James Nicholas, one of five children born to Arville and Barlett Nicholas in Augusta Coounty, Virginia in 1900. Education for African American was almost non existant and James completed all seven grades in record time.

In 1914 James Nicholas left for Ohio where he was to live with his brother in Cleveland and work in the steel mill until he could raise the $82 a year it cost to go to the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute in Ettrick, Virginia (this included room and board). By 1916 he had saved enough money to start school and in 1921 James Nicholas had completed the requirements for the Normal teaching degree.

Upon graduation he decided to return home to teach the first grade. Because of the low pay and short school year he alternated his teaching skills between home and working in a hotel in Winterhaven, Florida. Here he would meet his future wife Goldie Augustine Francis.

In 1921 he began to take classes at West Virginia State and in 1930, completed the requirements for the Bachelors Degree. There were few paying teaching jobs available, therefore, in 1931 he began work at the Patrick Henry Hotel in Roanoke, Virginia and he would marry Goldie.

In 1932 he and his wife and others were able to secure a Rosenwald School for the town of Waynesboro and he and his wife taught several grades there. In 1933 he became principal of the Rosenwald School. As principal he set a goal to add a grade each year since there were only seven upon his arrival. By 1937 there were eleven grades and the school was one of the few accredited training schools for African Americans in the state.

Goldie Augustine Francis was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to John and Arlena Francis. Goldie completed the Hawthorne Women's Program at Virginia Union University in 1923. She went on to earn the undergraduate degree in education at Virginia State.

In 1944 James Nicholas was invited to join the faculty of Virginia State College where he would be an instructor in education and principal of the high school. Mrs. Nicholas was also hired to begin her long career teaching reading.

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas both continued their formal education. Mr. Nicholas received a master's from the University of Michigan, and also recieved his Doctorate from Penn State University. Ms Nicholas recieved an EdD Degree from the University of Virginia in 1957.