{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=14\u0026view=compact","prev":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=13\u0026view=compact","next":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=15\u0026view=compact","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=1412\u0026view=compact"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":14,"next_page":15,"prev_page":13,"total_pages":1412,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":130,"total_count":14112,"first_page?":false,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c35","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"3rd Provisional Company","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c35#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c35","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c35"],"id":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c35","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050","_root_":"vipets_vipets00050","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03","parent_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00050","vipets_vipets00050_c08","vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"3rd Provisional Company","title_ssm":["3rd Provisional Company"],"title_tesim":["3rd Provisional Company"],"normalized_title_ssm":["3rd Provisional Company"],"text":["3rd Provisional Company","A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson","Box-folder 70:33"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":1301,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 70:33"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#7/components#2/components#34","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00050","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050","_root_":"vipets_vipets00050","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00050","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00050.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"text":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","1965-13","There are no restrictions.","Series I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family","Sub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.","Sub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.","Series II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.","Series III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards","Sub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.","Sub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.","Sub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.","Sub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.","Sub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.","Sub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.","Sub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.","Series IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984","Sub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.","Sub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.","Sub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.","Series V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.","Sub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.","Sub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.","Sub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.","Sub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.","Sub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.","Sub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.","Sub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.","Sub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.","Sub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence","Sub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence","Sub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.","Sub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.","Sub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills","Sub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966","Series VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.","Series VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.","Sub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.","Sub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.","Series VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.","Sub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.","Sub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.","Sub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.","Series IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","Series X. Printed","Sub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.","Sub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.","Sub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family.","The Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.","James Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.","William Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.","Three children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.","The other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.","Hill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.","Edna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.","Included in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.","Edna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.","During her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.","Miss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.","Miss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.","Miss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.","Edna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.","Edna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney.","The Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.","Four diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.","Notebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.","A Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.","Photo Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.","Twelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1965-13"],"unitid_tesim":["1965-13"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["The Colson-Hill Papers are a\n gift of the Colson Family."],"creator_ssim":["The Colson-Hill Papers are a\n gift of the Colson Family."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries X. Printed\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family","Sub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.","Sub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.","Series II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.","Series III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards","Sub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.","Sub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.","Sub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.","Sub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.","Sub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.","Sub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.","Sub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.","Series IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984","Sub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.","Sub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.","Sub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.","Series V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.","Sub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.","Sub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.","Sub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.","Sub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.","Sub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.","Sub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.","Sub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.","Sub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.","Sub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence","Sub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence","Sub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.","Sub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.","Sub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills","Sub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966","Series VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.","Series VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.","Sub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.","Sub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.","Series VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.","Sub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.","Sub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.","Sub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.","Series IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","Series X. Printed","Sub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.","Sub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.","Sub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eJames Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThree children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eIncluded in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.","James Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.","William Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.","Three children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.","The other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.","Hill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.","Edna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.","Included in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.","Edna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.","During her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.","Miss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.","Miss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.","Miss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.","Edna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.","Edna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Colson-Hill Family Papers, Accession #1965-13 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Colson-Hill Family Papers, Accession #1965-13 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eFour diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eNotebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eA Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003ePhoto Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eTwelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.","Four diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.","Notebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.","A Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.","Photo Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.","Twelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1671,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c35"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c03_c01","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"3' tape Louise Archer Elementary\n School","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00038_c03_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c03_c01","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00038_c03_c01"],"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c03_c01","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038","_root_":"vipets_vipets00038","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00038_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c03","parent_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series III: Video\n Recordings"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00038","vipets_vipets00038_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"3' tape Louise Archer Elementary\n School","title_ssm":["3' tape Louise Archer Elementary\n School"],"title_tesim":["3' tape Louise Archer Elementary\n School"],"normalized_title_ssm":["3' tape Louise Archer Elementary\n School"],"text":["3' tape Louise Archer Elementary\n School","A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series III: Video\n Recordings","Othertype 20:1"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series III: Video\n Recordings"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series III: Video\n Recordings"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":502,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"containers_ssim":["Othertype 20:1"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#0","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00038","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038","_root_":"vipets_vipets00038","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00038","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00038.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"text":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","1997-77","20,000\n Pieces","There are no restrictions.","Series I. Correspondence 1932-1979 Personal and Business\n Boxes 1-3","Sub-series A: Correspondence by subject Correspondence,\n most generated by Richardson during his tenure with the\n department of Education. Arranged Alphabetically and then\n chronologically within the folders.","Sub-series B: Correspondence by date Arranged\n Chronologically.","Series II. Literary Boxes 4-19","Sub-Series A: Speeches Arranged by title and date, followed\n by speeches with dates and materials missing both a date and a\n clearly defined title.","Sub-Series B: Writings and Reports Some of the writings\n were used later in Richardson's history of Negro education in\n Virginia. Many of the reports appear to have been used by\n Richardson to carry out his job with the State Department of\n Education. The reports consist of conference and workshop\n results organized by Richardson.","Sub-Series C: Research Notes During Richardson's career,\n part of his responsibility was to develop procedures and\n manuals used by African-American Schools in Virginia. This\n sub-series also contains an interesting log concerning the\n Whitcomb court school in Richmond, VA.","Series III. Video Recordings Taped speeches at different\n functions attended by Richardson. Most of the speeches were\n not delivered by Richardson.","Series IV: Photographs Boxes 21-27","Sub-series A: Family and Personal Photo's of activities at\n Virginia State when Richardson was a student and later as a\n teacher at the Mecklenburg County Training School, conferences\n at Virginia State and other areas.","Sub-series B: Education in Virginia (African American\n Schools) Several thousand 3x5 black and white photographs and\n negatives of schools scenes in Virginia. The Photographs were\n taken between the years 1926 and 1938. The Photographs and\n negatives are of European, Native, and African American school\n buildings, some classes, and other activities. Most of the\n developed photographs are of African American schools and\n include Rosenwald, Slater, and other buildings used by African\n Americans in Virginia. *The origin of the photographs and\n negatives is not known. The folders are arranged\n alphabetically by county and city.","Sub-series C. Negatives of the schools and scenes located\n in some of Virginia's counties and cities. These do not have\n an inventory, but are arranged by county and city. In addition\n there are negatives of activities relating to education\n outside of the state of Virginia.","Box #28 Series V: Scrapbooks and Yearbooks Correspondence\n most of which covers Richardson's retirement, two yearbooks\n from Louisa, Virginia.","Series VI: Printed Printed items including certificates,\n pamphlets, and degrees","Box #29 Sub-series A: Awards and Certificates Awards and\n certificates presented to Richardson over the years.","Sub-series B: Pamphlets Two items: one the By-Laws of the\n Southside Interscholastic Athletic Association, documenting an\n early effort to organize African American sports played in the\n high schools.","Sub-series C: Book The Development of Negro Education in\n Virginia, 1831-1970, published by Phi Delta Kappa.","Sub-series D: Degrees Earned Degrees of Archie and Linnie\n Richardson","Box #30 Series-series E: News clippings News clippings from\n a number of newspapers primary from the state of Virginia.","Archie Gibbs Richardson, was the Associate Director of the\n Division of Secondary Education, State Department of\n Education, Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lexington,\n Virginia, April 4, 1904. Because there were few high schools\n for African American in Virginia, Richardson's parents sent\n him to the high school at the Virginia Normal and Industrial\n Institute at Petersburg where he completed the program in\n 1923. He received the B.A. Degree from Virginia Normal and\n Industrial Institute, Petersburg, in June 1927; the M.S.\n Degree in education from Butler University, Indianapolis,\n Indiana, in June 1939; and was granted the degree of Doctor of\n Education at Columbia University, New York, in1946. In June\n 1957, Virginia State College conferred upon him the honorary\n degree of Doctor of Laws.","Richardson served as principal of the Mecklenburg County\n Training School, in South Hill, Virginia, 1927-1935; and as\n Director of academics at Saint Paul Normal School,\n Lawrenceville, Virginia. The State Superintendent of Public\n Instruction appointed him Assistant Supervisor of \"Negro\"\n Education in 1936. On January 1, 1951, he was promoted to the\n position of Associate Supervisor of Elementary and Secondary\n Education. He received another promotion on September 1, 1966,\n to Associate Director of the Division of Secondary Education.\n He retired April 4, 1969.","Richardson had two elementary schools and one high school\n named for him. The elementary schools were in Culpepper and\n the other in Blackstone, Virginia. Archie Richardson High\n School was located in Louisa County, Virginia.","During his tenure, he contributed a number of articles to\n State and National journals of education. He also authored The\n Development of Negro Education in Virginia.","Mr. Richardson was married to Linnie Ramey for over fifty\n years. Mrs. Richardson taught at schools in Mecklenburg and\n Richmond, Virginia.","How did Virginia explain educational public policy during\n the era of legal segregation? Archie Richardson's main\n responsibility during his tenure with the Department of\n Education was that of official spokesman to the African\n American Community for the State of Virginia. Correspondence,\n speeches, writings, and photographs documenting Archie\n Richardson's position as the only African American\n professional employed by the Education Department in Virginia\n during the era of legal segregation, Constitutes the majority\n of these materials.","There are no restrictions.","In 1936, Archie Richardson became\n the highest-ranking African American in the State Government.\n In that year, he was appointed assistant to the Assistant for\n Negro education in Virginia. In 1969, he retired as Associate\n Director of the Division of Secondary Education in Virginia.\n His papers consist of correspondence, speeches, writings and\n more than one thousand photographs of Rosenwald, Slater, and\n other schools constructed in Virginia for African Americans in\n the 1930's and before. Acc. #1997-77 Arranged By: Lucious\n Edwards","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1997-77"],"unitid_tesim":["1997-77"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["The Richardson Papers were\n given as a gift of the Richardson Family."],"creator_ssim":["The Richardson Papers were\n given as a gift of the Richardson Family."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["20,000\n Pieces"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. Correspondence 1932-1979 Personal and Business\n Boxes 1-3\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series A: Correspondence by subject Correspondence,\n most generated by Richardson during his tenure with the\n department of Education. Arranged Alphabetically and then\n chronologically within the folders.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series B: Correspondence by date Arranged\n Chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Literary Boxes 4-19\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A: Speeches Arranged by title and date, followed\n by speeches with dates and materials missing both a date and a\n clearly defined title.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B: Writings and Reports Some of the writings\n were used later in Richardson's history of Negro education in\n Virginia. Many of the reports appear to have been used by\n Richardson to carry out his job with the State Department of\n Education. The reports consist of conference and workshop\n results organized by Richardson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C: Research Notes During Richardson's career,\n part of his responsibility was to develop procedures and\n manuals used by African-American Schools in Virginia. This\n sub-series also contains an interesting log concerning the\n Whitcomb court school in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Video Recordings Taped speeches at different\n functions attended by Richardson. Most of the speeches were\n not delivered by Richardson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV: Photographs Boxes 21-27\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series A: Family and Personal Photo's of activities at\n Virginia State when Richardson was a student and later as a\n teacher at the Mecklenburg County Training School, conferences\n at Virginia State and other areas.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series B: Education in Virginia (African American\n Schools) Several thousand 3x5 black and white photographs and\n negatives of schools scenes in Virginia. The Photographs were\n taken between the years 1926 and 1938. The Photographs and\n negatives are of European, Native, and African American school\n buildings, some classes, and other activities. Most of the\n developed photographs are of African American schools and\n include Rosenwald, Slater, and other buildings used by African\n Americans in Virginia. *The origin of the photographs and\n negatives is not known. The folders are arranged\n alphabetically by county and city.