{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=1401\u0026view=compact","prev":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=1400\u0026view=compact","next":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026page=1402\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":1401,"next_page":1402,"prev_page":1400,"total_pages":1412,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":14000,"total_count":14112,"first_page?":false,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03_c07","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Wrightsville School \n                        \n                        1935","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03_c07#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03_c07","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03_c07"],"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03_c07","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038","_root_":"vipets_vipets00038","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03","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","Alleghany County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00038","vipets_vipets00038_c04","vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02","vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Wrightsville School \n                        \n                        1935","title_ssm":["Wrightsville School \n                        \n                        1935"],"title_tesim":["Wrightsville School \n                        \n                        1935"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Wrightsville School \n                        \n                        1935"],"text":["Wrightsville School \n                        \n                        1935","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","Alleghany County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"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","Alleghany County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"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","Alleghany County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[4],"sort_isi":615,"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#2/components#6","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_c03_c07"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55_c04","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Writesboro School \n                        \n                        1935","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55_c04#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55_c04","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55_c04"],"id":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55_c04","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038","_root_":"vipets_vipets00038","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55","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","Lunenburg County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00038","vipets_vipets00038_c04","vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02","vipets_vipets00038_c04_c02_c55"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writesboro School \n                        \n                        1935","title_ssm":["Writesboro School \n                        \n                        1935"],"title_tesim":["Writesboro School \n                        \n                        1935"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writesboro School \n                        \n                        1935"],"text":["Writesboro School \n                        \n                        1935","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","Lunenburg County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"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","Lunenburg County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"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","Lunenburg County \n                     \n                     1930-1935"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[4],"sort_isi":1234,"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#54/components#3","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_c55_c04"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c02","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"Writing","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c04_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c02","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c04_c02"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c02","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing","title_ssm":["Writing"],"title_tesim":["Writing"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing"],"text":["Writing","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings","Box-folder 7:162"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":170,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 7:162"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#3/components#1","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_c04_c02"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c04","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"Writing","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c04_c04#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c04","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c04_c04"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c04","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing","title_ssm":["Writing"],"title_tesim":["Writing"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing"],"text":["Writing","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings","Box-folder 7:164"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":172,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 7:164"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#3/components#3","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_c04_c04"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c06","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"Writing","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c04_c06#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c06","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c04_c06"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c06","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing","title_ssm":["Writing"],"title_tesim":["Writing"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing"],"text":["Writing","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings","Box-folder 7:166"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":174,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 7:166"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#3/components#5","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_c04_c06"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02_c16","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Writing","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02_c16#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02_c16","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02_c16"],"id":"vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02_c16","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062","_root_":"vipets_vipets00062","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02","parent_ssim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series V: Research Data","Subseries B: The Jerome Davis Papers"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00062","vipets_vipets00062_c05","vipets_vipets00062_c05_c02"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing","title_ssm":["Writing"],"title_tesim":["Writing"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing"],"text":["Writing","A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series V: Research Data","Subseries B: The Jerome Davis Papers","box-folder 54:15"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series V: Research Data","Subseries B: The Jerome Davis Papers"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series V: Research Data","Subseries B: The Jerome Davis Papers"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":941,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"containers_ssim":["box-folder 54:15"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#4/components#1/components#15","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00062","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062","_root_":"vipets_vipets00062","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00062","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00062.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"title_tesim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"text":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","1984-39","100,000 items","Collection is open to research.","Series I. Correspondence, Family, Personal, and Community Activites Boxes #1-14","Sub-Series A. Family Box #1 Correspondence generated by Harry Roberts and other members of his family. Most of the correspondence is with his sister and brother. Arranged chronologically within the folder.","Sub-Series B. Personal Boxes #1-12 The bulk of this sub-series consist of correspondence between Harry Roberts and hundreds of individuals he met and worked with. Included in this sub-series are material, which\nhelp to document the Civil Rights movement in Petersburg. of particular note was Roberts attempts to establish a forum to disciss interracial problems. This sub-series is divided into two sections. The first part\nis made up of correspondences arranged by folder headings. The second section is made up of correspondence by date. both sections are arranged chronologically.","Sub-Series C. Community Activities Boxes #13-14 Correspondence maintained by Harry Roberts concerning numerous issues in and around Petersburg. The correspondence includes copies of many of Robers' editorials\nwritten during the late 1950's and early 1960's.","Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Boxes #15-34","Sub-Series A. The Association of Social Science Teachers in Negro Colleges Boxes #15-17A,18A The ASSA was established by African-American professeors of social science and served as a platform for the\npresentation of paper and, issues directed to the African-American experience. Roberts held several positions within this group including this association published The Journal