Eliza Atkins Gleason (born Eliza Valeria Atkins;[1] December 15, 1909 – December 15, 2009)[2] was the first African American to receive a doctorate in Library Science at the University of Chicago Graduate Library School.

After receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 1931, she took her first library job in Louisville, Kentucky, at Louisville Municipal College (originally known as Louisville Municipal College for Negroes) where she soon became the head librarian, following in the footsteps of her sister, Olie Atkins Carpenter, who was a librarian at this institution, as well.

In 1941 she established and became the first Dean of the School of Library Service at Atlanta University.

In 2010, she was posthumously inducted into the University of Louisville's College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Honor.

[12] Past recipients include: Dr. Cheryl Knott, Christine Pawley, David Allan, Carl Ostrowski, and Louise Robbins.