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C. Negatives of the schools and scenes located\n in some of Virginia's counties and cities. These do not have\n an inventory, but are arranged by county and city. In addition\n there are negatives of activities relating to education\n outside of the state of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBox #28 Series V: Scrapbooks and Yearbooks Correspondence\n most of which covers Richardson's retirement, two yearbooks\n from Louisa, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI: Printed Printed items including certificates,\n pamphlets, and degrees\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBox #29 Sub-series A: Awards and Certificates Awards and\n certificates presented to Richardson over the years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series B: Pamphlets Two items: one the By-Laws of the\n Southside Interscholastic Athletic Association, documenting an\n early effort to organize African American sports played in the\n high schools.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C: Book The Development of Negro Education in\n Virginia, 1831-1970, published by Phi Delta Kappa.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series D: Degrees Earned Degrees of Archie and Linnie\n Richardson\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBox #30 Series-series E: News clippings News clippings from\n a number of newspapers primary from the state of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. Correspondence 1932-1979 Personal and Business\n Boxes 1-3","Sub-series A: Correspondence by subject Correspondence,\n most generated by Richardson during his tenure with the\n department of Education. Arranged Alphabetically and then\n chronologically within the folders.","Sub-series B: Correspondence by date Arranged\n Chronologically.","Series II. Literary Boxes 4-19","Sub-Series A: Speeches Arranged by title and date, followed\n by speeches with dates and materials missing both a date and a\n clearly defined title.","Sub-Series B: Writings and Reports Some of the writings\n were used later in Richardson's history of Negro education in\n Virginia. Many of the reports appear to have been used by\n Richardson to carry out his job with the State Department of\n Education. The reports consist of conference and workshop\n results organized by Richardson.","Sub-Series C: Research Notes During Richardson's career,\n part of his responsibility was to develop procedures and\n manuals used by African-American Schools in Virginia. This\n sub-series also contains an interesting log concerning the\n Whitcomb court school in Richmond, VA.","Series III. Video Recordings Taped speeches at different\n functions attended by Richardson. Most of the speeches were\n not delivered by Richardson.","Series IV: Photographs Boxes 21-27","Sub-series A: Family and Personal Photo's of activities at\n Virginia State when Richardson was a student and later as a\n teacher at the Mecklenburg County Training School, conferences\n at Virginia State and other areas.","Sub-series B: Education in Virginia (African American\n Schools) Several thousand 3x5 black and white photographs and\n negatives of schools scenes in Virginia. The Photographs were\n taken between the years 1926 and 1938. The Photographs and\n negatives are of European, Native, and African American school\n buildings, some classes, and other activities. Most of the\n developed photographs are of African American schools and\n include Rosenwald, Slater, and other buildings used by African\n Americans in Virginia. *The origin of the photographs and\n negatives is not known. The folders are arranged\n alphabetically by county and city.","Sub-series C. Negatives of the schools and scenes located\n in some of Virginia's counties and cities. These do not have\n an inventory, but are arranged by county and city. In addition\n there are negatives of activities relating to education\n outside of the state of Virginia.","Box #28 Series V: Scrapbooks and Yearbooks Correspondence\n most of which covers Richardson's retirement, two yearbooks\n from Louisa, Virginia.","Series VI: Printed Printed items including certificates,\n pamphlets, and degrees","Box #29 Sub-series A: Awards and Certificates Awards and\n certificates presented to Richardson over the years.","Sub-series B: Pamphlets Two items: one the By-Laws of the\n Southside Interscholastic Athletic Association, documenting an\n early effort to organize African American sports played in the\n high schools.","Sub-series C: Book The Development of Negro Education in\n Virginia, 1831-1970, published by Phi Delta Kappa.","Sub-series D: Degrees Earned Degrees of Archie and Linnie\n Richardson","Box #30 Series-series E: News clippings News clippings from\n a number of newspapers primary from the state of Virginia."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArchie Gibbs Richardson, was the Associate Director of the\n Division of Secondary Education, State Department of\n Education, Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lexington,\n Virginia, April 4, 1904. Because there were few high schools\n for African American in Virginia, Richardson's parents sent\n him to the high school at the Virginia Normal and Industrial\n Institute at Petersburg where he completed the program in\n 1923. He received the B.A. Degree from Virginia Normal and\n Industrial Institute, Petersburg, in June 1927; the M.S.\n Degree in education from Butler University, Indianapolis,\n Indiana, in June 1939; and was granted the degree of Doctor of\n Education at Columbia University, New York, in1946. In June\n 1957, Virginia State College conferred upon him the honorary\n degree of Doctor of Laws.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eRichardson served as principal of the Mecklenburg County\n Training School, in South Hill, Virginia, 1927-1935; and as\n Director of academics at Saint Paul Normal School,\n Lawrenceville, Virginia. The State Superintendent of Public\n Instruction appointed him Assistant Supervisor of \"Negro\"\n Education in 1936. On January 1, 1951, he was promoted to the\n position of Associate Supervisor of Elementary and Secondary\n Education. He received another promotion on September 1, 1966,\n to Associate Director of the Division of Secondary Education.\n He retired April 4, 1969.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eRichardson had two elementary schools and one high school\n named for him. The elementary schools were in Culpepper and\n the other in Blackstone, Virginia. Archie Richardson High\n School was located in Louisa County, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring his tenure, he contributed a number of articles to\n State and National journals of education. He also authored The\n Development of Negro Education in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMr. Richardson was married to Linnie Ramey for over fifty\n years. Mrs. Richardson taught at schools in Mecklenburg and\n Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Archie Gibbs Richardson, was the Associate Director of the\n Division of Secondary Education, State Department of\n Education, Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lexington,\n Virginia, April 4, 1904. Because there were few high schools\n for African American in Virginia, Richardson's parents sent\n him to the high school at the Virginia Normal and Industrial\n Institute at Petersburg where he completed the program in\n 1923. He received the B.A. Degree from Virginia Normal and\n Industrial Institute, Petersburg, in June 1927; the M.S.\n Degree in education from Butler University, Indianapolis,\n Indiana, in June 1939; and was granted the degree of Doctor of\n Education at Columbia University, New York, in1946. In June\n 1957, Virginia State College conferred upon him the honorary\n degree of Doctor of Laws.","Richardson served as principal of the Mecklenburg County\n Training School, in South Hill, Virginia, 1927-1935; and as\n Director of academics at Saint Paul Normal School,\n Lawrenceville, Virginia. The State Superintendent of Public\n Instruction appointed him Assistant Supervisor of \"Negro\"\n Education in 1936. On January 1, 1951, he was promoted to the\n position of Associate Supervisor of Elementary and Secondary\n Education. He received another promotion on September 1, 1966,\n to Associate Director of the Division of Secondary Education.\n He retired April 4, 1969.","Richardson had two elementary schools and one high school\n named for him. The elementary schools were in Culpepper and\n the other in Blackstone, Virginia. Archie Richardson High\n School was located in Louisa County, Virginia.","During his tenure, he contributed a number of articles to\n State and National journals of education. He also authored The\n Development of Negro Education in Virginia.","Mr. Richardson was married to Linnie Ramey for over fifty\n years. Mrs. Richardson taught at schools in Mecklenburg and\n Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Archie G. Richardson Papers, Accession #1997-77 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Archie G. Richardson Papers, Accession #1997-77 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHow did Virginia explain educational public policy during\n the era of legal segregation? Archie Richardson's main\n responsibility during his tenure with the Department of\n Education was that of official spokesman to the African\n American Community for the State of Virginia. Correspondence,\n speeches, writings, and photographs documenting Archie\n Richardson's position as the only African American\n professional employed by the Education Department in Virginia\n during the era of legal segregation, Constitutes the majority\n of these materials.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["How did Virginia explain educational public policy during\n the era of legal segregation? Archie Richardson's main\n responsibility during his tenure with the Department of\n Education was that of official spokesman to the African\n American Community for the State of Virginia. Correspondence,\n speeches, writings, and photographs documenting Archie\n Richardson's position as the only African American\n professional employed by the Education Department in Virginia\n during the era of legal segregation, Constitutes the majority\n of these materials."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eIn 1936, Archie Richardson became\n the highest-ranking African American in the State Government.\n In that year, he was appointed assistant to the Assistant for\n Negro education in Virginia. In 1969, he retired as Associate\n Director of the Division of Secondary Education in Virginia.\n His papers consist of correspondence, speeches, writings and\n more than one thousand photographs of Rosenwald, Slater, and\n other schools constructed in Virginia for African Americans in\n the 1930's and before. Acc. #1997-77 Arranged By: Lucious\n Edwards\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["In 1936, Archie Richardson became\n the highest-ranking African American in the State Government.\n In that year, he was appointed assistant to the Assistant for\n Negro education in Virginia. In 1969, he retired as Associate\n Director of the Division of Secondary Education in Virginia.\n His papers consist of correspondence, speeches, writings and\n more than one thousand photographs of Rosenwald, Slater, and\n other schools constructed in Virginia for African Americans in\n the 1930's and before. Acc. #1997-77 Arranged By: Lucious\n Edwards"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1961,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00038_c03_c01"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00008_c02_c21","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"40th Annual Conference \n1920","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00008_c02_c21#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00008_c02_c21","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00008_c02_c21"],"id":"vipets_vipets00008_c02_c21","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00008","_root_":"vipets_vipets00008","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00008_c02","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00008_c02","parent_ssim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974","Series II: Minutes and\nReports"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00008","vipets_vipets00008_c02"],"title_filing_ssi":"40th Annual Conference \n1920","title_ssm":["40th Annual Conference \n1920"],"title_tesim":["40th Annual Conference \n1920"],"normalized_title_ssm":["40th Annual Conference \n1920"],"text":["40th Annual Conference \n1920","Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974","Series II: Minutes and\nReports","Box-folder 2:41"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974","Series II: Minutes and\nReports"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974","Series II: Minutes and\nReports"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":43,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 2:41"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#20","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00008","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00008","_root_":"vipets_vipets00008","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00008","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00008.xml","title_ssm":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974"],"title_tesim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974"],"text":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974","1980-36","This collection\ncontains ca. 200 pieces.","There are no restrictions.","In series one of the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic papers,\nthere are detailed records of the church's history. In these\nrecords an unfinished publication of the church's history and\na brief history of the denominations formation and James\nRichard Howell. Included are many projects that the church was\nworking on along with financial reports from these projects.\nSome minutes from annual conferences are added in this\nseries.","The second series contains minutes from annual conferences,\nSunday school conventions, Women's home Mission and\nEducational Society, Home Mission and Educational Convention,\nthe Reformed Zion Union Sabbath Schools and Rising Zion Young\nPeople's Society. These minutes are from the first and second\ndistrict. These records date from 1876-1970.","James Richard Howell established the Reformed Zion Union\nApostolic Church in 1869, although the beginnings of its\nfoundation can be traced back to 1865. James Howell was a\nnative of New York City where he was an elder of the African\nMethodist Episcopal Zion Church. Elder Howell, who was an abolitionist, envisioned a church to evangelize the\nSouthern \"Negro.\"","Elder Howell left his home in New York City and boarded a\ntrain heading south. Several hours later he had arrived in the town of LaCrosse in Mechlenburg, Virginia. This is where he began to form\nthe Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church. Howell began to talk\nwith individuals concerning the church he envisioned. These\nindividuals appeared to have been interested in his idea. On on April\n1, 1869, a delegation including ministers from various\ndenominations, assembled in Boydton, Virginia to consider\nHowell's plan of union.","The plan of union was accepted by the delegation with\nexception of some matters relating to the episcopate\ngovernment. Elder Howell won suggestion of his new\ndenomination, the Zion Union Apostolic Church. The name came\nfrom many of the scriptures that Howell read. Zion was the stronghold\nof ancient days, therefore, Zion would be the stronghold of\nGod's people in this age. As Christ taught oneness of himself\nand the heavenly father and his oneness with his followers,\nso, too, shall his church dwell as a union.","During October 1869, a second meeting was held at the Zion Society to complete the work of a Zion Union Society. At\nthis meeting guidelines for the general rules were adopted and\nElder Howell was elected to a four-year term as President of\nthe \"Zion Union Apostolic Church of America.\"","The denomination was divided into three major factions, the\nliberals, who had withdrawn from the Episcopalian communion,\nthe conservatives, who had been in the white Methodist church,\nand the fundamentalists who had come from the Baptist churches\nor were new converts to Christianity. The three factions made\nalmost unceasing war on each other. The liberals were perhaps\na decade ahead of their time in plans and ideas. The\nfundamentalists were determined to fight for local church\nsovereignty and the immunity of the pastors from any authority\nexcept local congregations. The conservatives hued strictly to\nthe Methodist line, in doctrines and in practices. Bishop\nHowell was almost a faction within himself. He used his powers\nof appointment, silencing and expulsion of ministers as a\nsledgehammer to drive the stakes of Zion according to his own\ndesigns.","Controversy became rampant and even bitter. The\nstruggle the between the bishops and the elders became more divisive to the church when\na movement grew to merge the Zion Union Church with the\nEpiscopal Church. Bishop Howell fought with an abrasive\ntenacity and the division was so sharpened that some Elders\nand churches withdrew from Zion.","Bishop James Howell released himself from his duties of\nbishop from 1880-1881. Bishop William Howell was a man\nconsidered agreeable to conservatives, liberals and the \nfundamentalist. Bishop Howell immediately approved ineffective\nwith the opening of the conference of 1880. His first order of\nbusiness was the merger of the Episcopalian government. After\nfour days of meetings on the matter, a motion prevailed that\nthe Common Book of Prayer would be adopted. The conference\nended with the Zion Union Apostolic Church being organized into thirty-eight Episcopalian churches and missions.\nand purposes.","The merger, however, was as a yet one-sided affair. James\nR. Howell came out of the Conference more determined than ever\nto save his beloved Zion. When the Annual Conference of 1881\nwas called to order, Howell had done little on the merger\nexcept the rather astringent efforts of opposition. Once\nreturned to office of Bishop, James R. Howell used his powers\nto batter his opponents. The shock of his fury tore the church\nasunder. The Conservatives found it necessary to go to the\nBishop and once again point out the grave situation. Howell\nacceded. He set to work to hear the breach in Zion. He\nsuccessfully arranged a Conference in 1882 to put Zion Union\non one accord. The Conservative leadership took over once the\nConference was called to order and set in motion plans, which\nwould free Zion Union of discord. The Conference ended with\ndifferences worked out, a return to presidential government\nand complete rejection of the merger. From this conference,\nthe church was known as the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch. However in the Conference of 1884, the Episcopacy\ngovernment was restored with the ruling that is shall never be\neliminated.","The Reformed Zion Union Church papers (1876-1974) are vital\npapers about the formation of a denomination after the Civil\nWar. These papers give a detailed account about the beginnings\nof this denomination and its founder James Richard Howell.","Howell, a former member of the African Methodist Episcopal\nZion Church, envisioned a church where all could go to worship\nregardless of race, creed, or color. Howell determined to see\nhis vision come true, set out to find a place for this church.\nHe boarded a train and found himself in LaCrosse, Virginia and\nthis is where the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church\ndenomination began.","These papers document the origins, purposes and functions\nof a uniquely African American Christian church. They\nrepresent a church that was not in existence until 1869. These\npapers have a distinct worth because it gives you an\nunderstanding of how a church was established after the Civil\nWar.","These papers include minutes from Annual Conferences,\nSunday School Conventions, Home Missions and Educational\nConvention, Women's Home Mission and Educational Society, the\nReformed Zion Union Sabbath Schools, and Rising Zion Young\nPeoples Society.","The papers are useful not only to members of this\ndenomination but anybody who is interested in how black\nchurches were formed after the Civil War. These materials also\nhelp to inform us of the structure of the African American\ncommunity after the Civil War. These materials document some\nof the activities in Virginia's black belt. Also, these papers\nmay also be useful for genealogical work because quite a few\nnames are used.","There are no restrictions.","The Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch papers contain minutes, reports and the church's\nhistory projects during almost a hundred year span from the\nchurch's organization. Included in these papers is an\nunfinished history of the church's existence, minutes from a\nconference dating back to 1876, and minutes from the Sabbath\nschools that were formed.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974"],"collection_ssim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, \n\n1876-1974"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1980-36"],"unitid_tesim":["1980-36"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"acqinfo_ssim":["James Oliver Allen gave these papers to the Virginia\nState University Archives/Special Collections Department in\nhopes of a publication of a book on this denomination. They\nare to be preserved, administered, and used by the Virginia\nState University Archives/Special Collections under\ncustomary practices and guidelines of general archival\nadministration. Copyrights were transferred to Virginia\nState University by Deed of Gift in February 1980.\nAccession Number: 1980-36."