of Social Science Teachers.","Sub-Series B. The Virginia Social Science Association 1964-1967 Boxes #18-18A The Virginia Social Science Association opened its doors to African-Americans in the 1960's.","Sub-Series C. The Virginia Council of Churches Boxes #19-20 Correspondence, newsletters, and reports mainly focused on how the church could or should aid in bringing about social change.","Sub-Series D. The Faculty Christian Fellowship Box #20 Organized in 1952 at Berea, Kentucky this organizations goal was to improve and make aware of developments and activities of Christian faculty members in\nU.S. schools and universities. Correspondence arranged chronology.","Sub-Series E. Hollins College Box #20 Correspondence with Bell Beard Boone and the sociology department of Hollins College. Much of the correspondence pertains to their studies of rural life in South West\nVirginia.","Sub-Series F. Central State Hospital Box #20 Mainly correspondence pertaining to improving services at the Central State Hospital, which provided services to African-Americans only. Included in the sub-series\nare a number of newsletters concerning activities at the training school. Although a state agency the newsletters were printed by the employees of the training school.","Sub-Series G. The Society of Social Problems Boxes #21-22 One of the many professional organizations Roberts held membership","Sub-Series H. The Southen Sociology Society Box #22 Correspondence with other members, concerning meetings, papers and research interest.","Sub-Series I. The Frontiers Club Boxes #23-25A The Frontiers a national service organization, which devoted it's time and resources to uplifting the life and total betterment of African-American young men. A\nregional chapter of this organization was established by the teaching faculties of Virginia State and Peabody High School","Sub-Series J. The Rural Sociology Society Box #26 The Bulk of these materials document Roberts professional involvement with this group. Correspondence with fellow members regarding interest, grants, and areas\nof mutual concerns.","Sub-Series K. Southern Regional Education Board Box #26 The Southern Regional Education Board. Established in 1949, this group met on a yearly basis and discussed some of the South's problems. This sub-series\ncontains minutes, reports, and correspondence.","Sub-Series L. The Virginia Council on Human Relations Box #27 One of the oldest organizations in Virginia which sought to improve race relations in the commonwealth reports, minutes and correspondences which\ndocument some of their activities.","Sub-Series M. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Boxes #28-31 Harry Roberts was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and chaired the educational committee which awarded a prize for the best essay addressing some\naspect of citizenship in America. The sub-series includes copies of those essay, beginning in box 30.","Sub-Series N. The Virginia Voters League Box #32 The Virginia Voters League was first organized by Luther Porter Jackson and Robert Cooley in 1941. Luther Jackson died in 1950 and there were several\nunsuccessful attempts to continue the work of the league through the early 1950's.","Sub-Series O. The NAACP Box #32 Correspondence form both the national and state offices.","Sub-Series P. The Summer School for Ministers Boxes #33-33A In 1943 a meeting was held at Virgina State College for Negroes (now Virginia State Univeristy) to discuss the problem of \"rural Negro ministers.\"\nThis was a cooperative meeting attended by the president of the states's HBCU's. At this meeting the \"Conference of Virginia Negro Colleges on Rural Life\" was formed. The first summer school for ministers was held\nin 1943 and continued until 1950 under Roberts direction at Virginia State.","Sub-Series Q. The Leagues of Colored Peoples Box #34 The League of Colored Peoples was established at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support those students who were from various parts\nof the Empire. Students from the Caribbean, East, West, and South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India composed the membership. Included are copies of their newsletter, The Keys.","Series III. The Department of Sociology Boxes #35-48","Sub-Series A. Annual Reports Box #35 Harry Roberts began the department of Sociology at Virginia State Univerisity in 1935. In this sub-series are all of the deparments records from 1935-1968.","Sub-Series B. Correspondence By Folder Heading Box #35 Correspondence maintained by Roberts, arranged by folder heading.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence By Date Boxes #36-46 Correspondence maintained bt Roberts arranged by date.","Sub-Series D. Sociology Graduates Box #47 Roberts undertook a ten year study to document the accomplishments of the department. Information was obatined from graduates regarding what they were doing, located,\ngraduate training, and how had the program chainged their lives.","Sub-Series E. Notes on History of the Sociology Department Box #48 Research date compiled by Roberts and he attempted to develop a profile of the sociology department and its graduates.","Sub-Series F. HBCU, Graduates in the TVA States 1941-1950 Box #48 In the 1960's a study was undertaken to measure how certain programs of the Tennessee Valley authority had helped or hurt African-American\npopulation in the Tennessee Valley.","Series IV. Literary Boxes #49-52","Sub-Series A. Diary Box #49 Diary maintained by Roberts over a period from 1932-1968. Entries begin while Roberts was a student in England. Some of the material, record his observations, thoughts and general\nitems of interest from the perspective of a young African-American male living and studying in Europe. Other materials of interest concern various issues concerining the Chesterfield and Petersburg area later\nafter joining the faculty at Virginia State University.","Sub-Series B. Articles Box #49 A wide range of pieces authored by Roberts. This sub-series includes articles published as well as pieces addressed to local newspapers. In this sub-series is Roberts study on\n\"Black-White\" soldiers, additionally there are articles or papers based on his Doctoral Dissertation and Master Thesis.","Sub-Series C. Thesis and Dissertation Boxes #50-52 Drafts of Roberts Dissertation, and his thesis The Life and Labor of Rural Virginia Negroes, 1942.","Series V. Research Data Boxes #52-55","Sub-Series A. Dissertation Research Boxes #52-53 Articles, (non published) about rural Viginia life, and local problems of interest","Sub-Series B. The Jerome Davis Papers 1954-1955 Boxes #54-55 The correspondence and minutes of the Columbia Conserve Company document Jerome Davis's role in mediating a labor dispute. Other arbitratiors were\nPaul H. Douglan Sherwood Eddy and James Myers. The Conserve Company in the 1930's was experimenting with what they called \"Industrial Democracy\"","Series VI. Photographs Box #56-57","Sub-Series A. Family/Personal Photographs Box #56 A board range of photographs kept by Harry Roberts. Several photographs of family members. The majority however are related to travel and organization which\nRoberts was associated with and university activities","Sub-Series B. Jerome Davis Photographs Box #57 Taken in Russia before and during the Bolsheviks Revolution.","Series VII. Printed Boxes #58-64","Sub-Series A. African-American Newspapers Tray #58 Unique grouping of African-American Newspapers, published in Virginia.","Sub-Series B. The Expected Box #59 The offical publication of the Virginia Baptist State Converntion. News articles, biographies, views of the association.","Sub-Series C. The Zion Herald News Box #59 Church news, items of intrest concerning church members and highlights of this Petersburg church.","Sub-Series D. The Baptist Trumpet Box #59 Published in Arrington, on behalf of a number of churches in the northern Virginia area.","Sub-Series E. The Mountain Voice Box #59 Published in Pinewood, Kentucky for the Mountain Preachers Bible and Kindred Clear Creek Activists; 1948-1951","Sub-Series F. Religion and Labor Box #59 THe offical newsletter for the Religion and Labor Foundation 1958-1960","Sub-Series G. The Richmond Unitarian Boxes #60-61 Newsletters of the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia.","Sub-Series H. Newsletters Box #61 Publications that include the Virginia Council of Churches, NAACP newsletters, journals and other materials.","Sub-Series I. Printed programs and brochures Box #62 A combination of printed programs and brochures some of which document Roberts speaking engagements.","Sub-Series J. Journals and Pamphlets Box #63 A wide range of printed material. Most of the materials consern interest of Roberts as a faculty member at Virginia State.","Sub-Series K. Postcards and Scrapbooks Box #46 Roberts aquired a number of postcards during his travels. In addition several scrapbooks were maintained which include a number of printed journals.","Harry Walter Roberts was born in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania to Wallace and Frances (Jackson) Roberts and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. After completing his secondary education, he matriculateed at Wilberforce\nUniversity, where he earned an A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and the B.D. degree from Yale Univerity. He also studied at the London School of Economics, where he earned the M.A. with distinction in 1935.","With the completion of his M.A. in 1935, Harry Roberts joined the faculty of what was the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University. During his thirty-four years at Virginia State he\nestablished the Department of Sociology and was the founder of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, and the National Sociology Honor Society. He also continued his academic studies and earned from Yale\nUniversity in 1942, a Ph.D. degree.","Roberts was a member of a number of professional organizations far too numerous to cite here. In many of these organizations he held elected offices. In addition, he worked with a number of groups and\nassociations in the academic arena.","Dr. Roberts was an authority on rural Virginia Blacks and rural Baptiat churches and conducted extensive research in there area, some of which were done in cooperation with Virginia Polytechnic Institute ( and\nState University). His works have been published in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Negro Education, the Journal of Social Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Quarterly Review of Higher Education\nAmong Negroes, Social Forces, Social Problems, Rural Sociology, Viginia State University Gazette, and the Viginia Teachers Bulletin.","Roberts like many other members of the faculty at Virginia State was both a scholar and a social and political activist. As a scholar Roberts was a prodigious investigatior of African American life and culture\nin rural Virginia. He also produced a number of scholarly studies, which examined the problems of race relations in the United States. Harry Roberts was also active in a number of activities, which attempted to\nbring about social, economic, and political change. He maintained a life long relationship with Jerome Davis who he met while a student a Yale Univeristy. In the 1960's he joined Davis on a trip to the Soviet\nUnion, which raised local conerns abour Roberts politics. In addition Roberts attempted to form an alliance of local ministers in Petersburg who would commit to bringing about peaceful integration in Petersburg.