “I love to get books and people together. I don't care if someone's 5 or 100." In 1996, the Downums jointly received the Arizona Library Association's Rosenzweig Award for their many years of work and support for Arizona libraries.

Mrs. Downum was a member of the Federated Church, American Library Association, Flagstaff Shakespeare Club, American Association of University Women, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Key Women Educators.

Mrs. Downum is survived by her three children, Philip (Marilyn) Downum of Flagstaff, Carolyn (Larry) White of College Station, Texas, and Janice (Joe) Barnett of Ponder, Texas; her sister, Marian (Lloyd) Behrens of Rockford, Ill.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Phillip Benson, and her husband of 65 years, Garland.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Federated Community Church, 400 W. Aspen, Flagstaff.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Garland and Evelyn R. Downum Scholarship Fund, NAU Foundation, Box 4094, Flagstaff , AZ 86011, or the Federated Community Church, 400 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff , AZ 86001.