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["This collection\ncontains ca. 200 pieces."],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eIn series one of the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic papers,\nthere are detailed records of the church's history. In these\nrecords an unfinished publication of the church's history and\na brief history of the denominations formation and James\nRichard Howell. Included are many projects that the church was\nworking on along with financial reports from these projects.\nSome minutes from annual conferences are added in this\nseries.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe second series contains minutes from annual conferences,\nSunday school conventions, Women's home Mission and\nEducational Society, Home Mission and Educational Convention,\nthe Reformed Zion Union Sabbath Schools and Rising Zion Young\nPeople's Society. These minutes are from the first and second\ndistrict. These records date from 1876-1970.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["In series one of the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic papers,\nthere are detailed records of the church's history. In these\nrecords an unfinished publication of the church's history and\na brief history of the denominations formation and James\nRichard Howell. Included are many projects that the church was\nworking on along with financial reports from these projects.\nSome minutes from annual conferences are added in this\nseries.","The second series contains minutes from annual conferences,\nSunday school conventions, Women's home Mission and\nEducational Society, Home Mission and Educational Convention,\nthe Reformed Zion Union Sabbath Schools and Rising Zion Young\nPeople's Society. These minutes are from the first and second\ndistrict. These records date from 1876-1970."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames Richard Howell established the Reformed Zion Union\nApostolic Church in 1869, although the beginnings of its\nfoundation can be traced back to 1865. James Howell was a\nnative of New York City where he was an elder of the African\nMethodist Episcopal Zion Church. Elder Howell, who was an abolitionist, envisioned a church to evangelize the\nSouthern \"Negro.\" \u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eElder Howell left his home in New York City and boarded a\ntrain heading south. Several hours later he had arrived in the town of LaCrosse in Mechlenburg, Virginia. This is where he began to form\nthe Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church. Howell began to talk\nwith individuals concerning the church he envisioned. These\nindividuals appeared to have been interested in his idea. On on April\n1, 1869, a delegation including ministers from various\ndenominations, assembled in Boydton, Virginia to consider\nHowell's plan of union.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe plan of union was accepted by the delegation with\nexception of some matters relating to the episcopate\ngovernment. Elder Howell won suggestion of his new\ndenomination, the Zion Union Apostolic Church. The name came\nfrom many of the scriptures that Howell read. Zion was the stronghold\nof ancient days, therefore, Zion would be the stronghold of\nGod's people in this age. As Christ taught oneness of himself\nand the heavenly father and his oneness with his followers,\nso, too, shall his church dwell as a union. \u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring October 1869, a second meeting was held at the Zion Society to complete the work of a Zion Union Society. At\nthis meeting guidelines for the general rules were adopted and\nElder Howell was elected to a four-year term as President of\nthe \"Zion Union Apostolic Church of America.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe denomination was divided into three major factions, the\nliberals, who had withdrawn from the Episcopalian communion,\nthe conservatives, who had been in the white Methodist church,\nand the fundamentalists who had come from the Baptist churches\nor were new converts to Christianity. The three factions made\nalmost unceasing war on each other. The liberals were perhaps\na decade ahead of their time in plans and ideas. The\nfundamentalists were determined to fight for local church\nsovereignty and the immunity of the pastors from any authority\nexcept local congregations. The conservatives hued strictly to\nthe Methodist line, in doctrines and in practices. Bishop\nHowell was almost a faction within himself. He used his powers\nof appointment, silencing and expulsion of ministers as a\nsledgehammer to drive the stakes of Zion according to his own\ndesigns.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eControversy became rampant and even bitter. The\nstruggle the between the bishops and the elders became more divisive to the church when\na movement grew to merge the Zion Union Church with the\nEpiscopal Church. Bishop Howell fought with an abrasive\ntenacity and the division was so sharpened that some Elders\nand churches withdrew from Zion.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBishop James Howell released himself from his duties of\nbishop from 1880-1881. Bishop William Howell was a man\nconsidered agreeable to conservatives, liberals and the \nfundamentalist. Bishop Howell immediately approved ineffective\nwith the opening of the conference of 1880. His first order of\nbusiness was the merger of the Episcopalian government. After\nfour days of meetings on the matter, a motion prevailed that\nthe Common Book of Prayer would be adopted. The conference\nended with the Zion Union Apostolic Church being organized into thirty-eight Episcopalian churches and missions.\nand purposes.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe merger, however, was as a yet one-sided affair. James\nR. Howell came out of the Conference more determined than ever\nto save his beloved Zion. When the Annual Conference of 1881\nwas called to order, Howell had done little on the merger\nexcept the rather astringent efforts of opposition. Once\nreturned to office of Bishop, James R. Howell used his powers\nto batter his opponents. The shock of his fury tore the church\nasunder. The Conservatives found it necessary to go to the\nBishop and once again point out the grave situation. Howell\nacceded. He set to work to hear the breach in Zion. He\nsuccessfully arranged a Conference in 1882 to put Zion Union\non one accord. The Conservative leadership took over once the\nConference was called to order and set in motion plans, which\nwould free Zion Union of discord. The Conference ended with\ndifferences worked out, a return to presidential government\nand complete rejection of the merger. From this conference,\nthe church was known as the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch. However in the Conference of 1884, the Episcopacy\ngovernment was restored with the ruling that is shall never be\neliminated.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["History of the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch"],"bioghist_tesim":["James Richard Howell established the Reformed Zion Union\nApostolic Church in 1869, although the beginnings of its\nfoundation can be traced back to 1865. James Howell was a\nnative of New York City where he was an elder of the African\nMethodist Episcopal Zion Church. Elder Howell, who was an abolitionist, envisioned a church to evangelize the\nSouthern \"Negro.\"","Elder Howell left his home in New York City and boarded a\ntrain heading south. Several hours later he had arrived in the town of LaCrosse in Mechlenburg, Virginia. This is where he began to form\nthe Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church. Howell began to talk\nwith individuals concerning the church he envisioned. These\nindividuals appeared to have been interested in his idea. On on April\n1, 1869, a delegation including ministers from various\ndenominations, assembled in Boydton, Virginia to consider\nHowell's plan of union.","The plan of union was accepted by the delegation with\nexception of some matters relating to the episcopate\ngovernment. Elder Howell won suggestion of his new\ndenomination, the Zion Union Apostolic Church. The name came\nfrom many of the scriptures that Howell read. Zion was the stronghold\nof ancient days, therefore, Zion would be the stronghold of\nGod's people in this age. As Christ taught oneness of himself\nand the heavenly father and his oneness with his followers,\nso, too, shall his church dwell as a union.","During October 1869, a second meeting was held at the Zion Society to complete the work of a Zion Union Society. At\nthis meeting guidelines for the general rules were adopted and\nElder Howell was elected to a four-year term as President of\nthe \"Zion Union Apostolic Church of America.\"","The denomination was divided into three major factions, the\nliberals, who had withdrawn from the Episcopalian communion,\nthe conservatives, who had been in the white Methodist church,\nand the fundamentalists who had come from the Baptist churches\nor were new converts to Christianity. The three factions made\nalmost unceasing war on each other. The liberals were perhaps\na decade ahead of their time in plans and ideas. The\nfundamentalists were determined to fight for local church\nsovereignty and the immunity of the pastors from any authority\nexcept local congregations. The conservatives hued strictly to\nthe Methodist line, in doctrines and in practices. Bishop\nHowell was almost a faction within himself. He used his powers\nof appointment, silencing and expulsion of ministers as a\nsledgehammer to drive the stakes of Zion according to his own\ndesigns.","Controversy became rampant and even bitter. The\nstruggle the between the bishops and the elders became more divisive to the church when\na movement grew to merge the Zion Union Church with the\nEpiscopal Church. Bishop Howell fought with an abrasive\ntenacity and the division was so sharpened that some Elders\nand churches withdrew from Zion.","Bishop James Howell released himself from his duties of\nbishop from 1880-1881. Bishop William Howell was a man\nconsidered agreeable to conservatives, liberals and the \nfundamentalist. Bishop Howell immediately approved ineffective\nwith the opening of the conference of 1880. His first order of\nbusiness was the merger of the Episcopalian government. After\nfour days of meetings on the matter, a motion prevailed that\nthe Common Book of Prayer would be adopted. The conference\nended with the Zion Union Apostolic Church being organized into thirty-eight Episcopalian churches and missions.\nand purposes.","The merger, however, was as a yet one-sided affair. James\nR. Howell came out of the Conference more determined than ever\nto save his beloved Zion. When the Annual Conference of 1881\nwas called to order, Howell had done little on the merger\nexcept the rather astringent efforts of opposition. Once\nreturned to office of Bishop, James R. Howell used his powers\nto batter his opponents. The shock of his fury tore the church\nasunder. The Conservatives found it necessary to go to the\nBishop and once again point out the grave situation. Howell\nacceded. He set to work to hear the breach in Zion. He\nsuccessfully arranged a Conference in 1882 to put Zion Union\non one accord. The Conservative leadership took over once the\nConference was called to order and set in motion plans, which\nwould free Zion Union of discord. The Conference ended with\ndifferences worked out, a return to presidential government\nand complete rejection of the merger. From this conference,\nthe church was known as the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch. However in the Conference of 1884, the Episcopacy\ngovernment was restored with the ruling that is shall never be\neliminated."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eReformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, 1876-1974,\nAccession # 1980-36, Special Collections and Archives,\nJohnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University,\nPetersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church Papers, 1876-1974,\nAccession # 1980-36, Special Collections and Archives,\nJohnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University,\nPetersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Reformed Zion Union Church papers (1876-1974) are vital\npapers about the formation of a denomination after the Civil\nWar. These papers give a detailed account about the beginnings\nof this denomination and its founder James Richard Howell.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHowell, a former member of the African Methodist Episcopal\nZion Church, envisioned a church where all could go to worship\nregardless of race, creed, or color. Howell determined to see\nhis vision come true, set out to find a place for this church.\nHe boarded a train and found himself in LaCrosse, Virginia and\nthis is where the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church\ndenomination began.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThese papers document the origins, purposes and functions\nof a uniquely African American Christian church. They\nrepresent a church that was not in existence until 1869. These\npapers have a distinct worth because it gives you an\nunderstanding of how a church was established after the Civil\nWar.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThese papers include minutes from Annual Conferences,\nSunday School Conventions, Home Missions and Educational\nConvention, Women's Home Mission and Educational Society, the\nReformed Zion Union Sabbath Schools, and Rising Zion Young\nPeoples Society.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe papers are useful not only to members of this\ndenomination but anybody who is interested in how black\nchurches were formed after the Civil War. These materials also\nhelp to inform us of the structure of the African American\ncommunity after the Civil War. These materials document some\nof the activities in Virginia's black belt. Also, these papers\nmay also be useful for genealogical work because quite a few\nnames are used.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Reformed Zion Union Church papers (1876-1974) are vital\npapers about the formation of a denomination after the Civil\nWar. These papers give a detailed account about the beginnings\nof this denomination and its founder James Richard Howell.","Howell, a former member of the African Methodist Episcopal\nZion Church, envisioned a church where all could go to worship\nregardless of race, creed, or color. Howell determined to see\nhis vision come true, set out to find a place for this church.\nHe boarded a train and found himself in LaCrosse, Virginia and\nthis is where the Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church\ndenomination began.","These papers document the origins, purposes and functions\nof a uniquely African American Christian church. They\nrepresent a church that was not in existence until 1869. These\npapers have a distinct worth because it gives you an\nunderstanding of how a church was established after the Civil\nWar.","These papers include minutes from Annual Conferences,\nSunday School Conventions, Home Missions and Educational\nConvention, Women's Home Mission and Educational Society, the\nReformed Zion Union Sabbath Schools, and Rising Zion Young\nPeoples Society.","The papers are useful not only to members of this\ndenomination but anybody who is interested in how black\nchurches were formed after the Civil War. These materials also\nhelp to inform us of the structure of the African American\ncommunity after the Civil War. These materials document some\nof the activities in Virginia's black belt. Also, these papers\nmay also be useful for genealogical work because quite a few\nnames are used."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch papers contain minutes, reports and the church's\nhistory projects during almost a hundred year span from the\nchurch's organization. Included in these papers is an\nunfinished history of the church's existence, minutes from a\nconference dating back to 1876, and minutes from the Sabbath\nschools that were formed.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["The Reformed Zion Union Apostolic\nChurch papers contain minutes, reports and the church's\nhistory projects during almost a hundred year span from the\nchurch's organization. Included in these papers is an\nunfinished history of the church's existence, minutes from a\nconference dating back to 1876, and minutes from the Sabbath\nschools that were formed."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":90,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00008_c02_c21"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c08","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"48. School Thought","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c03_c08#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c08","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c03_c08"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c08","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c03","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"48. School Thought","title_ssm":["48. School Thought"],"title_tesim":["48. School Thought"],"normalized_title_ssm":["48. School Thought"],"text":["48. School Thought","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928","Box-folder 4:48"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":50,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4:48"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#7","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00001","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00001.xml","title_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"title_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"text":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","1957-3","There are no restrictions.","Series I:Correspondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n Container: 1 \n Container: 2 \n Letters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935","Series II:Financial and legal \n Container: 3 \n Teaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type","Series III:Speeches and Writings \n Containers: 4-7 \n Four boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.","Series IV:Photographs \n Containers: 8-14 \n Seven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.","Series V:Printed (Memorabilia) \n Container: 15 \n Announcements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.","Series VI:Scrapbooks \n Containers: 16-19 \n Some of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.","Series VII:Artifacts \n Containers: 20-25 \n Household articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.","Series VIII:Oversize \n Container: \n Maps and Photos","In 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.","His story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.","Major Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.","William Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.","After General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.","Henry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.","Then, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).","During the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.","After he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.","After graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.","He worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.","Major Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.","In 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.","Nannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.","During the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.","The first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.","When war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.","All black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.","Aside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.","Major William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.","Although William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.","Last but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935.","The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.","The Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks.","There are no restrictions.","The William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1957-3"],"unitid_tesim":["1957-3"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"acqinfo_ssim":["The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries I:\u003c/emph\u003eCorrespondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 1 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 2 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eLetters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries II:\u003c/emph\u003eFinancial and legal \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 3 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eTeaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries III:\u003c/emph\u003eSpeeches and Writings \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 4-7 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eFour boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries IV:\u003c/emph\u003ePhotographs \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 8-14 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSeven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries V:\u003c/emph\u003ePrinted (Memorabilia) \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 15 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eAnnouncements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VI:\u003c/emph\u003eScrapbooks \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 16-19 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSome of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VII:\u003c/emph\u003eArtifacts \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 20-25 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eHousehold articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VIII:\u003c/emph\u003eOversize \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eMaps and Photos\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I:Correspondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n Container: 1 \n Container: 2 \n Letters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935","Series II:Financial and legal \n Container: 3 \n Teaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type","Series III:Speeches and Writings \n Containers: 4-7 \n Four boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.","Series IV:Photographs \n Containers: 8-14 \n Seven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.","Series V:Printed (Memorabilia) \n Container: 15 \n Announcements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.","Series VI:Scrapbooks \n Containers: 16-19 \n Some of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.","Series VII:Artifacts \n Containers: 20-25 \n Household articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.","Series VIII:Oversize \n Container: \n Maps and Photos"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eIn 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHis story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHenry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThen, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHe worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eNannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWhen war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAll black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAlthough William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eLast but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["In 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.","His story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.","Major Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.","William Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.","After General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.","Henry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.","Then, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).","During the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.","After he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.","After graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.","He worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.","Major Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.","In 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.","Nannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.","During the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.","The first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.","When war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.","All black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.","Aside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.","Major William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.","Although William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.","Last but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMajor William Henry Johnson Papers, Accession #1957-3,\n Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers, Accession #1957-3,\n Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.","The Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["The William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":381,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c03_c08"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01_c92","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"4-H","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01_c92#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01_c92","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01_c92"],"id":"vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01_c92","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050","_root_":"vipets_vipets00050","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01","parent_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series X: Printed","Sub-Series A: Programs,\n Invitations, Pamphlets"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00050","vipets_vipets00050_c10","vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"4-H","title_ssm":["4-H"],"title_tesim":["4-H"],"normalized_title_ssm":["4-H"],"text":["4-H","A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series X: Printed","Sub-Series A: Programs,\n Invitations, Pamphlets","Box-folder 78:9"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series X: Printed","Sub-Series A: Programs,\n Invitations, Pamphlets"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series X: Printed","Sub-Series A: Programs,\n Invitations, Pamphlets"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":1540,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 78:9"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#9/components#0/components#91","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00050","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050","_root_":"vipets_vipets00050","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00050","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00050.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"text":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","1965-13","There are no restrictions.","Series I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family","Sub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.","Sub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.","Series II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.","Series III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards","Sub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.","Sub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.","Sub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.","Sub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.","Sub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.","Sub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.","Sub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.","Series IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984","Sub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.","Sub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.","Sub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.","Series V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.","Sub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.","Sub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.","Sub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.","Sub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.","Sub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.","Sub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.","Sub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.","Sub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.","Sub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence","Sub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence","Sub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.","Sub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.","Sub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills","Sub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966","Series VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.","Series VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.","Sub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.","Sub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.","Series VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.","Sub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.","Sub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.","Sub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.","Series IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","Series X. Printed","Sub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.","Sub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.","Sub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family.","The Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.","James Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.","William Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.","Three children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.","The other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.","Hill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.","Edna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.","Included in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.","Edna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.","During her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.","Miss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.","Miss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.","Miss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.","Edna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.","Edna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney.","The Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.","Four diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.","Notebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.","A Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.","Photo Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.","Twelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1965-13"],"unitid_tesim":["1965-13"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["The Colson-Hill Papers are a\n gift of the Colson Family."],"creator_ssim":["The Colson-Hill Papers are a\n gift of the Colson Family."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries X. Printed\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family","Sub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.","Sub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.","Series II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.","Series III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards","Sub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.","Sub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.","Sub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.","Sub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.","Sub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.","Sub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.","Sub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.","Series IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984","Sub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.","Sub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.","Sub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.","Series V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.","Sub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.","Sub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.","Sub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.","Sub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.","Sub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.","Sub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.","Sub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.","Sub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.","Sub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence","Sub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence","Sub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.","Sub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.","Sub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills","Sub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966","Series VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.","Series VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.","Sub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.","Sub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.","Series VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.","Sub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.","Sub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.","Sub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.","Series IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","Series X. Printed","Sub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.","Sub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.","Sub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eJames Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThree children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eIncluded in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.","James Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.","William Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.","Three children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.","The other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.","Hill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.","Edna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.","Included in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.","Edna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.","During her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.","Miss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.","Miss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.","Miss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.","Edna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.","Edna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Colson-Hill Family Papers, Accession #1965-13 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Colson-Hill Family Papers, Accession #1965-13 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eFour diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eNotebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eA Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003ePhoto Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eTwelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.","Four diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.","Notebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.","A Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.","Photo Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.","Twelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1671,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00050_c10_c01_c92"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97_c02","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"4th and 5th grade Wise County\n Training School \n \n 1931-1932","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97_c02","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97_c02"],"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97_c02","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038","_root_":"vipets_vipets00038","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97","parent_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series IV: Photographs and\n Negatives","Sub-Series B: African American\n Schools in Virginia","Wise County \n \n 1928-1932"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00038","vipets_vipets00038_c04","vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02","vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97"],"title_filing_ssi":"4th and 5th grade Wise County\n Training School \n \n 1931-1932","title_ssm":["4th and 5th grade Wise County\n Training School \n \n 1931-1932"],"title_tesim":["4th and 5th grade Wise County\n Training School \n \n 1931-1932"],"normalized_title_ssm":["4th and 5th grade Wise County\n Training School \n \n 1931-1932"],"text":["4th and 5th grade Wise County\n Training School \n \n 1931-1932","A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series IV: Photographs and\n Negatives","Sub-Series B: African American\n Schools in Virginia","Wise County \n \n 1928-1932"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series IV: Photographs and\n Negatives","Sub-Series B: African American\n Schools in Virginia","Wise County \n \n 1928-1932"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","Series IV: Photographs and\n Negatives","Sub-Series B: African American\n Schools in Virginia","Wise County \n \n 1928-1932"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[4],"sort_isi":1714,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#3/components#1/components#96/components#1","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00038","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038","_root_":"vipets_vipets00038","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00038","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00038.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"text":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976","1997-77","20,000\n Pieces","There are no restrictions.","Series I. Correspondence 1932-1979 Personal and Business\n Boxes 1-3","Sub-series A: Correspondence by subject Correspondence,\n most generated by Richardson during his tenure with the\n department of Education. Arranged Alphabetically and then\n chronologically within the folders.","Sub-series B: Correspondence by date Arranged\n Chronologically.","Series II. Literary Boxes 4-19","Sub-Series A: Speeches Arranged by title and date, followed\n by speeches with dates and materials missing both a date and a\n clearly defined title.","Sub-Series B: Writings and Reports Some of the writings\n were used later in Richardson's history of Negro education in\n Virginia. Many of the reports appear to have been used by\n Richardson to carry out his job with the State Department of\n Education. The reports consist of conference and workshop\n results organized by Richardson.","Sub-Series C: Research Notes During Richardson's career,\n part of his responsibility was to develop procedures and\n manuals used by African-American Schools in Virginia. This\n sub-series also contains an interesting log concerning the\n Whitcomb court school in Richmond, VA.","Series III. Video Recordings Taped speeches at different\n functions attended by Richardson. Most of the speeches were\n not delivered by Richardson.","Series IV: Photographs Boxes 21-27","Sub-series A: Family and Personal Photo's of activities at\n Virginia State when Richardson was a student and later as a\n teacher at the Mecklenburg County Training School, conferences\n at Virginia State and other areas.","Sub-series B: Education in Virginia (African American\n Schools) Several thousand 3x5 black and white photographs and\n negatives of schools scenes in Virginia. The Photographs were\n taken between the years 1926 and 1938. The Photographs and\n negatives are of European, Native, and African American school\n buildings, some classes, and other activities. Most of the\n developed photographs are of African American schools and\n include Rosenwald, Slater, and other buildings used by African\n Americans in Virginia. *The origin of the photographs and\n negatives is not known. The folders are arranged\n alphabetically by county and city.","Sub-series C. Negatives of the schools and scenes located\n in some of Virginia's counties and cities. These do not have\n an inventory, but are arranged by county and city. In addition\n there are negatives of activities relating to education\n outside of the state of Virginia.","Box #28 Series V: Scrapbooks and Yearbooks Correspondence\n most of which covers Richardson's retirement, two yearbooks\n from Louisa, Virginia.","Series VI: Printed Printed items including certificates,\n pamphlets, and degrees","Box #29 Sub-series A: Awards and Certificates Awards and\n certificates presented to Richardson over the years.","Sub-series B: Pamphlets Two items: one the By-Laws of the\n Southside Interscholastic Athletic Association, documenting an\n early effort to organize African American sports played in the\n high schools.","Sub-series C: Book The Development of Negro Education in\n Virginia, 1831-1970, published by Phi Delta Kappa.","Sub-series D: Degrees Earned Degrees of Archie and Linnie\n Richardson","Box #30 Series-series E: News clippings News clippings from\n a number of newspapers primary from the state of Virginia.","Archie Gibbs Richardson, was the Associate Director of the\n Division of Secondary Education, State Department of\n Education, Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lexington,\n Virginia, April 4, 1904. Because there were few high schools\n for African American in Virginia, Richardson's parents sent\n him to the high school at the Virginia Normal and Industrial\n Institute at Petersburg where he completed the program in\n 1923. He received the B.A. Degree from Virginia Normal and\n Industrial Institute, Petersburg, in June 1927; the M.S.\n Degree in education from Butler University, Indianapolis,\n Indiana, in June 1939; and was granted the degree of Doctor of\n Education at Columbia University, New York, in1946. In June\n 1957, Virginia State College conferred upon him the honorary\n degree of Doctor of Laws.","Richardson served as principal of the Mecklenburg County\n Training School, in South Hill, Virginia, 1927-1935; and as\n Director of academics at Saint Paul Normal School,\n Lawrenceville, Virginia. The State Superintendent of Public\n Instruction appointed him Assistant Supervisor of \"Negro\"\n Education in 1936. On January 1, 1951, he was promoted to the\n position of Associate Supervisor of Elementary and Secondary\n Education. He received another promotion on September 1, 1966,\n to Associate Director of the Division of Secondary Education.\n He retired April 4, 1969.","Richardson had two elementary schools and one high school\n named for him. The elementary schools were in Culpepper and\n the other in Blackstone, Virginia. Archie Richardson High\n School was located in Louisa County, Virginia.","During his tenure, he contributed a number of articles to\n State and National journals of education. He also authored The\n Development of Negro Education in Virginia.","Mr. Richardson was married to Linnie Ramey for over fifty\n years. Mrs. Richardson taught at schools in Mecklenburg and\n Richmond, Virginia.","How did Virginia explain educational public policy during\n the era of legal segregation? Archie Richardson's main\n responsibility during his tenure with the Department of\n Education was that of official spokesman to the African\n American Community for the State of Virginia. Correspondence,\n speeches, writings, and photographs documenting Archie\n Richardson's position as the only African American\n professional employed by the Education Department in Virginia\n during the era of legal segregation, Constitutes the majority\n of these materials.","There are no restrictions.","In 1936, Archie Richardson became\n the highest-ranking African American in the State Government.