\nHarry Roberts was a scholar, and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a believer in the social gospel. The Roberts papers document his activities not only as a scholar but\nalso a social and policital activist. The Roberts papers are a window into a time lost. Anyone interested in the Aferican American history in the rural life in Virgina should seek the papers of Harry Roberts","There are no restrictions.","Harry W. Roberts was a professor of sociology at Virginia State University from 1935 until 1968. While at Virginia State Roberts was an authority on African American life and culture in\nrural Virginia. His papers consist of correspondence, writings, and a few photographs. Acc. #1984-39","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1984-39"],"unitid_tesim":["1984-39"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"acqinfo_ssim":["A gift from Mrs. Roberts"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["100,000 items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is open to research.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Collection is open to research."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. Correspondence, Family, Personal, and Community Activites Boxes #1-14\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family Box #1 Correspondence generated by Harry Roberts and other members of his family. Most of the correspondence is with his sister and brother. Arranged chronologically within the folder.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Personal Boxes #1-12 The bulk of this sub-series consist of correspondence between Harry Roberts and hundreds of individuals he met and worked with. Included in this sub-series are material, which\nhelp to document the Civil Rights movement in Petersburg. of particular note was Roberts attempts to establish a forum to disciss interracial problems. This sub-series is divided into two sections. The first part\nis made up of correspondences arranged by folder headings. The second section is made up of correspondence by date. both sections are arranged chronologically.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Community Activities Boxes #13-14 Correspondence maintained by Harry Roberts concerning numerous issues in and around Petersburg. The correspondence includes copies of many of Robers' editorials\nwritten during the late 1950's and early 1960's.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Organizations and Affiliations Boxes #15-34\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. The Association of Social Science Teachers in Negro Colleges Boxes #15-17A,18A The ASSA was established by African-American professeors of social science and served as a platform for the\npresentation of paper and, issues directed to the African-American experience. Roberts held several positions within this group including this association published The Journal of Social Science Teachers.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The Virginia Social Science Association 1964-1967 Boxes #18-18A The Virginia Social Science Association opened its doors to African-Americans in the 1960's.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. The Virginia Council of Churches Boxes #19-20 Correspondence, newsletters, and reports mainly focused on how the church could or should aid in bringing about social change.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Faculty Christian Fellowship Box #20 Organized in 1952 at Berea, Kentucky this organizations goal was to improve and make aware of developments and activities of Christian faculty members in\nU.S. schools and universities. Correspondence arranged chronology.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. Hollins College Box #20 Correspondence with Bell Beard Boone and the sociology department of Hollins College. Much of the correspondence pertains to their studies of rural life in South West\nVirginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Central State Hospital Box #20 Mainly correspondence pertaining to improving services at the Central State Hospital, which provided services to African-Americans only. Included in the sub-series\nare a number of newsletters concerning activities at the training school. Although a state agency the newsletters were printed by the employees of the training school.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Society of Social Problems Boxes #21-22 One of the many professional organizations Roberts held membership\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. The Southen Sociology Society Box #22 Correspondence with other members, concerning meetings, papers and research interest.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. The Frontiers Club Boxes #23-25A The Frontiers a national service organization, which devoted it's time and resources to uplifting the life and total betterment of African-American young men. A\nregional chapter of this organization was established by the teaching faculties of Virginia State and Peabody High School\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. The Rural Sociology Society Box #26 The Bulk of these materials document Roberts professional involvement with this group. Correspondence with fellow members regarding interest, grants, and areas\nof mutual concerns.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. Southern Regional Education Board Box #26 The Southern Regional Education Board. Established in 1949, this group met on a yearly basis and discussed some of the South's problems. This sub-series\ncontains minutes, reports, and correspondence.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series L. The Virginia Council on Human Relations Box #27 One of the oldest organizations in Virginia which sought to improve race relations in the commonwealth reports, minutes and correspondences which\ndocument some of their activities.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series M. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Boxes #28-31 Harry Roberts was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and chaired the educational committee which awarded a prize for the best essay addressing some\naspect of citizenship in America. The sub-series includes copies of those essay, beginning in box 30.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series N. The Virginia Voters League Box #32 The Virginia Voters League was first organized by Luther Porter Jackson and Robert Cooley in 1941. Luther Jackson died in 1950 and there were several\nunsuccessful attempts to continue the work of the league through the early 1950's.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series O. The NAACP Box #32 Correspondence form both the national and state offices.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series P. The Summer School for Ministers Boxes #33-33A In 1943 a meeting was held at Virgina State College for Negroes (now Virginia State Univeristy) to discuss the problem of \"rural Negro ministers.\"\nThis was a cooperative meeting attended by the president of the states's HBCU's. At this meeting the \"Conference of Virginia Negro Colleges on Rural Life\" was formed. The first summer school for ministers was held\nin 1943 and continued until 1950 under Roberts direction at Virginia State.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series Q. The Leagues of Colored Peoples Box #34 The League of Colored Peoples was established at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support those students who were from various parts\nof the Empire. Students from the Caribbean, East, West, and South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India composed the membership. Included are copies of their newsletter, The Keys.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. The Department of Sociology Boxes #35-48\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Annual Reports Box #35 Harry Roberts began the department of Sociology at Virginia State Univerisity in 1935. In this sub-series are all of the deparments records from 1935-1968.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Correspondence By Folder Heading Box #35 Correspondence maintained by Roberts, arranged by folder heading.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Correspondence By Date Boxes #36-46 Correspondence maintained bt Roberts arranged by date.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Sociology Graduates Box #47 Roberts undertook a ten year study to document the accomplishments of the department. Information was obatined from graduates regarding what they were doing, located,\ngraduate training, and how had the program chainged their lives.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. Notes on History of the Sociology Department Box #48 Research date compiled by Roberts and he attempted to develop a profile of the sociology department and its graduates.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. HBCU, Graduates in the TVA States 1941-1950 Box #48 In the 1960's a study was undertaken to measure how certain programs of the Tennessee Valley authority had helped or hurt African-American\npopulation in the Tennessee Valley.