Bernice Bryant Middleton was born on November 11, 1922 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She graduated from Claflin College with an A.B. in English in 1942, received both a BLS (1944) and a MSLS (1957) from Atlanta University as well as graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with an Advanced Certificate in Library Science in 1968. She worked as a teacher-librarian at Gaffney High School. She was also the assistant cataloger for Atlanta University. She was an assistant librarian and circulation librarian at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg. While at SC State she later became assistant professor in the Department of Library Service as well as Chairman of the department before retiring in 1984. She was a member of several committees and organizations such as ALA, SCASL as president from 1972-73, American Association of University Women, American Association of University Professors, and the Southeastern Library Association. Bernice Middleton died January 4, 1995.