\n In that year, he was appointed assistant to the Assistant for\n Negro education in Virginia. In 1969, he retired as Associate\n Director of the Division of Secondary Education in Virginia.\n His papers consist of correspondence, speeches, writings and\n more than one thousand photographs of Rosenwald, Slater, and\n other schools constructed in Virginia for African Americans in\n the 1930's and before. Acc. #1997-77 Arranged By: Lucious\n Edwards","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n Richardson \n \n 1918-1976"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1997-77"],"unitid_tesim":["1997-77"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["The Richardson Papers were\n given as a gift of the Richardson Family."],"creator_ssim":["The Richardson Papers were\n given as a gift of the Richardson Family."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["20,000\n Pieces"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. Correspondence 1932-1979 Personal and Business\n Boxes 1-3\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series A: Correspondence by subject Correspondence,\n most generated by Richardson during his tenure with the\n department of Education. Arranged Alphabetically and then\n chronologically within the folders.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series B: Correspondence by date Arranged\n Chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Literary Boxes 4-19\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A: Speeches Arranged by title and date, followed\n by speeches with dates and materials missing both a date and a\n clearly defined title.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B: Writings and Reports Some of the writings\n were used later in Richardson's history of Negro education in\n Virginia. Many of the reports appear to have been used by\n Richardson to carry out his job with the State Department of\n Education. The reports consist of conference and workshop\n results organized by Richardson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C: Research Notes During Richardson's career,\n part of his responsibility was to develop procedures and\n manuals used by African-American Schools in Virginia. This\n sub-series also contains an interesting log concerning the\n Whitcomb court school in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Video Recordings Taped speeches at different\n functions attended by Richardson. Most of the speeches were\n not delivered by Richardson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV: Photographs Boxes 21-27\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series A: Family and Personal Photo's of activities at\n Virginia State when Richardson was a student and later as a\n teacher at the Mecklenburg County Training School, conferences\n at Virginia State and other areas.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series B: Education in Virginia (African American\n Schools) Several thousand 3x5 black and white photographs and\n negatives of schools scenes in Virginia. The Photographs were\n taken between the years 1926 and 1938. The Photographs and\n negatives are of European, Native, and African American school\n buildings, some classes, and other activities. Most of the\n developed photographs are of African American schools and\n include Rosenwald, Slater, and other buildings used by African\n Americans in Virginia. *The origin of the photographs and\n negatives is not known. The folders are arranged\n alphabetically by county and city.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C. Negatives of the schools and scenes located\n in some of Virginia's counties and cities. These do not have\n an inventory, but are arranged by county and city. In addition\n there are negatives of activities relating to education\n outside of the state of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBox #28 Series V: Scrapbooks and Yearbooks Correspondence\n most of which covers Richardson's retirement, two yearbooks\n from Louisa, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI: Printed Printed items including certificates,\n pamphlets, and degrees\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBox #29 Sub-series A: Awards and Certificates Awards and\n certificates presented to Richardson over the years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series B: Pamphlets Two items: one the By-Laws of the\n Southside Interscholastic Athletic Association, documenting an\n early effort to organize African American sports played in the\n high schools.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C: Book The Development of Negro Education in\n Virginia, 1831-1970, published by Phi Delta Kappa.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series D: Degrees Earned Degrees of Archie and Linnie\n Richardson\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eBox #30 Series-series E: News clippings News clippings from\n a number of newspapers primary from the state of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. Correspondence 1932-1979 Personal and Business\n Boxes 1-3","Sub-series A: Correspondence by subject Correspondence,\n most generated by Richardson during his tenure with the\n department of Education. Arranged Alphabetically and then\n chronologically within the folders.","Sub-series B: Correspondence by date Arranged\n Chronologically.","Series II. Literary Boxes 4-19","Sub-Series A: Speeches Arranged by title and date, followed\n by speeches with dates and materials missing both a date and a\n clearly defined title.","Sub-Series B: Writings and Reports Some of the writings\n were used later in Richardson's history of Negro education in\n Virginia. Many of the reports appear to have been used by\n Richardson to carry out his job with the State Department of\n Education. The reports consist of conference and workshop\n results organized by Richardson.","Sub-Series C: Research Notes During Richardson's career,\n part of his responsibility was to develop procedures and\n manuals used by African-American Schools in Virginia. This\n sub-series also contains an interesting log concerning the\n Whitcomb court school in Richmond, VA.","Series III. Video Recordings Taped speeches at different\n functions attended by Richardson. Most of the speeches were\n not delivered by Richardson.","Series IV: Photographs Boxes 21-27","Sub-series A: Family and Personal Photo's of activities at\n Virginia State when Richardson was a student and later as a\n teacher at the Mecklenburg County Training School, conferences\n at Virginia State and other areas.","Sub-series B: Education in Virginia (African American\n Schools) Several thousand 3x5 black and white photographs and\n negatives of schools scenes in Virginia. The Photographs were\n taken between the years 1926 and 1938. The Photographs and\n negatives are of European, Native, and African American school\n buildings, some classes, and other activities. Most of the\n developed photographs are of African American schools and\n include Rosenwald, Slater, and other buildings used by African\n Americans in Virginia. *The origin of the photographs and\n negatives is not known. The folders are arranged\n alphabetically by county and city.","Sub-series C. Negatives of the schools and scenes located\n in some of Virginia's counties and cities. These do not have\n an inventory, but are arranged by county and city. In addition\n there are negatives of activities relating to education\n outside of the state of Virginia.","Box #28 Series V: Scrapbooks and Yearbooks Correspondence\n most of which covers Richardson's retirement, two yearbooks\n from Louisa, Virginia.","Series VI: Printed Printed items including certificates,\n pamphlets, and degrees","Box #29 Sub-series A: Awards and Certificates Awards and\n certificates presented to Richardson over the years.","Sub-series B: Pamphlets Two items: one the By-Laws of the\n Southside Interscholastic Athletic Association, documenting an\n early effort to organize African American sports played in the\n high schools.","Sub-series C: Book The Development of Negro Education in\n Virginia, 1831-1970, published by Phi Delta Kappa.","Sub-series D: Degrees Earned Degrees of Archie and Linnie\n Richardson","Box #30 Series-series E: News clippings News clippings from\n a number of newspapers primary from the state of Virginia."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArchie Gibbs Richardson, was the Associate Director of the\n Division of Secondary Education, State Department of\n Education, Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lexington,\n Virginia, April 4, 1904. Because there were few high schools\n for African American in Virginia, Richardson's parents sent\n him to the high school at the Virginia Normal and Industrial\n Institute at Petersburg where he completed the program in\n 1923. He received the B.A. Degree from Virginia Normal and\n Industrial Institute, Petersburg, in June 1927; the M.S.\n Degree in education from Butler University, Indianapolis,\n Indiana, in June 1939; and was granted the degree of Doctor of\n Education at Columbia University, New York, in1946. In June\n 1957, Virginia State College conferred upon him the honorary\n degree of Doctor of Laws.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eRichardson served as principal of the Mecklenburg County\n Training School, in South Hill, Virginia, 1927-1935; and as\n Director of academics at Saint Paul Normal School,\n Lawrenceville, Virginia. The State Superintendent of Public\n Instruction appointed him Assistant Supervisor of \"Negro\"\n Education in 1936. On January 1, 1951, he was promoted to the\n position of Associate Supervisor of Elementary and Secondary\n Education. He received another promotion on September 1, 1966,\n to Associate Director of the Division of Secondary Education.\n He retired April 4, 1969.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eRichardson had two elementary schools and one high school\n named for him. The elementary schools were in Culpepper and\n the other in Blackstone, Virginia. Archie Richardson High\n School was located in Louisa County, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring his tenure, he contributed a number of articles to\n State and National journals of education. He also authored The\n Development of Negro Education in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMr. Richardson was married to Linnie Ramey for over fifty\n years. Mrs. Richardson taught at schools in Mecklenburg and\n Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Archie Gibbs Richardson, was the Associate Director of the\n Division of Secondary Education, State Department of\n Education, Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lexington,\n Virginia, April 4, 1904. Because there were few high schools\n for African American in Virginia, Richardson's parents sent\n him to the high school at the Virginia Normal and Industrial\n Institute at Petersburg where he completed the program in\n 1923. He received the B.A. Degree from Virginia Normal and\n Industrial Institute, Petersburg, in June 1927; the M.S.\n Degree in education from Butler University, Indianapolis,\n Indiana, in June 1939; and was granted the degree of Doctor of\n Education at Columbia University, New York, in1946. In June\n 1957, Virginia State College conferred upon him the honorary\n degree of Doctor of Laws.","Richardson served as principal of the Mecklenburg County\n Training School, in South Hill, Virginia, 1927-1935; and as\n Director of academics at Saint Paul Normal School,\n Lawrenceville, Virginia. The State Superintendent of Public\n Instruction appointed him Assistant Supervisor of \"Negro\"\n Education in 1936. On January 1, 1951, he was promoted to the\n position of Associate Supervisor of Elementary and Secondary\n Education. He received another promotion on September 1, 1966,\n to Associate Director of the Division of Secondary Education.\n He retired April 4, 1969.","Richardson had two elementary schools and one high school\n named for him. The elementary schools were in Culpepper and\n the other in Blackstone, Virginia. Archie Richardson High\n School was located in Louisa County, Virginia.","During his tenure, he contributed a number of articles to\n State and National journals of education. He also authored The\n Development of Negro Education in Virginia.","Mr. Richardson was married to Linnie Ramey for over fifty\n years. Mrs. Richardson taught at schools in Mecklenburg and\n Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Archie G. Richardson Papers, Accession #1997-77 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Archie G. Richardson Papers, Accession #1997-77 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHow did Virginia explain educational public policy during\n the era of legal segregation? Archie Richardson's main\n responsibility during his tenure with the Department of\n Education was that of official spokesman to the African\n American Community for the State of Virginia. Correspondence,\n speeches, writings, and photographs documenting Archie\n Richardson's position as the only African American\n professional employed by the Education Department in Virginia\n during the era of legal segregation, Constitutes the majority\n of these materials.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["How did Virginia explain educational public policy during\n the era of legal segregation? Archie Richardson's main\n responsibility during his tenure with the Department of\n Education was that of official spokesman to the African\n American Community for the State of Virginia. Correspondence,\n speeches, writings, and photographs documenting Archie\n Richardson's position as the only African American\n professional employed by the Education Department in Virginia\n during the era of legal segregation, Constitutes the majority\n of these materials."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eIn 1936, Archie Richardson became\n the highest-ranking African American in the State Government.\n In that year, he was appointed assistant to the Assistant for\n Negro education in Virginia. In 1969, he retired as Associate\n Director of the Division of Secondary Education in Virginia.\n His papers consist of correspondence, speeches, writings and\n more than one thousand photographs of Rosenwald, Slater, and\n other schools constructed in Virginia for African Americans in\n the 1930's and before. Acc. #1997-77 Arranged By: Lucious\n Edwards\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["In 1936, Archie Richardson became\n the highest-ranking African American in the State Government.\n In that year, he was appointed assistant to the Assistant for\n Negro education in Virginia. In 1969, he retired as Associate\n Director of the Division of Secondary Education in Virginia.\n His papers consist of correspondence, speeches, writings and\n more than one thousand photographs of Rosenwald, Slater, and\n other schools constructed in Virginia for African Americans in\n the 1930's and before. Acc. #1997-77 Arranged By: Lucious\n Edwards"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1961,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c97_c02"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01_c167","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"4th Annual Institute \n \n 1954","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01_c167#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01_c167","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01_c167"],"id":"vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01_c167","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00055","_root_":"vipets_vipets00055","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01","parent_ssim":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961","Series II.: Correspondence","subseries A: By subject\n heading"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00055","vipets_vipets00055_c02","vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"4th Annual Institute \n \n 1954","title_ssm":["4th Annual Institute \n \n 1954"],"title_tesim":["4th Annual Institute \n \n 1954"],"normalized_title_ssm":["4th Annual Institute \n \n 1954"],"text":["4th Annual Institute \n \n 1954","A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961","Series II.: Correspondence","subseries A: By subject\n heading","Box-folder 17:7"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961","Series II.: Correspondence","subseries A: By subject\n heading"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961","Series II.: Correspondence","subseries A: By subject\n heading"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":223,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 17:7"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#0/components#166","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00055","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00055","_root_":"vipets_vipets00055","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00055","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00055.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961"],"title_tesim":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961"],"text":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961","1927-1961","There are no restrictions.","Its a Record Group","The Virginia Normal and Collegiate was charted on march 6,\n 1882. With the following mandate to provide equality for the\n higher education of the colored youth and to furnish competent\n teachers for the colored schools of the state. with this\n charter the first state supported school in Virginia for\n teachers was established.","During the first twenty-three years, 1883-1906, the Normal\n Department offered a single three-year curriculum consisting\n partly of elementary and high school subjects including music,\n drawing, sloyd, sewing, cooking, physical \"culture\" and\n partlyof education courses: the science and art of teaching,\n moral philosophy, psychology and \"general reviews\".","The movement toward specialization began in 1909, when\n students were permitted to select teaching, domestic science\n or art, agriculture, mechanical drawing, or buisness.\n Graduation from high school was first required for entrance to\n teacher-training courses in 1915.","When the four-year college curriculum was reinstated by the\n state in 1923, The bachelor of science degree in education was\n the first to be accredited as a \"Class a teachers college. In\n 1925, the college was offered its first differentiated\n curricula for the seperate training of high school and\n supervisors, and teachers of public school music.","A major in physical education followed in 1926; the\n department of secondary education emerged in 1930 offering a\n curriculum for secondary school principals and teachers; and\n the department of art was offered in 1933.","With the introduction of liberal arts in 1930, the\n department of education became the Division of Education, a\n separate administrative unit of the College offering the four\n curricula organized by the departments of elementary\n education, secondary education,","music and physical education. With the introduction of\n liberal arts in 1930, the department of education became the\n Division of Education, a separate administrative unit of the\n College.","The division of education became The School of Education in\n the 1960's. In 1995 The School of Education was emerged with\n The School of Humanities and Social Science therefore becoming\n the School of Liberal Arts and Education.","These records reflect the administration of Edna Meade\n Colson Phd. Of the school of education during her tenure.\n During this time the school of education was involved in\n almost every aspect of the University and the community.","Contained in this record group are routine administrative\n manners common in all schools within a university setting. the\n materials reflect the philosophy and the role that education\n can take in solving societies problems. The records reflect\n the difficulties faced by an HBCU during the time of \"Jim\n Crowism.\"","There are no restrictions.","Records of the oldest school for\n teachers education in the state of virginia. Correspondence,\n minutes all documenting all of the early years in the school\n of education.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the School of\n Education/Record Group \n \n 1927-1961"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1927-1961"],"unitid_tesim":["1927-1961"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["This archival document was\n transfered to archives."],"creator_ssim":["This archival document was\n transfered to archives."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eIts a Record Group\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Its a Record Group"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Virginia Normal and Collegiate was charted on march 6,\n 1882. With the following mandate to provide equality for the\n higher education of the colored youth and to furnish competent\n teachers for the colored schools of the state. with this\n charter the first state supported school in Virginia for\n teachers was established.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the first twenty-three years, 1883-1906, the Normal\n Department offered a single three-year curriculum consisting\n partly of elementary and high school subjects including music,\n drawing, sloyd, sewing, cooking, physical \"culture\" and\n partlyof education courses: the science and art of teaching,\n moral philosophy, psychology and \"general reviews\".\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe movement toward specialization began in 1909, when\n students were permitted to select teaching, domestic science\n or art, agriculture, mechanical drawing, or buisness.