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Literary Boxes #49-52\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Diary Box #49 Diary maintained by Roberts over a period from 1932-1968. Entries begin while Roberts was a student in England. Some of the material, record his observations, thoughts and general\nitems of interest from the perspective of a young African-American male living and studying in Europe. Other materials of interest concern various issues concerining the Chesterfield and Petersburg area later\nafter joining the faculty at Virginia State University.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Articles Box #49 A wide range of pieces authored by Roberts. This sub-series includes articles published as well as pieces addressed to local newspapers. In this sub-series is Roberts study on\n\"Black-White\" soldiers, additionally there are articles or papers based on his Doctoral Dissertation and Master Thesis.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Thesis and Dissertation Boxes #50-52 Drafts of Roberts Dissertation, and his thesis The Life and Labor of Rural Virginia Negroes, 1942.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Research Data Boxes #52-55\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Dissertation Research Boxes #52-53 Articles, (non published) about rural Viginia life, and local problems of interest\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The Jerome Davis Papers 1954-1955 Boxes #54-55 The correspondence and minutes of the Columbia Conserve Company document Jerome Davis's role in mediating a labor dispute. Other arbitratiors were\nPaul H. Douglan Sherwood Eddy and James Myers. The Conserve Company in the 1930's was experimenting with what they called \"Industrial Democracy\"\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI. Photographs Box #56-57\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family/Personal Photographs Box #56 A board range of photographs kept by Harry Roberts. Several photographs of family members. The majority however are related to travel and organization which\nRoberts was associated with and university activities\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Jerome Davis Photographs Box #57 Taken in Russia before and during the Bolsheviks Revolution.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VII. Printed Boxes #58-64\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. African-American Newspapers Tray #58 Unique grouping of African-American Newspapers, published in Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The Expected Box #59 The offical publication of the Virginia Baptist State Converntion. News articles, biographies, views of the association.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. The Zion Herald News Box #59 Church news, items of intrest concerning church members and highlights of this Petersburg church.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Baptist Trumpet Box #59 Published in Arrington, on behalf of a number of churches in the northern Virginia area.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. The Mountain Voice Box #59 Published in Pinewood, Kentucky for the Mountain Preachers Bible and Kindred Clear Creek Activists; 1948-1951\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Religion and Labor Box #59 THe offical newsletter for the Religion and Labor Foundation 1958-1960\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Richmond Unitarian Boxes #60-61 Newsletters of the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. Newsletters Box #61 Publications that include the Virginia Council of Churches, NAACP newsletters, journals and other materials.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. Printed programs and brochures Box #62 A combination of printed programs and brochures some of which document Roberts speaking engagements.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. Journals and Pamphlets Box #63 A wide range of printed material. Most of the materials consern interest of Roberts as a faculty member at Virginia State.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. Postcards and Scrapbooks Box #46 Roberts aquired a number of postcards during his travels. In addition several scrapbooks were maintained which include a number of printed journals.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. Correspondence, Family, Personal, and Community Activites Boxes #1-14","Sub-Series A. Family Box #1 Correspondence generated by Harry Roberts and other members of his family. Most of the correspondence is with his sister and brother. Arranged chronologically within the folder.","Sub-Series B. Personal Boxes #1-12 The bulk of this sub-series consist of correspondence between Harry Roberts and hundreds of individuals he met and worked with. Included in this sub-series are material, which\nhelp to document the Civil Rights movement in Petersburg. of particular note was Roberts attempts to establish a forum to disciss interracial problems. This sub-series is divided into two sections. The first part\nis made up of correspondences arranged by folder headings. The second section is made up of correspondence by date. both sections are arranged chronologically.","Sub-Series C. Community Activities Boxes #13-14 Correspondence maintained by Harry Roberts concerning numerous issues in and around Petersburg. The correspondence includes copies of many of Robers' editorials\nwritten during the late 1950's and early 1960's.","Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Boxes #15-34","Sub-Series A. The Association of Social Science Teachers in Negro Colleges Boxes #15-17A,18A The ASSA was established by African-American professeors of social science and served as a platform for the\npresentation of paper and, issues directed to the African-American experience. Roberts held several positions within this group including this association published The Journal of Social Science Teachers.","Sub-Series B. The Virginia Social Science Association 1964-1967 Boxes #18-18A The Virginia Social Science Association opened its doors to African-Americans in the 1960's.","Sub-Series C. The Virginia Council of Churches Boxes #19-20 Correspondence, newsletters, and reports mainly focused on how the church could or should aid in bringing about social change.","Sub-Series D. The Faculty Christian Fellowship Box #20 Organized in 1952 at Berea, Kentucky this organizations goal was to improve and make aware of developments and activities of Christian faculty members in\nU.S. schools and universities. Correspondence arranged chronology.","Sub-Series E. Hollins College Box #20 Correspondence with Bell Beard Boone and the sociology department of Hollins College. Much of the correspondence pertains to their studies of rural life in South West\nVirginia.","Sub-Series F. Central State Hospital Box #20 Mainly correspondence pertaining to improving services at the Central State Hospital, which provided services to African-Americans only. Included in the sub-series\nare a number of newsletters concerning activities at the training school. Although a state agency the newsletters were printed by the employees of the training school.","Sub-Series G. The Society of Social Problems Boxes #21-22 One of the many professional organizations Roberts held membership","Sub-Series H. The Southen Sociology Society Box #22 Correspondence with other members, concerning meetings, papers and research interest.","Sub-Series I. The Frontiers Club Boxes #23-25A The Frontiers a national service organization, which devoted it's time and resources to uplifting the life and total betterment of African-American young men. A\nregional chapter of this organization was established by the teaching faculties of Virginia State and Peabody High School","Sub-Series J. The Rural Sociology Society Box #26 The Bulk of these materials document Roberts professional involvement with this group. Correspondence with fellow members regarding interest, grants, and areas\nof mutual concerns.","Sub-Series K. Southern Regional Education Board Box #26 The Southern Regional Education Board. Established in 1949, this group met on a yearly basis and discussed some of the South's problems. This sub-series\ncontains minutes, reports, and correspondence.","Sub-Series L. The Virginia Council on Human Relations Box #27 One of the oldest organizations in Virginia which sought to improve race relations in the commonwealth reports, minutes and correspondences which\ndocument some of their activities.","Sub-Series M. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Boxes #28-31 Harry Roberts was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and chaired the educational committee which awarded a prize for the best essay addressing some\naspect of citizenship in America. The sub-series includes copies of those essay, beginning in box 30.","Sub-Series N. The Virginia Voters League Box #32 The Virginia Voters League was first organized by Luther Porter Jackson and Robert Cooley in 1941. Luther Jackson died in 1950 and there were several\nunsuccessful attempts to continue the work of the league through the early 1950's.","Sub-Series O. The NAACP Box #32 Correspondence form both the national and state offices.","Sub-Series P. The Summer School for Ministers Boxes #33-33A In 1943 a meeting was held at Virgina State College for Negroes (now Virginia State Univeristy) to discuss the problem of \"rural Negro ministers.\"\nThis was a cooperative meeting attended by the president of the states's HBCU's. At this meeting the \"Conference of Virginia Negro Colleges on Rural Life\" was formed. The first summer school for ministers was held\nin 1943 and continued until 1950 under Roberts direction at Virginia State.","Sub-Series Q. The Leagues of Colored Peoples Box #34 The League of Colored Peoples was established at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support those students who were from various parts\nof the Empire. Students from the Caribbean, East, West, and South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India composed the membership. Included are copies of their newsletter, The Keys.","Series III. The Department of Sociology Boxes #35-48","Sub-Series A. Annual Reports Box #35 Harry Roberts began the department of Sociology at Virginia State Univerisity in 1935. In this sub-series are all of the deparments records from 1935-1968.","Sub-Series B. Correspondence By Folder Heading Box #35 Correspondence maintained by Roberts, arranged by folder heading.