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This oral history project accompanys and is used extensively for the "A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America" exhibit, which will be on display in the Virginia Museum of History & Culture from May 2024 until April 2025. The exhibit and the oral history project examine the legacy of Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington co-creating schools in the American South to educate Black children otherwise exluded from the public school system due to segregation laws. The oral history project consists of interviews with former pupils of Rosenwald schools in Virginia.
Nadine Armstrong attended the Westview Rosenwald School which is no longer standing. Her interview was conducted in the Dunbar school now being restored. Nadine Armstrong discusses her family background, her experience as a former pupil of a Rosenwald school and the efforts to restore the schools. Nadine Armstrong details the typical day and experiences attending a Rosenwald school during segregation.
Patricia Beach is a former pupil of the Cape Charles Elementary School, a former Rosenwald school. Patricia Beach describes her life and experiences living in Cape Charles during segregation. Patricia Beach details a typical day attending a former Rosenwald School.
Dianne Davis is a former pupil of the Cape Charles Elementary School, a former Rosenwald Schools. Dianne Davis recounts her time as a pupil attending Cape Charles Elementary School, a segregated school funded by Julius Rosenwald and created by Booker T. Washington. Dianne discusses the typical day attending a Rosenwald school and her hopes for the restoration of the school.
Mary Anne Fletcher is a former pupil of the Bena Hayes Rosenwald school in Bena, VA. Mary Anne Fletcher describes her experiences attending a former Rosenwald school, a typical day in the classroom and her family background. Mary Anne Fletcher discusses her experiences as a Rosenwald student and her hopes for the restored Woodville school.
Deloris Hicks is a former pupil of Campbell County and Evington Elementary Schools. Deloris Hicks describes a typical day attending a former Rosenwald school, her family background and community efforts to restore the Rosenwald schools in Virginia. Deloris Hicks recounts her time as a student attending a Rosenwald school during segregation in Virginia.
Frank James is a former pupil of the Campbell County Elementary School. Frank James describes his experiences attending a Virginia Rosenwald School during segregation. He discusses his family background, the typical day at a school and the community response to the school and the efforts to restore it. Frank James describes his experience attending a Rosenwald School in Virginia.
Geraldine Pettigrew is a former pupil of the Campbell County Elementary School, a former Rosenwald school. Geraldine Pettigrew recounts her experiences attending the Campbell County Elementary School in Rustberg Virginia during segregation. The Rosenwald School were created by Booker T. Washington and funded by Julius Rosenwald. Together they built over 4900 schools across the south to provide an education for black children. Geraldine Pettigrew describes what a typical day was like attending the former Rosenwald School and the community response, and also her thoughts on the future hopes for the site.
Marion Randall is a former pupil of the Bena Hayes School, a Rosenwald school. Marion Randall recalls her experiences attending the Bena Hayes (Rosenwald) school in Bena Virginia. The Rosenwald schools were funded by Julius Rosenwald and designed by Booker T. Washington. Together they created over 4900 schools across the south to aid in the education of Black people during segregation. Marion Randall discusses a typical day attending a Rosenwald school, her family background and the community response. She attended the Bena Hayes school but the school is not longer standing.
Michael Scales is a former pupil of the Pine Grove School. Michael describes his experiences living in Cumberland County, attending a Rosenwald school and the efforts to restore the building. Michael describes the typical day attending school during segregation.
Charles Williams is a former pupil of the Cape Charles Elementary School. Charles Williams describes his experiences attending a Rosenwald School. He discusses his family life and his life after leaving school and his hopes for the restored building. Charles Williams details the typical day and experiences attending the Cape Charles Elementary School and the high school in Matchipongo, VA.