By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Westmoreland

Guy T. Westmoreland Jr., an author, teacher and librarian who spent his life researching the history of African-Americans, Jamaicans and Haitians, died Oct. 11 following surgery for cancer of the jaw at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City. The Lincoln Heights native was 60.

Mr. Westmoreland wrote two books: An Annotated Guide to Basic Reference Books on the Black American Experience in 1974 and West Indian Americans: A Research Guide in 2001.

He also published professional resources for librarians, including "Training Librarians to Conduct Online Searches."

Mr. Westmoreland was an early user of computer-based information retrieval systems and served as chairman of the Standing Committee on Database Services of the Illinois Regional Council in Chicago, as well as a member of the Library Automation Group at the City College in New York.

Before his death, Mr. Westmoreland was a reference librarian and coordinator of electronic services at the Cohen Library at City College.

His love of books and history began when he was a boy growing up in Lincoln Heights. His parents, teachers and city council members fostered a love of learning that also convinced him he could make an impact on other students, according to his brother, Carl Westmoreland of Mount Auburn, external affairs director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Mr. Westmoreland was a graduate of Roger Bacon High School and held a bachelor's degree from Ohio University. He also had a master of library science degree from the University of Michigan and a master of arts degree from The New School University in New York.

He wrote a master's thesis entitled "The Imperialism of Sugar: Slavery and Underdevelopment in the Caribbean," which showed how slave labor produced raw material for industrialized nations, while technology and industry were kept away from the islands creating a permanent poverty that forced migration to the United States.

In addition to his brother, survivors include: his mother, Bernice Blanton Westmoreland, and nephews.

The funeral is 11 a.m. today at St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church, 810 Matthews Drive in Lincoln Heights. Interment will be at Beech Grove Cemetery in Wyoming.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com