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence By Date Boxes #36-46 Correspondence maintained bt Roberts arranged by date.","Sub-Series D. Sociology Graduates Box #47 Roberts undertook a ten year study to document the accomplishments of the department. Information was obatined from graduates regarding what they were doing, located,\ngraduate training, and how had the program chainged their lives.","Sub-Series E. Notes on History of the Sociology Department Box #48 Research date compiled by Roberts and he attempted to develop a profile of the sociology department and its graduates.","Sub-Series F. HBCU, Graduates in the TVA States 1941-1950 Box #48 In the 1960's a study was undertaken to measure how certain programs of the Tennessee Valley authority had helped or hurt African-American\npopulation in the Tennessee Valley.","Series IV. Literary Boxes #49-52","Sub-Series A. Diary Box #49 Diary maintained by Roberts over a period from 1932-1968. Entries begin while Roberts was a student in England. Some of the material, record his observations, thoughts and general\nitems of interest from the perspective of a young African-American male living and studying in Europe. Other materials of interest concern various issues concerining the Chesterfield and Petersburg area later\nafter joining the faculty at Virginia State University.","Sub-Series B. Articles Box #49 A wide range of pieces authored by Roberts. This sub-series includes articles published as well as pieces addressed to local newspapers. In this sub-series is Roberts study on\n\"Black-White\" soldiers, additionally there are articles or papers based on his Doctoral Dissertation and Master Thesis.","Sub-Series C. Thesis and Dissertation Boxes #50-52 Drafts of Roberts Dissertation, and his thesis The Life and Labor of Rural Virginia Negroes, 1942.","Series V. Research Data Boxes #52-55","Sub-Series A. Dissertation Research Boxes #52-53 Articles, (non published) about rural Viginia life, and local problems of interest","Sub-Series B. The Jerome Davis Papers 1954-1955 Boxes #54-55 The correspondence and minutes of the Columbia Conserve Company document Jerome Davis's role in mediating a labor dispute. Other arbitratiors were\nPaul H. Douglan Sherwood Eddy and James Myers. The Conserve Company in the 1930's was experimenting with what they called \"Industrial Democracy\"","Series VI. Photographs Box #56-57","Sub-Series A. Family/Personal Photographs Box #56 A board range of photographs kept by Harry Roberts. Several photographs of family members. The majority however are related to travel and organization which\nRoberts was associated with and university activities","Sub-Series B. Jerome Davis Photographs Box #57 Taken in Russia before and during the Bolsheviks Revolution.","Series VII. Printed Boxes #58-64","Sub-Series A. African-American Newspapers Tray #58 Unique grouping of African-American Newspapers, published in Virginia.","Sub-Series B. The Expected Box #59 The offical publication of the Virginia Baptist State Converntion. News articles, biographies, views of the association.","Sub-Series C. The Zion Herald News Box #59 Church news, items of intrest concerning church members and highlights of this Petersburg church.","Sub-Series D. The Baptist Trumpet Box #59 Published in Arrington, on behalf of a number of churches in the northern Virginia area.","Sub-Series E. The Mountain Voice Box #59 Published in Pinewood, Kentucky for the Mountain Preachers Bible and Kindred Clear Creek Activists; 1948-1951","Sub-Series F. Religion and Labor Box #59 THe offical newsletter for the Religion and Labor Foundation 1958-1960","Sub-Series G. The Richmond Unitarian Boxes #60-61 Newsletters of the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia.","Sub-Series H. Newsletters Box #61 Publications that include the Virginia Council of Churches, NAACP newsletters, journals and other materials.","Sub-Series I. Printed programs and brochures Box #62 A combination of printed programs and brochures some of which document Roberts speaking engagements.","Sub-Series J. Journals and Pamphlets Box #63 A wide range of printed material. Most of the materials consern interest of Roberts as a faculty member at Virginia State.","Sub-Series K. Postcards and Scrapbooks Box #46 Roberts aquired a number of postcards during his travels. In addition several scrapbooks were maintained which include a number of printed journals."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHarry Walter Roberts was born in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania to Wallace and Frances (Jackson) Roberts and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. After completing his secondary education, he matriculateed at Wilberforce\nUniversity, where he earned an A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and the B.D. degree from Yale Univerity. He also studied at the London School of Economics, where he earned the M.A. with distinction in 1935.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eWith the completion of his M.A. in 1935, Harry Roberts joined the faculty of what was the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University. During his thirty-four years at Virginia State he\nestablished the Department of Sociology and was the founder of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, and the National Sociology Honor Society. He also continued his academic studies and earned from Yale\nUniversity in 1942, a Ph.D. degree.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eRoberts was a member of a number of professional organizations far too numerous to cite here. In many of these organizations he held elected offices. In addition, he worked with a number of groups and\nassociations in the academic arena.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Roberts was an authority on rural Virginia Blacks and rural Baptiat churches and conducted extensive research in there area, some of which were done in cooperation with Virginia Polytechnic Institute ( and\nState University). His works have been published in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Negro Education, the Journal of Social Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Quarterly Review of Higher Education\nAmong Negroes, Social Forces, Social Problems, Rural Sociology, Viginia State University Gazette, and the Viginia Teachers Bulletin.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Harry Walter Roberts was born in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania to Wallace and Frances (Jackson) Roberts and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. After completing his secondary education, he matriculateed at Wilberforce\nUniversity, where he earned an A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and the B.D. degree from Yale Univerity. He also studied at the London School of Economics, where he earned the M.A. with distinction in 1935.","With the completion of his M.A. in 1935, Harry Roberts joined the faculty of what was the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University. During his thirty-four years at Virginia State he\nestablished the Department of Sociology and was the founder of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, and the National Sociology Honor Society. He also continued his academic studies and earned from Yale\nUniversity in 1942, a Ph.D. degree.","Roberts was a member of a number of professional organizations far too numerous to cite here. In many of these organizations he held elected offices. In addition, he worked with a number of groups and\nassociations in the academic arena.","Dr. Roberts was an authority on rural Virginia Blacks and rural Baptiat churches and conducted extensive research in there area, some of which were done in cooperation with Virginia Polytechnic Institute ( and\nState University). His works have been published in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Negro Education, the Journal of Social Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Quarterly Review of Higher Education\nAmong Negroes, Social Forces, Social Problems, Rural Sociology, Viginia State University Gazette, and the Viginia Teachers Bulletin."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts], Accession #[ 1984-39], Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["[A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts], Accession #[ 1984-39], Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRoberts like many other members of the faculty at Virginia State was both a scholar and a social and political activist. As a scholar Roberts was a prodigious investigatior of African American life and culture\nin rural Virginia. He also produced a number of scholarly studies, which examined the problems of race relations in the United States. Harry Roberts was also active in a number of activities, which attempted to\nbring about social, economic, and political change. He maintained a life long relationship with Jerome Davis who he met while a student a Yale Univeristy. In the 1960's he joined Davis on a trip to the Soviet\nUnion, which raised local conerns abour Roberts politics. In addition Roberts attempted to form an alliance of local ministers in Petersburg who would commit to bringing about peaceful integration in Petersburg.\nHarry Roberts was a scholar, and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a believer in the social gospel. The Roberts papers document his activities not only as a scholar but\nalso a social and policital activist. The Roberts papers are a window into a time lost. Anyone interested in the Aferican American history in the rural life in Virgina should seek the papers of Harry Roberts\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Roberts like many other members of the faculty at Virginia State was both a scholar and a social and political activist. As a scholar Roberts was a prodigious investigatior of African American life and culture\nin rural Virginia. He also produced a number of scholarly studies, which examined the problems of race relations in the United States. Harry Roberts was also active in a number of activities, which attempted to\nbring about social, economic, and political change. He maintained a life long relationship with Jerome Davis who he met while a student a Yale Univeristy. In the 1960's he joined Davis on a trip to the Soviet\nUnion, which raised local conerns abour Roberts politics. In addition Roberts attempted to form an alliance of local ministers in Petersburg who would commit to bringing about peaceful integration in Petersburg.