Honoring Black Educators
Photo Courtesy of Albert W. Durant Photography Collection, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Introduction
Black educators have long been - and continue to be - community leaders, despite facing significant challenges. Under the system of segregated schools, for example, Black educators taught more students in their classrooms than did white teachers, while receiving lower salaries and fewer school resources to support their work. The Local Black Histories Project seeks to honor these educators by name. Below we present the names of Black educators who taught in the Williamsburg Public Schools between 1871 and 1928. We recognize their service and commitment to their profession.
As we continue our research, we welcome the community to contribute photos of the educators listed below, as well as the names and photos of educators who taught in the James City County Schools from 1870 to 1954, the Bruton Heights School, and the integrated schools. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to contribute, or email us at localblackhistories@gmail.com.
Williamsburg Public Schools, 1871-1884
The first Black educators taught in rented rooms (as yet unidentified) from 1871-1883. Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, a Black congregation on Francis Street, stepped in to support Black children's education in 1883, renting classroom space to the School Board.
Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Francis Street. Williamsburg, Virginia, prior to its demolition, circa 1929, Todd and Brown Inc. Photograph Collection, AV2010.3
Courtesy: Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The First Black Educators in the
Williamsburg Public Schools
Williamsburg Public Schools
Mr. I.W. Edloe, 1871-1875, 1877-1880
Mr. Dennis H. Bourbon, 1875-1877, 1893-1906
Ms. Maria H. Bright, 1875
Ms. Pauline Hill, 1875-1881
Mr. M.S. Chase, 1880-1886
Mr. R.M. Dawson, 1881-1882
Ms. Rhoda Ashby, 1882-1883
Ms. Mary Ashby, 1883-1887
School No. 2, 1884-1924
School No. 2 was built in 1884 and offered 6-7 years of schooling for Black students in Williamsburg for 40 years.
Students and Teachers in front of School No. 2, 1892
Courtesy: Photographed with permission of Marie Sheppard by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Black Educators at School No. 2
Ms. Mary Ashby 1883-1887
Rev. L.W. Wales, Sr. 1886-1891
Ms. Blanche Mann 1887-1888
Ms. E.M. Cannady 1888-1889
Mr. Robert H. Cary 1890-1893
Mrs. Mary E. Thurston 1891-1901
Mr. James Greenhow 1901-1902
Ms. Rachel S. Wright 1902-1908
Ms. Ceila N. Cary 1906-1912
Mrs. Mary T. Greenhow 1909-1915
Mr. S. Solomon Roberts 1912-1913
Ms. Estelle Carter 1913-1916
Mr. Arthur F. Tate 1915-1917
Mrs. Florence S. McCreary 1916-1917
Mrs. Daisy G. Burrell 1916-1917
Mr. Richard H. Bland 1917-1918
Ms. Eunice B. Minkins 1917-1918
Ms. Kate Carter 1918-1919
Ms. Beatrice Allen 1918-1919
Mr. J. Graham Scott 1919-1921
Ms. Kate Carter 1919-1920
Ms. Sarah J. Tucker 1920-1926
Ms. Bessie Dove 1920-1924
Mr. W. H. Hayes 1921-1926
Mrs. Mary S. Washington 1922-1928
Mr. N.B. Reavis 1923-1928
Mrs. A.B. Jones 1923-1928
Mrs. Clara Byrd Baker 1923-1928
Ms.Ollie G. Hill 1924-1928
Ms. Jessie G. Jones 1924-1928
Ms. Lillian A. Bailey 1924-1927
Rev. L.W. Wales, Sr., Pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, teacher, and principal of School No. 2 from 1886-1891.
Courtesy: Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
James City County Training School, 1924-1940
The James City County Training School opened in 1924 near the corner of Botetourt and Nicholson Street in Williamsburg, Virginia. Offering classes up to the 11th grade, the Training School provided Black students in Williamsburg and James City County with their first opportunity to pursue a high school education.
Black Educators at the James City County Training School
This represents a list of educators from 1924-28.
Research on educators at the Training School from 1928 onwards is ongoing.
The James City County Training School
Photo Courtesy: D. N. Davidson Photograph Collection, AV-2013.2, Box 1, Folder 3, The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Ms. Sarah J. Tucker 1920-1926
Ms. Bessie Dove 1920-1924
Mr. W. H. Hayes 1921-1926
Mrs. Mary S. Washington 1922-1928
Mr. N.B. Reavis 1923-1928
Mrs. A.B. Jones 1923-1928
Mrs. Clara B. Baker 1923-1928
Ms.Ollie G. Hill 1924-1928
Ms. Jessie G. Jones 1924-1928
Ms. Lillian A. Bailey 1924-1927
Mrs. Clara B. Baker 1924-1928
Mr. R.L Rice 1926-1928
Mrs. Sarah L. Ross 1926-1928
Ms. Rosalie Chevious 1927-1928
Mr. Overton Robinson, athletic director, 1920s
Faculty member and students in the James City County Training School auditorium, late 1930s.
Principal Rice posing with students in a classroom at the James City County Training School, circa 1930s.
Student & faculty ball game at James City County Training School, circa 1938.
Photos Courtesy: Albert W. Durant Photography Collection, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Sources:
Byrd, Rawls. 1968. History of Public Schools in Williamsburg. Williamsburg, VA.
Lassiter, Curtis and Wayne Bowman. 1985. How black schools evolved. Virginia Gazette, March 6, 4A.
We invite the community to contribute!
Do you have photos of any of the educators listed above? Do you know the names or have photos of Black educators who taught in the James City County Schools from 1870 to 1954, the Bruton Heights School, and the integrated schools? We invite you to contribute! Please use the form below to provide information or photos, or email us at localblackhistories@gmail.com.