\n Graduation from high school was first required for entrance to\n teacher-training courses in 1915.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWhen the four-year college curriculum was reinstated by the\n state in 1923, The bachelor of science degree in education was\n the first to be accredited as a \"Class a teachers college. In\n 1925, the college was offered its first differentiated\n curricula for the seperate training of high school and\n supervisors, and teachers of public school music.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eA major in physical education followed in 1926; the\n department of secondary education emerged in 1930 offering a\n curriculum for secondary school principals and teachers; and\n the department of art was offered in 1933.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWith the introduction of liberal arts in 1930, the\n department of education became the Division of Education, a\n separate administrative unit of the College offering the four\n curricula organized by the departments of elementary\n education, secondary education,\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003emusic and physical education. With the introduction of\n liberal arts in 1930, the department of education became the\n Division of Education, a separate administrative unit of the\n College.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe division of education became The School of Education in\n the 1960's. In 1995 The School of Education was emerged with\n The School of Humanities and Social Science therefore becoming\n the School of Liberal Arts and Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Virginia Normal and Collegiate was charted on march 6,\n 1882. With the following mandate to provide equality for the\n higher education of the colored youth and to furnish competent\n teachers for the colored schools of the state. with this\n charter the first state supported school in Virginia for\n teachers was established.","During the first twenty-three years, 1883-1906, the Normal\n Department offered a single three-year curriculum consisting\n partly of elementary and high school subjects including music,\n drawing, sloyd, sewing, cooking, physical \"culture\" and\n partlyof education courses: the science and art of teaching,\n moral philosophy, psychology and \"general reviews\".","The movement toward specialization began in 1909, when\n students were permitted to select teaching, domestic science\n or art, agriculture, mechanical drawing, or buisness.\n Graduation from high school was first required for entrance to\n teacher-training courses in 1915.","When the four-year college curriculum was reinstated by the\n state in 1923, The bachelor of science degree in education was\n the first to be accredited as a \"Class a teachers college. In\n 1925, the college was offered its first differentiated\n curricula for the seperate training of high school and\n supervisors, and teachers of public school music.","A major in physical education followed in 1926; the\n department of secondary education emerged in 1930 offering a\n curriculum for secondary school principals and teachers; and\n the department of art was offered in 1933.","With the introduction of liberal arts in 1930, the\n department of education became the Division of Education, a\n separate administrative unit of the College offering the four\n curricula organized by the departments of elementary\n education, secondary education,","music and physical education. With the introduction of\n liberal arts in 1930, the department of education became the\n Division of Education, a separate administrative unit of the\n College.","The division of education became The School of Education in\n the 1960's. In 1995 The School of Education was emerged with\n The School of Humanities and Social Science therefore becoming\n the School of Liberal Arts and Education."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ethe Guide to The School of Education/RG, RG 8, Special\n Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library,\n Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["the Guide to The School of Education/RG, RG 8, Special\n Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library,\n Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThese records reflect the administration of Edna Meade\n Colson Phd. Of the school of education during her tenure.\n During this time the school of education was involved in\n almost every aspect of the University and the community.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eContained in this record group are routine administrative\n manners common in all schools within a university setting. the\n materials reflect the philosophy and the role that education\n can take in solving societies problems. The records reflect\n the difficulties faced by an HBCU during the time of \"Jim\n Crowism.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["These records reflect the administration of Edna Meade\n Colson Phd. Of the school of education during her tenure.\n During this time the school of education was involved in\n almost every aspect of the University and the community.","Contained in this record group are routine administrative\n manners common in all schools within a university setting. the\n materials reflect the philosophy and the role that education\n can take in solving societies problems. The records reflect\n the difficulties faced by an HBCU during the time of \"Jim\n Crowism.\""],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eRecords of the oldest school for\n teachers education in the state of virginia. Correspondence,\n minutes all documenting all of the early years in the school\n of education.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["Records of the oldest school for\n teachers education in the state of virginia. Correspondence,\n minutes all documenting all of the early years in the school\n of education."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":421,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00055_c02_c01_c167"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c02","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"4 Unidentified Photographs","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c02","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c02"],"id":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c02","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050","_root_":"vipets_vipets00050","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03","parent_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00050","vipets_vipets00050_c08","vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"4 Unidentified Photographs","title_ssm":["4 Unidentified Photographs"],"title_tesim":["4 Unidentified Photographs"],"normalized_title_ssm":["4 Unidentified Photographs"],"text":["4 Unidentified Photographs","A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson","Frame 69"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","Series VIII.: Photographs","Sub-Series C.: William Nelson\n Colson"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":1268,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"containers_ssim":["Frame 69"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#7/components#2/components#1","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00050","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00050","_root_":"vipets_vipets00050","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00050","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00050.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"text":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984","1965-13","There are no restrictions.","Series I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family","Sub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.","Sub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.","Series II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.","Series III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards","Sub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.","Sub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.","Sub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.","Sub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.","Sub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.","Sub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.","Sub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.","Series IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984","Sub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.","Sub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.","Sub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.","Series V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.","Sub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.","Sub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.","Sub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.","Sub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.","Sub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.","Sub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.","Sub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.","Sub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.","Sub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence","Sub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence","Sub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.","Sub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.","Sub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills","Sub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966","Series VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.","Series VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.","Sub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.","Sub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.","Series VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.","Sub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.","Sub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.","Sub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.","Series IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","Series X. Printed","Sub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.","Sub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.","Sub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family.","The Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.","James Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.","William Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.","Three children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.","The other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.","Hill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.","Edna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.","Included in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.","Edna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.","During her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.","Miss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.","Miss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.","Miss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.","Edna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.","Edna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney.","The Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.","Four diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.","Notebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.","A Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.","Photo Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.","Twelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide to the Papers of The\n Colson-Hill Family \n \n 1833-1984"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1965-13"],"unitid_tesim":["1965-13"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["The Colson-Hill Papers are a\n gift of the Colson Family."],"creator_ssim":["The Colson-Hill Papers are a\n gift of the Colson Family."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSeries X. Printed\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. History of the Colson Family Box # 1 Obituaries,\n records of birth, marriages and short sketches of members of\n the Colson-Hill Family","Sub-Series A. Family History A family history compiled by\n Alice A. Jackson for an exhibit about the Colson family.\n Included are copies of various documents and sketches of a\n number of family members.","Sub-Series B. Obituaries Funeral programs and several\n sketches of deceased family members.","Series II. Estate Correspodence and family documents Box #2\n Legal documents covering various matters of the Colson-Hill\n family. This series includes Colson estate correspondence,\n wills, State and local tax receipts and leases for property Of\n special interest is an application for Canadian citizenship\n for John Henry Hill, who had escaped from the institution of\n slavery in 1857.","Series III. Family Correspondence, Telegrams and\n Postcards","Sub-Series A. Family Correspondence Boxes 3-15 Letters\n between members of this family for more than one hundred\n years. Subjects discussed, the underground railroad, family\n problems, education, politics, sound issues wars, politics and\n civil rights. The materials are arranged chronically\n Correspondence without dates are arranged by alphabet.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson Boxes 16- A interesting\n number of letters written by William Nelson Colson (1890-1922)\n were found together and have been arranged accordingly. The\n materials include family correspondence, personal\n correspondence and correspondence pertaining to his days at\n Virginia Union University.","Sub-Series C: The Colson/Woody 1950-1967 Mainly\n correspondence having to do with Mary Colson's interest in the\n family estate. Included in this material is her will.","Sub-Series D: The John and Mary Colson Shore Papers\n 1844-1877 John K. Shore was married to Mary Colson and lived\n and worked in Petersburg. Shore was a barber, and after the\n Civil War served on the Common Council. The Shore papers\n consist mainly of tax and business receipts.","Sub-Series E: The John and Susie Hill Harris Papers\n 1900,1924 Papers of Susie Hill, sister of Kate Hill Colson.\n Photo, some correspondence.","Sub-Series F. Family Personal Box 20 Family correspondence\n with friends and associates. Very interesting letter from\n William Still to John Henry Hill.","Sub-Series G. Family Business Boxes 21-22 Records of family\n business activities from the anlebellum through the 1950's.\n Most of correspondece documents ownership and rents from\n family owned properties. Included in this sub-series are\n records of the House of Roberts and Colson (1833-1836) a\n merticle Company established by William Neslon Colson and\n Joseph Jenkins Roberts who became the first president of\n Liberia.","Sub-Series H. Family Work Box 23 James Major and Kate Hill\n Colsons work at the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddle County.\n John A. Dix was one of many little Tuskeeges established in\n the United States. Interesting Correspondence with and Colson\n work with the school improvement league. Series Includes\n records of the John A. Dix Industrial School.","Series IV. Edna Colson (Personal, Colson/Meredith,\n Education, Employment) 1905-1984","Sub-Series A. Correspondence Personal Box 24-28\n Correspondence with friends and associates beginning in 1905\n and continuting until 1980. This sub-series is arranged with\n Men Colson's correspondence maintained by date, and her\n correspondence kept by subject heading. Some of the\n correspondents, Ambrose Caliver, Gordan Hancock Jackson Davis,\n A.G. Richardson, and Carrie Gandy.","Sub-Series B. Colson/Meredith Correspondence Boxes 29-32\n Correspondence between Edna Meade Colson and Amaza Meredith\n beginning in 1916 and continuing until 1982. Education, work,\n social and polilical and home ownership. The sub-series\n documents their vacation. Mister Colson and Meredith were\n companion for over fifty years.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence (Education) Box 33 Documents\n Ms.Colson's efforts to acquire graduated training during the\n era of segregation. Miss Colson's association with Teacher\n College began in 1924 and continued until 1964. Correspondence\n documents curriculum, research, problems faced by African\n American students encounted such as housing Colson's\n involvement with the Negro Education Club is also covered. The\n bulk of the correspondence is with Miss Mable Carney who was\n Edna Colson's major Professor at Columbia.","Sub-Series D. Correspondence (Employment) Box 34-47\n Correspondence documenting Edna Meade Colson's forty-four\n years at Virginia State University. Arranged in there\n sections, correspondence with the presidents of Virginia\n State, by Subject heading and by alphabet. There are manuals\n of committees, information about public education in Virginia,\n reports. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically within\n the folder. Correspondence with John M. Gandy, Mable Carney,\n Luther Foster, Jackson Davis, Charles S. Johnson, and\n others.","Series V. Organizations and Affiliations of Edna Meade\n Colson Box # 48-60 This series contains material documenting\n Edna M. Colson's activities on and off the campus during her\n career at Virginia State University. Included in this series\n are records of: The Virginia Federation of Colored Women\n Clubs, the National Association of College Women, the Alpha\n Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Chesterfield County \"Colored\" red\n Cross and others.","Sub-Series A. The Virginia Federation Of Colored Women's\n Clubs 1931,1961, Boxes 48-53 Records and Correspondence of the\n Petersburg Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women.\n Included are materials from the Petersburg Women's Council and\n the Virginia State College Education Club.","Sub-Series B. The National Association of College Women\n 1925-1964 Boxes 54-56 The National Association of Colored\n Women was organized in 1923 at Howard University. At this\n meeting a temporary NACW was established. One year later a\n larger group of African-American women met in Washington and\n formed a permanent \"National Association of College Women.\"\n The Virginia State University Chapter was organized March 8th\n 1925 by Ms. Pauline Puryear. Edna Colson was one of the\n charter members. Mrs. Colson served as President of the\n Petersburg Branch, sectional director for the South and\n National Vice President. The materials include minutes,\n records, programs, photographs, and Correspondence.","Sub-Series C. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Boxes 57- 57\n A, 57 B Correspondence, minutes and reports of the Delta Omega\n Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Colson\n was one of the charter members of this chapter, which was\n established at Virginia State University in 1925.","Sub-Series D. The Chesterfield County Red Cross 1929-1948\n Box 58 Minutes, correspondence, reports and By-Laws of the\n Chesterfield County Red Cross. Miss Colson was the Chairman of\n the \"Colored Auxiliary\". The \"Colored Auxiliary\" attempted to\n ensure fair treatment in dispersing services being provided\n during the depression and the War years.","Sub-Series E. The Virginia Society for Research 1930-1934\n Box 58 The Virginia Society for Research was established to\n promote and encourage serious research in the field of\n education, and to demonstrate that information derived from\n these efforts. Correspondence, minutes, and constitution.","Sub-Series F. The Negro Organizational Society 1912-1952\n Box 59 The NOS was organized in 1912 to work on improving the\n schools, health, and homes of African American. This\n sub-series contains correspondence, reports and newsletters of\n this groups activities. Included in the materials are some\n correspondence concerning the School Improvement League.","Sub-Series G. The Gillfield Baptist Church 1910, 1974 Box\n 59 Correspondence, Parish Minister and information about\n placing stained glass windows in Gillfield.","Sub-Series H. The Links Incorporated 1958,1965 Container 59\n Some materials about the Eastern Area Conference of the \"Links\n Incorporated\" one folder.","Sub-Series I. The Virginia Commission on Interracial\n Cooperation Box 59 One folder of correspondence","Sub-Series J. The Committee for Virginia 1940,1946 Box 59\n One folder, includes a Constitution written in 1940 and some\n correspondence","Sub-Series K. The N.A.A.C.P 1949 Two folders,\n Correspondence to Edna Colson about membership. One Folder\n contains a copy of a Petersburg Chapter Newsletters.","Sub-Series L The Virginia Council On Human Relations\n 1955-1975 Box 60 Correspondence, Reports, minutes, and printed\n items. The correspondence and addresses a number of social and\n political issues which were of great concern during this time.\n Miss Colson was a member of the board of Directors.","Sub-Series M. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee\n 1960 Box 60 Newsletters and hand-bills","Sub-Series N. The SCLC 1961-1964 Box 60 SCLC Newsletter\n 1961, 1966","Series VI. Literary Box # 61-63 Diaries, speeches and\n articles produced by family members. In this series are a\n number of diaries of James Major Colson. While he was a\n student at Dartmouth College. The majority of the materials\n however are writings and speeches of Edna M. Colson.","Series VII. Financial Records Boxes # 64-66 Receipts and\n bills for school, rental household (including furniture, food,\n and clothing). There are a number of ledgers.","Sub-Series A. Receipts and Bills Boxes # 64-65 A unique\n array of receipts and bills of the Colson-Hill Family.