\nHarry Roberts was a scholar, and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a believer in the social gospel. The Roberts papers document his activities not only as a scholar but\nalso a social and policital activist. The Roberts papers are a window into a time lost. Anyone interested in the Aferican American history in the rural life in Virgina should seek the papers of Harry Roberts"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eHarry W. Roberts was a professor of sociology at Virginia State University from 1935 until 1968. While at Virginia State Roberts was an authority on African American life and culture in\nrural Virginia. His papers consist of correspondence, writings, and a few photographs. Acc. #1984-39\n\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Harry W. Roberts was a professor of sociology at Virginia State University from 1935 until 1968. While at Virginia State Roberts was an authority on African American life and culture in\nrural Virginia. His papers consist of correspondence, writings, and a few photographs. Acc. #1984-39"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1348,"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_vipets00062_c05_c02_c16"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00053_c03_c01","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Writing \n                  \n                  1928","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00053_c03_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00053_c03_c01","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00053_c03_c01"],"id":"vipets_vipets00053_c03_c01","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00053","_root_":"vipets_vipets00053","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00053_c03","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00053_c03","parent_ssim":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962","Series III.: Literary"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00053","vipets_vipets00053_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing \n                  \n                  1928","title_ssm":["Writing \n                  \n                  1928"],"title_tesim":["Writing \n                  \n                  1928"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing \n                  \n                  1928"],"text":["Writing \n                  \n                  1928","A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962","Series III.: Literary","Box-folder 1:8"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962","Series III.: Literary"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962","Series III.: Literary"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":11,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 1:8"],"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_vipets00053","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00053","_root_":"vipets_vipets00053","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00053","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00053.xml","title_ssm":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962"],"title_tesim":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962"],"text":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962","1985-35","There are no restrictions.","Series I. Minutes Minutes of several campus organizations\n         which Pawley was affiliated with.","Series II. Correspondence The bulk of this series documents\n         pawleys correspondence with other members and administrators\n         of the faculty during his tenure. In addition, some\n         corrospondence relating to Pawleys book which was pulished in\n         1930.","Series III. Literary This material was added to the papers\n         by Thomas Pawley Jr. There is some correspondence and sketches\n         of both Luther Porter jackson and John M. Gandy which Pawley\n         was asked to contribute for the Dictionary of American Negro\n         Biography.","Series IV. Printed Programs, flyers, and degrees of Thomas\n         Pawley and his wife, Ethel J. Pawley.","Series V. Photographs. Photograph of Virginia State\n         University class of 1925.","Thomas Pawley a graduate of Amherst and Harvard was\n         professor of English at Virginia State College from 194 until\n         1947. During his tenure he coached the debating team and\n         authored an english text book entitled A Modern Advanced\n         English Gramma in 1930. A street was named for him at the\n         University in 1986.","Mr. Pawleys papers are made up primarily of Correspondence\n         both personal and businesss. In addition there are a few\n         printed items such as programs and degrees of family members.\n         On a particular note are several folders included by Thomas\n         Pawley, Jr documenting his articles about John M. Gandy and\n         Luther Porter Jackson .","There are no restrictions.","The Pawley papers consist of some\n         business correspondence and other Memorabilia. Mr.Pawley was a\n         member of the faculty at Virginia State University. Acc.\n         #1985-35","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962"],"collection_ssim":["A guide to the Thomas D. Pawley\n         Papers \n         \n         1912-1962"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1985-35"],"unitid_tesim":["1985-35"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["The Thomas D. Pawley\n         papers were given to Virginia State University as a\n         gift."],"creator_ssim":["The Thomas D. Pawley\n         papers were given to Virginia State University as a\n         gift."],"acqinfo_ssim":["A gift from the Pawley 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. Minutes Minutes of several campus organizations\n         which Pawley was affiliated with.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Correspondence The bulk of this series documents\n         pawleys correspondence with other members and administrators\n         of the faculty during his tenure. In addition, some\n         corrospondence relating to Pawleys book which was pulished in\n         1930.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Literary This material was added to the papers\n         by Thomas Pawley Jr. There is some correspondence and sketches\n         of both Luther Porter jackson and John M. Gandy which Pawley\n         was asked to contribute for the Dictionary of American Negro\n         Biography.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Printed Programs, flyers, and degrees of Thomas\n         Pawley and his wife, Ethel J. Pawley.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Photographs. Photograph of Virginia State\n         University class of 1925.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. Minutes Minutes of several campus organizations\n         which Pawley was affiliated with.","Series II. Correspondence The bulk of this series documents\n         pawleys correspondence with other members and administrators\n         of the faculty during his tenure. In addition, some\n         corrospondence relating to Pawleys book which was pulished in\n         1930.","Series III. Literary This material was added to the papers\n         by Thomas Pawley Jr. There is some correspondence and sketches\n         of both Luther Porter jackson and John M. Gandy which Pawley\n         was asked to contribute for the Dictionary of American Negro\n         Biography.","Series IV. Printed Programs, flyers, and degrees of Thomas\n         Pawley and his wife, Ethel J. Pawley.","Series V. Photographs. Photograph of Virginia State\n         University class of 1925."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThomas Pawley a graduate of Amherst and Harvard was\n         professor of English at Virginia State College from 194 until\n         1947. During his tenure he coached the debating team and\n         authored an english text book entitled A Modern Advanced\n         English Gramma in 1930. A street was named for him at the\n         University in 1986.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Thomas Pawley a graduate of Amherst and Harvard was\n         professor of English at Virginia State College from 194 until\n         1947. During his tenure he coached the debating team and\n         authored an english text book entitled A Modern Advanced\n         English Gramma in 1930. A street was named for him at the\n         University in 1986."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Thomas D. Pawley, Accession # 1985-35 , Special\n            Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library,\n            Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Thomas D. Pawley, Accession # 1985-35 , Special\n            Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library,\n            Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMr. Pawleys papers are made up primarily of Correspondence\n         both personal and businesss. In addition there are a few\n         printed items such as programs and degrees of family members.\n         On a particular note are several folders included by Thomas\n         Pawley, Jr documenting his articles about John M. Gandy and\n         Luther Porter Jackson .\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Mr. Pawleys papers are made up primarily of Correspondence\n         both personal and businesss. In addition there are a few\n         printed items such as programs and degrees of family members.\n         On a particular note are several folders included by Thomas\n         Pawley, Jr documenting his articles about John M. Gandy and\n         Luther Porter Jackson ."],"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 Pawley papers consist of some\n         business correspondence and other Memorabilia. Mr.Pawley was a\n         member of the faculty at Virginia State University. Acc.\n         #1985-35\u003c/abstract\u003e\n      "],"abstract_tesim":["The Pawley papers consist of some\n         business correspondence and other Memorabilia. Mr.Pawley was a\n         member of the faculty at Virginia State University. Acc.