Books Are What We Want

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Trautman wrote to the Adjutant General’s Office requesting an Army librarian role. At the time, the Army was searching for an officer to run its library program and had turned to civilian librarians Carl Milam and Luther Dickerson, who had participated in the American Library Association’s World War I initiative, the War Library Service. They interviewed several officers with library credentials, including Trautman, whom they recommended. In November 1940, Trautman was named the Army’s chief librarian. Soon thereafter, a letter from Eleanor Roosevelt was forwarded to him; she complained that Black service clubs lacked books. Trautman received recommendations from Howard University and stocked these clubs. Eleanor Roosevelt invited Trautman for tea at the White House. The size of the Army expanded quickly, and Trautman’s book needs did too. With the help of the American Library Association, plans were made for the Victory Book Campaign, so the Army received donated books from the public.</jats:p>