\n Included are receipts for rent, school bills, medical\n receipts, household (including furniture, food, and clothing),\n and contractors.","Sub-Series B. Ledgers and Bank Books Box # 66 Rental books\n maintained by the Colson-Hill family. The Ledgers also contain\n information about family purchases and receipts for building\n and contractors.","Series VIII. Photographs Boxes 67-74 Photographs of family\n and friends. The material is arranged into several\n sub-series.","Sub-Series A. Family ,Many of the photos in these paper\n were taken on the 1870's and 80's.","Sub-Series B. William Nelson Colson III. Colson, was a\n student studying law at Harvard University in 1917 when he\n decided to join the United State Army. The photo's which\n William Nelson sent home from Fort Ames,Iowa gave his family\n and friends some idea of what he was doing in officers\n training school. The photos incude some postcards of camp\n scenes.","Sub-series C. Photographs- Friends(by name), of Edna Meade\n Colson or school affiliations. In addition there are a number\n of photographs of individuals,quit a few were friends or\n former students of Kate Colson. Many of the photographs are\n not identified by name. Many of the photographs were taken in\n the following locations: The Leath Company, Rockwell and the\n New York Gallery were all in Petersburg others were taken in\n Richmond, Danville, New York, Winston-Salem, Baltimore,\n Philadelphia and Washington D.C.","Sub-Series D. Photograph Book Photo Book containing mostly\n tin-types of friends of the Colson-Hill family. Most are in\n color.","Series IX. Scrapbooks Twelve scrapbooks generated by Edna\n Meade Colson. Each book is titled. Most of the books consist\n of photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","Series X. Printed","Sub-Series A. Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets Programs,\n Invitations, and Pamphlets collected by family members.","Sub-Series B. Degrees Grade reports for several members of\n the Colson family. Of particular interest James Major Colson\n Jr's prep school reports.","Sub-Series C. Newspaper Clippings News clippings of\n particular interest to members of the family."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eJames Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThree children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eIncluded in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMiss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eEdna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Beginnings of the Colson Family can be traced back to\n 1791. The Person of record was James Colson (1768-1824) who\n had been enslaved by a William Nelson of York County Virginia.\n He was emancipated in Williamsburg around 1791 and it is\n certain that by 1794 James Colson was living in Petersburg\n Virginia.","James Colson became a barber. This was one of the\n occupations free African American men were allowed to engage\n in. In 1804, Colson purchased a lot on Union Street and around\n 1820 another piece of property on Oak Street. James Colson\n died in 1825 and his son William took over the Business. In\n 1826 William Colson married Sarah Elebek. One of five children\n fathered by Major Elebek. Elebek like Colson was also a barber\n and a free African American.","William Colson became interested in the American\n Colonization Society's (1817-1895) efforts to remove to Africa\n all African Americans to what would become Liberia. At this\n time in Petersburg the Colson and Elebek families were members\n of the Methodist Church. Here they met another family by the\n name of Roberts. The Roberts and Colson family combined and\n formed a mercantile business, and Roberts and his family\n emigrated to Liberia. William Nelson Colson remained in\n Petersburg and managed the business from the U.S. side. In\n 1835 William Colson went to Liberia to confer with Roberts\n where he became ill and died.","Three children came from the Union of William and Sarah\n Elebek Colson. James Major, Mary Alexena and William Nelson\n Colson. Mary Alexena Colson married John K. Shore and William\n Nelson married Milvina and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.\n James Major Colson married Fannie Meade Bolling of Petersburg\n in 1850. Nine children were born to this couple.","The other component of this family were a mixture of free\n African American and enslaved family. John Henry Hill was born\n in King and Queen county Virginia in 1828. Like many others\n born into bondage, Hill was trained as a carpenter and was\n hired out by his owner. Although a native of King and Queen,\n Hill was either sold or rented out in Petersburg and in1853\n was owned by a John Mitchell. Hill had also married a free\n African American woman, Rose McCray and they were the parents\n of two young sons.","Hill was enslaved and in 1853 his owner had decided to sell\n him. It is unclear how Hill found out. His possible sale and\n instead of being sold, he escaped. Hill found his way to\n Canada where his wife later joined him, and the seven Hill\n daughters were born. After the Civil War Hill returned to\n Petersburg, became a prosperous Businessman and engaged in\n local politics.","Edna Meade Colson was born October 7, 1888, in Petersburg,\n Virginia, the oldest of five children to James Major Colson,\n Jr., and his wife Kate Hill Colson who was one of the\n daughters of John Henry Hill.","Included in these materials is an interesting letter from\n William Still and in the Alice and Henry Colson Jackson Papers\n correspondence regarding the House of Roberts and Colson.","Edna Meade Colson was a product of the Petersburg public\n school system. After graduation from Peabody High School in\n 1904, she continued her education at Fisk University in\n Nashville, Tennessee. In 1908 she completed the Normal Course\n and joined the staff of Virginia State (then the Virginia\n Normal and Industrial Institute) in 1909. Edna Colson returned\n to Fisk and earned the Bachelor of Education in 1915. She\n later earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1923,\n Master of Arts in 1924, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1940 from\n Columbia Teachers College, New York. Her dissertation was An\n Analysis of Specific References to Negroes in Selected\n Curricula for the Education of Teachers.","During her career at Virginia State University Miss Colson\n served as classroom teacher, Supervisor of Student Teaching,\n Director of the Normal School, and Director of the Division of\n Education through the changing phases of the development of\n the University. In 1951 she became the Director of the newly\n created School of Education.","Miss Colson was very active in school functions at\n Teachers. She was Vice President of the Negro Education Club,\n and in 1931 she was a representative of the Club to the White\n House Conference on Education, and in the summer of 1939 she\n studied workshop organization at the University of\n Chicago.","Miss Colson was: affiliated with the American Association\n of University Professors, The Association for Supervision and\n Curriculum Development, The Virginia Teachers Association, The\n Virginia Association of Jeanes Supervisors, and the Virginia\n Academy of Science, a life member of the American Teachers\n Association, a charter member of the Virginia Research\n Society, the National Association of College Women. The\n Virginia Interracial Commission, the Negro Organization\n Society, The American Red Cross, The National Association for\n the Advancement of Colored People, a charter member of the\n Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Virginia\n State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.","Miss Colson was a prolific writer and a highly sought after\n speaker throughout the state of Virginia. During her career\n she contributed articles to the Virginia State College\n Gazette, The Quarterly Journal of Higher Education for Negroes\n and the Journal of Negro Education.","Edna Colson was considered an authority on curriculum\n development and on source materials which could be used in\n teaching about the African American experience in America. She\n was considered by many to be the most influential person in\n the development of African American teachers, and teacher\n education.","Edna Colson corresponded with J.L. Blair, H.C. Newbold, L.\n C. Reynolds, Jannie Porter Barrett, A.G. Richardson, Eva\n Mitchell, Fred M. Alexander, D.A. Wilkerson, Rose Butler\n Brown, Mary Branch, Belle Boone Beard, and Mable Carney."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Colson-Hill Family Papers, Accession #1965-13 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Colson-Hill Family Papers, Accession #1965-13 ,\n Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial\n Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eFour diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eNotebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eA Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003ePhoto Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eTwelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Colson Hill Family Papers document one of the most\n unique African-American families in the United States. This\n manuscript group covers this family's life and activities in\n the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1834-1984. These papers\n document the family's involvement with: The establishment of\n Liberia, the Underground Railroad, the establishment of\n Virginia State University, public education in Petersburg and\n in Virginia, the readjuster party, business in Petersburg and\n the social and community activities in the African American\n community as well. Not only did Miss Colson become keeper of\n the family papers, her long an outstanding career led to the\n creation of a large number of records documenting her\n productive life as well. Miss Colson was a teacher and a\n teacher of teachers. She was a student and believer in the\n idea that education could solve societies social, political,\n and economic ills. The papers provide a window into several\n aspects of African American society rarely scene. The bulk of\n the materials is in the form on correspondence, however, there\n are numerous printed items and photographs as well. The papers\n are quite useful for the study of: History of Education,\n Women's History, Local History, Family History, and Social and\n Economic History.","Four diaries maintained by James Major Colson Jr.\n beginning in January of 1878 and continuing through\n 1899. Not only did James Major Colson maintain a\n diary, his wife Kate also began in 1887 her first\n diray. Mrs. Colson's diary,however, only covers a few\n months of that year. Also, In this sub-series is a\n diary belonging to William Nelson Colson II, son of\n James and Kate Colson. The Diary begins in the summer\n of 1914 and continues to February 1915. During this\n time Mr.Colson was a member of the faculty at\n Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.","Notebooks kept by James Major Colson and Kate Hill\n as students. Mr.Colson's notebook covers a variety of\n subjects taken taken at Dartmouth. Included is a\n notebook maintained for his class in Physics\n (1881-1882) other subjects include language, natural\n history, physiology, and literature. Mrs. Colson\n notebook covers a number of subjects, which would\n have been included in the study for a teaching\n certificate at this time.","A Composition notebook kept by Edna M. Colson. The\n notebook appears to have been used to teach Sunday\n School classes. Two autograph books, one belonging to\n Miss Kate Hill (later Kate Colson) and dates from\n 1882-through Aug 1883. The other autograph book\n belongs to Miss Edna Meade Colson and covers the time\n span from 1907 through 1909. There is also a travel\n log which was kept by Edna M. Colson, no date.","Photo Book containing mostly tin-types of\n friends of the Colson/Hill Family. Most are in\n color.","Twelve Scrapbooks generated by Edna Meade Colson.\n Each book is titled. Most of the books consist of\n photo's some correspondence, news-clippings and\n postcards.","2 boxes loose news clipping from a number of\n newspapers from around the United States no order or\n no arrangement"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1671,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00050_c08_c03_c02"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c14","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"54. Sunday School Work","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c03_c14#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c14","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c03_c14"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c14","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c03","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"54. Sunday School Work","title_ssm":["54. Sunday School Work"],"title_tesim":["54. Sunday School Work"],"normalized_title_ssm":["54. Sunday School Work"],"text":["54. Sunday School Work","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928","Box-folder 4:54"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":56,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4:54"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#13","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00001","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00001.xml","title_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"title_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"text":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","1957-3","There are no restrictions.","Series I:Correspondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n Container: 1 \n Container: 2 \n Letters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935","Series II:Financial and legal \n Container: 3 \n Teaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type","Series III:Speeches and Writings \n Containers: 4-7 \n Four boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.","Series IV:Photographs \n Containers: 8-14 \n Seven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.","Series V:Printed (Memorabilia) \n Container: 15 \n Announcements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.","Series VI:Scrapbooks \n Containers: 16-19 \n Some of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.","Series VII:Artifacts \n Containers: 20-25 \n Household articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.","Series VIII:Oversize \n Container: \n Maps and Photos","In 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.","His story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.","Major Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.","William Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.","After General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.","Henry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.","Then, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).","During the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.","After he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.","After graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.","He worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.","Major Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.","In 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.","Nannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.","During the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.","The first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.","When war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.","All black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.","Aside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.","Major William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.","Although William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.","Last but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935.","The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.","The Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks.","There are no restrictions.","The William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1957-3"],"unitid_tesim":["1957-3"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"acqinfo_ssim":["The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries I:\u003c/emph\u003eCorrespondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 1 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 2 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eLetters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries II:\u003c/emph\u003eFinancial and legal \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 3 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eTeaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries III:\u003c/emph\u003eSpeeches and Writings \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 4-7 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eFour boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries IV:\u003c/emph\u003ePhotographs \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 8-14 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSeven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries V:\u003c/emph\u003ePrinted (Memorabilia) \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 15 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eAnnouncements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VI:\u003c/emph\u003eScrapbooks \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 16-19 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSome of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VII:\u003c/emph\u003eArtifacts \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 20-25 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eHousehold articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VIII:\u003c/emph\u003eOversize \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eMaps and Photos\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I:Correspondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n Container: 1 \n Container: 2 \n Letters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935","Series II:Financial and legal \n Container: 3 \n Teaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type","Series III:Speeches and Writings \n Containers: 4-7 \n Four boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.","Series IV:Photographs \n Containers: 8-14 \n Seven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.","Series V:Printed (Memorabilia) \n Container: 15 \n Announcements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.","Series VI:Scrapbooks \n Containers: 16-19 \n Some of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.","Series VII:Artifacts \n Containers: 20-25 \n Household articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.","Series VIII:Oversize \n Container: \n Maps and Photos"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eIn 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHis story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHenry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThen, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHe worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eNannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWhen war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAll black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAlthough William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eLast but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["In 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.","His story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.","Major Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.","William Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.","After General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.","Henry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.","Then, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).","During the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.","After he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.","After graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.","He worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.","Major Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.","In 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.","Nannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.","During the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.","The first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.","When war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.","All black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.","Aside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.","Major William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.","Although William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.","Last but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMajor William Henry Johnson Papers, Accession #1957-3,\n Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers, Accession #1957-3,\n Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.","The Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["The William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":381,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c03_c14"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c15","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"55. The Attitude of the Sunday School to\n the Community","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c03_c15#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c15","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c03_c15"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c03_c15","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c03","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"55. The Attitude of the Sunday School to\n the Community","title_ssm":["55. The Attitude of the Sunday School to\n the Community"],"title_tesim":["55. The Attitude of the Sunday School to\n the Community"],"normalized_title_ssm":["55. The Attitude of the Sunday School to\n the Community"],"text":["55. The Attitude of the Sunday School to\n the Community","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928","Box-folder 4:55"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","Speeches and Writings \n \n 