\n         #1985-35"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":23,"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_vipets00053_c03_c01"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02_c01","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Writing- Alpha Phi Alpha","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02_c01","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02_c01"],"id":"vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02_c01","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00052","_root_":"vipets_vipets00052","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02","parent_ssim":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966","Series II.: Organizations and\n               Affiliations","sub-series B.: Nu GammaChapter,\n                  Records"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00052","vipets_vipets00052_c02","vipets_vipets00052_c02_c02"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing- Alpha Phi Alpha","title_ssm":["Writing- Alpha Phi Alpha"],"title_tesim":["Writing- Alpha Phi Alpha"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing- Alpha Phi Alpha"],"text":["Writing- Alpha Phi Alpha","Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966","Series II.: Organizations and\n               Affiliations","sub-series B.: Nu GammaChapter,\n                  Records","Box-folder 3:1"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966","Series II.: Organizations and\n               Affiliations","sub-series B.: Nu GammaChapter,\n                  Records"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966","Series II.: Organizations and\n               Affiliations","sub-series B.: Nu GammaChapter,\n                  Records"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":43,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 3:1"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#1/components#0","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00052","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00052","_root_":"vipets_vipets00052","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00052","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00052.xml","title_ssm":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966"],"title_tesim":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966"],"text":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966","1920-1966","5,000\n         items","Additional information about Robert P. Daniels may be\n            found in the Virginia State University Archives.","Series I. Correspondences 1926-1960 Some personal and\n         business correspondence of Robert P. Daniel. Most of the\n         correspondences has to do with Mr. Daniel's leaving Shaw\n         University to become the fifth President of Virginia State\n         College in 1949-1950. sub-series A. Personal Correspondence.\n         sub-series B. Buisness Correspondence","Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Sub-series A.\n         Alpha Phi Alpha Sub-Series B. Virginia Union Alumni\n         Association Sub-Series C. Class (1924)Reunions","Series III. Literary Speeches, Sermons and radio addresses\n         made by Robert P. Daniel from 1936-1966. speeches are arranged\n         by subject and location. Writings State Teachers Report.\n         sub-series A. speeches. sub- series B. Sermons. sub-series C.\n         writings.","Series IV. Photographs. Sub-series A. Personal Sub-series\n         B. The International advisory Board on Liberia Sub-series C.\n         The Alpha Phi Apha Fraternity","Series V. Printed. Sub-Series A. Programs and Flyers with\n         Meetings Attended by Robert Daniel. Sub-Series B. Awards and\n         Certificates Presented by Robert Daniel over a period of years\n         documenting his involvement in a number of organizations.\n         Sub-Series C. Virginia Union University Printed Items\n         generated by Virginia Union University which includes\n         programs, bullitens, and a short history of Virginia Union\n         University. D. Shaw Printed Items such as Bulletins, and other\n         programs E. The Sphinx F. . Degrees and Appointments. Earned\n         degrees for Robert Daniel and members of the Daniel and Taylor\n         Families. Included are appointments for Robert Daniel for\n         several commissions G. Newspapers. Several issues of Black\n         owned newspapers, which were published in North Carolina,\n         Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. H. Newsclippings.\n         Newsclippings from a number of Newspaper mostly from Virginia\n         I.Civil Rights in Petersburg. Newsletters and Flyers\n         concerning some of the civil rights issues in Petersburg\n         during the 1960's","Series VI. Scrapbooks. Two Scrapbooks, The United States\n         Army Infantry Center and A testimonial in words and music.","Series VII. Artifacts Three Dimensional Items Awarded to or\n         collected by Robert Prentiss Daniel","Robert P. Daniel was elected to become the fifth president\n         of Virginia State University(then Virginia State College)in\n         December of 1949. He assumed his duties in February of 1950.\n         Mr. Daniel however was not a stranger to Virginia State,\n         having been born on the campus in 1902. This strange twist of\n         fate makes Robert P. Daniel the only President of a\n         state-supported institution who was born on the campus, which\n         he would later serve as chief administrator.","The historical background, which explains, this unusual\n         occurrence lay in the origins of the Daniel Family. The roots\n         of this family began in Louisa County Virginia, with Lucy\n         Langston, Robert Daniel's great great grandmother, who was\n         described as being of African and Virginia Indian origins.","Lucy langston lived as the only wife of Ralph Quarles, a\n         white farmer and landholder in Louisa County. Although this\n         was not a legal union(black-white marriages had been outlawed\n         in Virginia in 1692), the two lived as man and wife for more\n         than thirty years.","From this union came four children: Maria (Daniel's great\n         grandmother), Gideon, Charles and John Mercer Langston (who\n         become the first president of Virginia State in 1886-1887.\n         Ralph Quarles had given his common law wife her freedom\n         earlier and all four of these children were born free between\n         the years of 1800-1829.","Maria Langston married early and her proud father gave her\n         a section of his farm as a wedding gift and also from her\n         father she recieved as her personal property her husband\n         Joseph Powell, who was a slave belonging to Ralph Quarles.\n         Maria Langston like other free blacks, (men and women) around\n         the state of Virginia were forced to hold their husbands and\n         or wives as their personal property in order to keep the\n         family unit together.","From this union came Robert Daniel's grandmother Lucinda,\n         who like her mother also married a slave and was forced to\n         hold him as her enslaved property. Charles Daniel, father of\n         Robert Daniel was born in 1845 in Louisa and until around 1870\n         lived with his father and learned his trade in shoemaking.","In 1871 he entered the Richmond Institute graduating from\n         the Normal Department in 1877 and its Academic Department in\n         1878. He studied law for one year at Howard University and\n         then accepted a teaching position in Danville, Virginia.","In 1888 he was invited to become the Secretary of Virginia\n         Normal and Collegiate Institute. It was here in the old\n         Virginia hall that Robert Daniel and all but one of the eight\n         Daniel children were born.","Robert P. Daniel graduated from Virginia Union University\n         in 1924. Later, he obtained his MA and his doctorate at\n         Teachers College. He also completed a post doctoral study in\n         Bible at the Union Theological Seminary in New York during the\n         summers of 1943 and 1946.","Robert Daniel began his career in higher education at\n         Virginia Union University in Richmond as an instructor in\n         mathematics in 1924. Concurrently, Dr. Daniel supervised the\n         establishment of the Norfolk division of Virginia Union\n         University which later became the Norfork division of Virginia\n         State College. He was named president of Shaw University in\n         1936 until 1950.","Dr. Daniel was elected president of Virginia State College\n         by the State Board of Education on December 15th 1949\n         following the death of Luther H. Foster.","Dr. Daniel was an active member of several state and\n         national professional organizations.","The Daniel Papers document primarly his becoming the\n         President of Shaw University in 1936 and Virginia State\n         University in 1950. There is also correspondence concerning\n         his activities with a national radio program \"Wings over\n         Jordan\" and with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.In the daniel\n         papers are also some very interesting newsletters printed by\n         the \"Political Action Committee\" of the Petersburg Improvement\n         Association. These newsletters address the attempts to\n         desegrate public facilities in Petersburg.","There are no restrictions.","Personal and business\n         correspondence of the fifth President of Virginia State\n         University. Robert P. Daniel was one of the movers in\n         establishing what is now Norfolk State University. He was also\n         very involved in efforts to integrate the institutions of\n         higher learning in Virginia. Acc.#1976-16","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966"],"collection_ssim":["Robert Printiss Daniel \n         \n         1920-1966"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1920-1966"],"unitid_tesim":["1920-1966"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"creator_ssm":["Robert Printiss\n         Daniel"],"creator_ssim":["Robert Printiss\n         Daniel"],"acqinfo_ssim":["A gift from the Daniel Family."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["5,000\n         items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional information about Robert P. Daniels may be\n            found in the Virginia State University Archives.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Additional information about Robert P. Daniels may be\n            found in the Virginia State University Archives."