Wayne Dowdy

Sunday, January 23, 2022

I first heard of Joan Cannon long before I ever met her.

I worked in another department at the library before I came to history and one day several long-term staff members were talking about some of their fellow employees. It did not take long for Joan’s name to come up. One said ‘yea, when Joan Cannon learns what the administration wants, she always says… EXPLETIVE DELETED. Someone else replied, “Joan Cannon always tells it like it is.” Man, was that true! But my friend Joan was far more than a woman of candor fond of the word “Piffle.”

She was absolutely devoted to the public library and the primary sources housed in the history department. Because of Joan’s hard work, thousands of government records, historic documents and photographs are available to those who want or need to understand the history of Memphis and the United States. If you look at the library’s catalog you will find 45 titles created by Joan. That is a phenomenal amount of work. These include indexes of birth, death, marriage and funeral home records. Finding aids for the Beale Street Development Corporation Collection, the Urban Renewal Photograph Collection, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra Collection, and many others. All of these collections contain information that otherwise would have been lost or obscured if Joan had not worked on them. Joan was so dedicated to the library and the Memphis Room that even after she retired, she volunteered every day where she added additional titles to her large body of work.

The last collection that Joan worked on was the scholastic census of public school students that was taken by the city school system from 1908 to 1915. The names and addresses of children are rarely included in government records, making this census a very valuable primary source. It is even more significant because it includes the names of every child in Memphis who was of Chinese descent. Because Joan engaged in this rather tedious work, we now have a better understanding of the historic Chinese community in Memphis.

All of us make our mark in this world but Joan made a deep one; so deep that her work will live forever. Memphians are fortunate that she dedicated her life to spreading knowledge to anyone who desired it. Her family and friends are equally fortunate to have had the opportunity to work and laugh with her over the last 70 years.We will all miss her.

Belmar toney

Saturday, January 15, 2022

For over 35 years I worked with Joan. She was my on-the-job trainer and she loved her job and the History Department where she worked. Dedicated and hardworking was our Joan. Very knowledgeable. She knew her job like the back of her hand. Her co-workers often referred to her for answers related to the job. We became road buddies because she and I liked
shopping and visiting other cities. I truly miss you old friend.

I hope to see you in heaven.

Your road buddy,
Toney

Bryan Massey

Friday, January 14, 2022

Joan and I served for years as librarians with the Memphis Public Library. Although assigned to different departments--I served in humanities, she in history--we often worked together, sharing the work--and the satisfaction, I believe--of caring for people who came to us for help. I'll always remember Joan as diligent, intent and serious-minded without ever being anything less than respectful, patient and generous. Years following her retirement, when we'd see one another in the library, we'd sometimes recall those days. We would remember them as challenging at times, yet characteristically productive and gratifying.

God speed, my old friend.

Shirley C. Neely

Thursday, January 13, 2022

I worked directly with Joan as a volunteer for more years than I can remember. We worked on many projects. Some of which need to be completed. I will miss her dedication to the Library and will attempt to complete our unfinished projects.