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

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.

Page updated

Report abuse