1884-1928"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":57,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4:55"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#14","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00001","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00001.xml","title_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"title_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"text":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935","1957-3","There are no restrictions.","Series I:Correspondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n Container: 1 \n Container: 2 \n Letters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935","Series II:Financial and legal \n Container: 3 \n Teaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type","Series III:Speeches and Writings \n Containers: 4-7 \n Four boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.","Series IV:Photographs \n Containers: 8-14 \n Seven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.","Series V:Printed (Memorabilia) \n Container: 15 \n Announcements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.","Series VI:Scrapbooks \n Containers: 16-19 \n Some of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.","Series VII:Artifacts \n Containers: 20-25 \n Household articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.","Series VIII:Oversize \n Container: \n Maps and Photos","In 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.","His story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.","Major Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.","William Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.","After General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.","Henry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.","Then, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).","During the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.","After he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.","After graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.","He worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.","Major Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.","In 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.","Nannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.","During the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.","The first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.","When war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.","All black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.","Aside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.","Major William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.","Although William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.","Last but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935.","The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.","The Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks.","There are no restrictions.","The William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n \n 1884-1935"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1957-3"],"unitid_tesim":["1957-3"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"acqinfo_ssim":["The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries I:\u003c/emph\u003eCorrespondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 1 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 2 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eLetters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries II:\u003c/emph\u003eFinancial and legal \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 3 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eTeaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries III:\u003c/emph\u003eSpeeches and Writings \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 4-7 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eFour boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries IV:\u003c/emph\u003ePhotographs \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 8-14 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSeven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries V:\u003c/emph\u003ePrinted (Memorabilia) \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: 15 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eAnnouncements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VI:\u003c/emph\u003eScrapbooks \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 16-19 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSome of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VII:\u003c/emph\u003eArtifacts \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainers: 20-25 \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eHousehold articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eSeries VIII:\u003c/emph\u003eOversize \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eContainer: \n \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eMaps and Photos\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I:Correspondence: Family,\n Personal, Business, and Military \n Container: 1 \n Container: 2 \n Letters, postcards and telegrams arranged\n chronologically. 1884-1935","Series II:Financial and legal \n Container: 3 \n Teaching contracts, receipts, agreements, certificates,\n and military discharge. Arranged by type","Series III:Speeches and Writings \n Containers: 4-7 \n Four boxes of handwritten and several printed speeches\n and articles. Included is an autobiography. A list of\n Publications.","Series IV:Photographs \n Containers: 8-14 \n Seven boxes, family, friends work and church scenes. In\n box 12 are the photos of the 6th Virginia United States\n Colored Volunteers.","Series V:Printed (Memorabilia) \n Container: 15 \n Announcements, Commencement programs, Broadsides,\n Programs, Invitations, Pamphlets. Two very interesting items:\n A Restaurant Menu from his father-in-law's business on Bank\n Street, and the first invitation to the \"Ugly Club\" 1886.","Series VI:Scrapbooks \n Containers: 16-19 \n Some of everything. Programs, cards, photographs and\n some correspondence.","Series VII:Artifacts \n Containers: 20-25 \n Household articles, toys and games. Two boxes of\n military items. There are also two military footlockers and\n the sheath for a dress saber.","Series VIII:Oversize \n Container: \n Maps and Photos"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eIn 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHis story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHenry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThen, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAfter graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eHe worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eNannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eDuring the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eWhen war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAll black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eMajor William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eAlthough William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eLast but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["In 1935 the highest-ranking black officer in the disbanded\n 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War, died.\n Few Virginians have ever heard of the 6th Virginia, let alone\n their commander, Major William Henry Johnson.","His story is unique, also, because he was one of the most\n successful post-bellum blacks in Petersburg who was not a\n descendant of the antebellum free black population. (There\n were around 3,200 free blacks in 1860). Major Johnson was from\n the slave population (which numbered around 5,000 in 1860).\n Free blacks had a slight advantage over the larger slave\n population, although they themselves were not truly free. They\n did have a bit more freedom of movement than their slave\n brethren did. In addition, some had some property that could\n be sold or borrowed upon to finance to own or accumulate\n property; therefore at emancipation they were truly\n penniless.","Major Johnson's father, Henry Johnson, was born a slave\n around 1835 in Ettrick on Fleets Farm, what is now Virginia\n State University, and he grew up in the old plantation house.\n He remained a slave until the Union Army moved through Ettrick\n following Robert E. Lee in April of 1865.","William Henry Johnson's mother, Malinda, was also a slave;\n she resided in Petersburg. October 1, 1858, her only child was\n born on Old Street (which is now Grove Avenue). In fact, in\n 1865 when Ulysses S. Grant entered Petersburg, her owner,\n Major P. Branch, fled to Danville taking Malinda and her\n six-year old son with him. William Henry's early years were\n spent in several places in Petersburg. At one time he lived on\n Old Street near Market, opposite Dunlop's Tobacco Factory.\n Another home was on the site of the old Titus Foundry. He also\n lived for some time on High Street and South Sycamore\n Street.","After General Lee's surrender, his mother and father were\n reunited. Later in the year his father brought a piece of\n property in the old field area in the vicinity of what is now\n Rome Street. Here his father built a small house, which is\n still standing, at what is now 1151 Rome Street. The family\n moved in at Christmas 1865.","Henry Johnson for 45 years was a teamster, driving his own\n horse and wagon. For a brief time he was a partner in an\n oyster house near the corner of Union and Oak Streets.","Then, as today, many blacks connected upward mobility with\n one's level of education. William Henry Johnson's parents were\n of that opinion and began his schooling at home. His first\n teacher, other than his mother, was a Mrs. Addie Berry who\n taught school at her home on Perry Street. Next, was Mr.\n Collier Tabb who taught school at \"East Hill\" on Lombard\n Street. His next mover was to the basement of the Gillfield\n Baptist Church under a Mr. Bates. After spending some time\n there he was enrolled in another private school. A former\n Confederate Army officer, Major Giles B. Cooke, taught this\n one. This school was located in the same building as the old\n First Baptist church near Garrison and Filmore Streets. He was\n graduated in 1874 (the first graduating class).","During the summer and early fall months when school was not\n in session, William Henry prepared for a trade. He chose to\n become a cooper (one who makes barrels). He secured summer\n employment at a barrel company in Richmond where he remained\n for two summers. Here he learned the early stages of barrel\n construction, called \"slack work\". Upon mastering \"slack work\"\n he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Wilson Goodwyn who had a shop\n on Union Street, to learn \"tight work\". During the next two\n years (1874-1886) he became a master cooper, making barrels\n for Myers Whiskey Distillery in Blandford, flour and hogshead\n and tierces for Ropers Tobacco Factory on Halifax Street.","After he completed his apprenticeship, his mother and\n father decided that he should go to college. The three of them\n met with Rev. Mr. Henry Williams, their pastor, and together\n agreed upon Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Despite\n the necessity of constant employment, after two years of study\n he was graduated from Hampton with a normal degree in 1878. In\n addition to his degree he also attended several summer\n teaching institutes at what is now Virginia State\n University.","After graduating from Hampton, Johnson returned home to\n Petersburg and began trying to locate a teaching position.\n That October he was offered a position in Surry County, about\n three miles from the courthouse. His new job involved teaching\n night school and paid $20 per month plus room and board and\n lodging. His students were both young and old, eager to learn,\n and he was an enthusiastic teacher.","He worked in Surry for five months. Later the following\n fall, quite by chance, on a walk through lower Chesterfield\n County he encountered a Captain Blankenship who was the County\n School Superintendent. A conference was held and the\n superintendent then offered a position at a new school that\n was under construction near what is now Virginia State\n University. He accepted the position and taught at that\n school, which was later called the \"Old Brickyard School\" on\n Dupuy Road in Ettrick.","Major Johnson taught at this school for seven years, seven\n months a year at $30 per month. In 1886 he was offered the\n principalship of Lombard Street School in Petersburg , with a\n nine-month school year and a record-breaking wage of $40 per\n month. He accepted right away. This was not just a raise of\n $150 per year, this also made it possible for him to give up\n making barrels in the evenings from March through August. This\n job as a cooper paid $3 - $4 per day and was used to\n supplement his teaching salary. He remained at Lombard Street\n School for two years until a new position at the Jones Street\n School was offered and accepted. Here he remained as principal\n for 31 years until the building was razed and the new\n Peabody-Williams Building was erected as a combination\n elementary and high school in 1919. He opposed this combined\n school because he felt the two levels should be in separate\n buildings. Nevertheless, he became principal of the elementary\n division until he retired in 1929. After 43 years of teaching\n in the city of Petersburg and more than 50 years in the state\n of Virginia.","In 1887 William Henry Johnson married Miss Nannie Brewer.\n The new Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John\n Brewer, who were very highly respected citizens of Petersburg.\n Mr. John Brewer's father was born a slave and belonged to\n James Nicholas. As a slave, Mr. Brewer was allowed to \"hire\n out,\" that is, he was allowed to engage in some type of extra\n work where a part of the money went to the owner and the rest\n was pocketed by the slave. By late 1864, Brewer had managed to\n pay his owner a $1000 and was allowed to purchase himself from\n his owner. His self-purchase was within four months of the end\n of the Confederacy when all slaves were automatically free. In\n the early years, he was a painter. Later he owned and operated\n on of the most popular restaurants in Petersburg. His place\n was located at 10 Bank Street.","Nannie Brewer Johnson was educated in Petersburg and\n attended the 1888 Normal for Teachers, an institute held at\n what is now Virginia State University. Mrs. Johnson was active\n in community and church work. She was a faithful member of\n Gillfield Baptist Church. Major and Mrs. Johnson were married\n for 48 years.","During the era of black slavery, one of the greater fears\n of the white community was that of an armed rebellion of\n blacks. When the Civil War began, many free blacks in the\n south volunteered to take up arms for the Confederacy. This\n was true even in Petersburg. However, the state of Virginia\n was not prepared to accept armed black men, even volunteers.\n This policy remained until 1871 when Virginia reorganized the\n state Militia and allowed the formation of volunteer companies\n black and white.","The first black volunteer company in Petersburg came into\n existence in June of 1873. They were the Petersburg Guards,\n organized and captained by John H. Hill. For five years the\n Guards were the only black volunteer company in Petersburg. In\n 1878, however, Lieutenant Peyton L. Farley of the Guards\n resigned and organized the Petersburg Blues, which he also\n captained. William Henry Johnson joined the Blues in 1878 as a\n private. The Blues began complying a notable record in\n competition with other companies throughout the state. In 1881\n they were invited to participate in the inaugural parade of\n President James A. Garfield. In 1888 Johnson, now a captain,\n led the Blues on a very successful trip to Providence, Long\n Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Between the years\n 1888-1897, Captain Johnson became Major Johnson and assumed\n command of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry. In\n 1897 the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Parade was held in New York\n City and both the first and second Battalions made a fine\n showing for themselves and the state.","When war with Spain was declared in 1898, the two black\n battalions were federalized and became the 6th Virginia U.S.\n Volunteer Army of the Spanish American War. The men met and\n voted to serve anywhere they were sent and elected to serve\n under their own officers. When this reached the press, an\n uproar evolved over the latter statement. Some whites opposed\n the idea of black officers. The unit, nevertheless, moved to a\n training camp at Camp Poland near Knoxville, Tennessee. There,\n a rumor concerning the ouster of all black officers were\n proven to be true.","All black officers were ordered to take an exam to\n determine whether they would be allowed to keep their ranks.\n The black officers declared that they had all taken exams\n before training their ranks, and what if those exams were good\n enough then, they should be good enough now. When the second\n order was given, nine black officers resigned. White officers\n were immediately selected to fill the vacancies. The men of\n the 6th Virginia were very upset. Their former black officers\n asked them to go on without them. The war, however, ended so\n quickly that the men from Virginia never saw service in Cuba\n or the Philippines. The unit was discharged in Georgia in\n 1899. Virginia disbanded the black Volunteer companies and\n would not accept black again in the State National Guard for\n many years. Major Johnson continued to try and convince the\n governors of the state to allow the reformation of the black\n militia companies, but with no success.","Aside from a purely military function the black companies\n also served as social organs for the black community. Socials\n and picnics were held and enjoyed by all. The wives and\n sweethearts of the men formed various auxiliaries and took it\n upon themselves to help raise funds and to purchase such items\n as ceremonial swords and flags.","Major William Henry Johnson and his wife were members of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church , which has been located on Perry\n Street since 1815. He had been associated with the church\n since birth and was baptized in the year 1886. When the Rev.\n Mr. Henry Williams died in 1900 he became superintendent of\n the Gillfield Baptist Church Sunday School. He also served as\n church clerk and financial secretary, was a vice-president of\n the home mission and president of the Gillfield Baptist Church\n Temperance Society. He served the Bethany Baptist Sunday\n School Convention as president for twenty-five years and\n recording secretary for five years.","Although William Henry spent a considerable amount of time\n in other activities, he still found time to become involved\n with different groups around the city and state. He was\n vice-president of the Negro Organizational Society, which was\n founded in 1912 at Hampton Institute. This was and\n organization dedicated to the improvement of health, education\n and agriculture amongst black people. Johnson was one of the\n founders of a black Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg and\n served as their president in 1924. In 1925 he was elected\n vice-president of the Old Dominion Investment Company, a black\n local bank, and he was connected with the Ideal Investment\n Company and Realty Corporation of Virginia, also a local black\n banking concern.","Last but not least, he was one of the first black feature\n writers for a white southern newspaper. In 1919 the Petersburg\n Progress-Index engaged him to write a serious column about\n black life in the city. The column appeared first as \"Rome\n Street\" and was then renamed \"Subjects of Interest to Colored\n Readers.\" It lasted for 16 years, until 1935."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMajor William Henry Johnson Papers, Accession #1957-3,\n Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"prefercite_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers, Accession #1957-3,\n Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.\u003c/p\u003e\n ","\u003cp\u003eThe Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The papers of Major William Henry Johnson were given to\n Virginia State University around 1957. They reflect the\n accomplishments of a person born a slave of slave parents in\n an uncertain time. There is personal and business\n correspondence dating from 1884. Hundreds of photographs show\n the black population in and around Petersburg frozen in time,\n leaving us a vivid picture of what they considered important\n in their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding series of papers\n is that which concern most of his speeches and writings. These\n cover a variety of topics and gives us an idea of what the\n black elite thought about their own lives an how they viewed\n the issues of their day.","The Johnson papers are one of the most interesting bodies\n of papers left by a post-bellum black of this time period.\n They are a true reflection of a time now gone. These, and\n other items such as these, will help us to understand more\n about this time and the often-neglected role by blacks."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n "],"abstract_tesim":["The William Henry Johnson papers\n include correspondence, speeches, photographs and other\n documents. They reflect William Henry Johnson's life as an\n educator, soldier and community leader."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":381,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:05:55.361Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c03_c15"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Virginia State University","value":"Virginia State University","hits":14112},"links":{"remove":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026view=compact"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026view=compact"}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"A Guide To the Papers of Harry 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