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. Correspondences 1926-1960 Some personal and\n         business correspondence of Robert P. Daniel. Most of the\n         correspondences has to do with Mr. Daniel's leaving Shaw\n         University to become the fifth President of Virginia State\n         College in 1949-1950. sub-series A. Personal Correspondence.\n         sub-series B. Buisness Correspondence\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Organizations and Affiliations Sub-series A.\n         Alpha Phi Alpha Sub-Series B. Virginia Union Alumni\n         Association Sub-Series C. Class (1924)Reunions\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. Literary Speeches, Sermons and radio addresses\n         made by Robert P. Daniel from 1936-1966. speeches are arranged\n         by subject and location. Writings State Teachers Report.\n         sub-series A. speeches. sub- series B. Sermons. sub-series C.\n         writings.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Photographs. Sub-series A. Personal Sub-series\n         B. The International advisory Board on Liberia Sub-series C.\n         The Alpha Phi Apha Fraternity\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Printed. Sub-Series A. Programs and Flyers with\n         Meetings Attended by Robert Daniel. Sub-Series B. Awards and\n         Certificates Presented by Robert Daniel over a period of years\n         documenting his involvement in a number of organizations.\n         Sub-Series C. Virginia Union University Printed Items\n         generated by Virginia Union University which includes\n         programs, bullitens, and a short history of Virginia Union\n         University. D. Shaw Printed Items such as Bulletins, and other\n         programs E. The Sphinx F. . Degrees and Appointments. Earned\n         degrees for Robert Daniel and members of the Daniel and Taylor\n         Families. Included are appointments for Robert Daniel for\n         several commissions G. Newspapers. Several issues of Black\n         owned newspapers, which were published in North Carolina,\n         Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. H. Newsclippings.\n         Newsclippings from a number of Newspaper mostly from Virginia\n         I.Civil Rights in Petersburg. Newsletters and Flyers\n         concerning some of the civil rights issues in Petersburg\n         during the 1960's\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI. Scrapbooks. Two Scrapbooks, The United States\n         Army Infantry Center and A testimonial in words and music.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VII. Artifacts Three Dimensional Items Awarded to or\n         collected by Robert Prentiss Daniel\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Series Description"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. Correspondences 1926-1960 Some personal and\n         business correspondence of Robert P. Daniel. Most of the\n         correspondences has to do with Mr. Daniel's leaving Shaw\n         University to become the fifth President of Virginia State\n         College in 1949-1950. sub-series A. Personal Correspondence.\n         sub-series B. Buisness Correspondence","Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Sub-series A.\n         Alpha Phi Alpha Sub-Series B. Virginia Union Alumni\n         Association Sub-Series C. Class (1924)Reunions","Series III. Literary Speeches, Sermons and radio addresses\n         made by Robert P. Daniel from 1936-1966. speeches are arranged\n         by subject and location. Writings State Teachers Report.\n         sub-series A. speeches. sub- series B. Sermons. sub-series C.\n         writings.","Series IV. Photographs. Sub-series A. Personal Sub-series\n         B. The International advisory Board on Liberia Sub-series C.\n         The Alpha Phi Apha Fraternity","Series V. Printed. Sub-Series A. Programs and Flyers with\n         Meetings Attended by Robert Daniel. Sub-Series B. Awards and\n         Certificates Presented by Robert Daniel over a period of years\n         documenting his involvement in a number of organizations.\n         Sub-Series C. Virginia Union University Printed Items\n         generated by Virginia Union University which includes\n         programs, bullitens, and a short history of Virginia Union\n         University. D. Shaw Printed Items such as Bulletins, and other\n         programs E. The Sphinx F. . Degrees and Appointments. Earned\n         degrees for Robert Daniel and members of the Daniel and Taylor\n         Families. Included are appointments for Robert Daniel for\n         several commissions G. Newspapers. Several issues of Black\n         owned newspapers, which were published in North Carolina,\n         Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. H. Newsclippings.\n         Newsclippings from a number of Newspaper mostly from Virginia\n         I.Civil Rights in Petersburg. Newsletters and Flyers\n         concerning some of the civil rights issues in Petersburg\n         during the 1960's","Series VI. Scrapbooks. Two Scrapbooks, The United States\n         Army Infantry Center and A testimonial in words and music.","Series VII. Artifacts Three Dimensional Items Awarded to or\n         collected by Robert Prentiss Daniel"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRobert P. Daniel was elected to become the fifth president\n         of Virginia State University(then Virginia State College)in\n         December of 1949. He assumed his duties in February of 1950.\n         Mr. Daniel however was not a stranger to Virginia State,\n         having been born on the campus in 1902. This strange twist of\n         fate makes Robert P. Daniel the only President of a\n         state-supported institution who was born on the campus, which\n         he would later serve as chief administrator.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe historical background, which explains, this unusual\n         occurrence lay in the origins of the Daniel Family. The roots\n         of this family began in Louisa County Virginia, with Lucy\n         Langston, Robert Daniel's great great grandmother, who was\n         described as being of African and Virginia Indian origins.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eLucy langston lived as the only wife of Ralph Quarles, a\n         white farmer and landholder in Louisa County. Although this\n         was not a legal union(black-white marriages had been outlawed\n         in Virginia in 1692), the two lived as man and wife for more\n         than thirty years.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eFrom this union came four children: Maria (Daniel's great\n         grandmother), Gideon, Charles and John Mercer Langston (who\n         become the first president of Virginia State in 1886-1887.\n         Ralph Quarles had given his common law wife her freedom\n         earlier and all four of these children were born free between\n         the years of 1800-1829.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eMaria Langston married early and her proud father gave her\n         a section of his farm as a wedding gift and also from her\n         father she recieved as her personal property her husband\n         Joseph Powell, who was a slave belonging to Ralph Quarles.\n         Maria Langston like other free blacks, (men and women) around\n         the state of Virginia were forced to hold their husbands and\n         or wives as their personal property in order to keep the\n         family unit together.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eFrom this union came Robert Daniel's grandmother Lucinda,\n         who like her mother also married a slave and was forced to\n         hold him as her enslaved property. Charles Daniel, father of\n         Robert Daniel was born in 1845 in Louisa and until around 1870\n         lived with his father and learned his trade in shoemaking.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1871 he entered the Richmond Institute graduating from\n         the Normal Department in 1877 and its Academic Department in\n         1878. He studied law for one year at Howard University and\n         then accepted a teaching position in Danville, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1888 he was invited to become the Secretary of Virginia\n         Normal and Collegiate Institute. It was here in the old\n         Virginia hall that Robert Daniel and all but one of the eight\n         Daniel children were born.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eRobert P. Daniel graduated from Virginia Union University\n         in 1924. Later, he obtained his MA and his doctorate at\n         Teachers College. He also completed a post doctoral study in\n         Bible at the Union Theological Seminary in New York during the\n         summers of 1943 and 1946.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eRobert Daniel began his career in higher education at\n         Virginia Union University in Richmond as an instructor in\n         mathematics in 1924. Concurrently, Dr. Daniel supervised the\n         establishment of the Norfolk division of Virginia Union\n         University which later became the Norfork division of Virginia\n         State College. He was named president of Shaw University in\n         1936 until 1950.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Daniel was elected president of Virginia State College\n         by the State Board of Education on December 15th 1949\n         following the death of Luther H. Foster.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Daniel was an active member of several state and\n         national professional organizations.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Robert P. Daniel was elected to become the fifth president\n         of Virginia State University(then Virginia State College)in\n         December of 1949. He assumed his duties in February of 1950.\n         Mr. Daniel however was not a stranger to Virginia State,\n         having been born on the campus in 1902. This strange twist of\n         fate makes Robert P. Daniel the only President of a\n         state-supported institution who was born on the campus, which\n         he would later serve as chief administrator.","The historical background, which explains, this unusual\n         occurrence lay in the origins of the Daniel Family. The roots\n         of this family began in Louisa County Virginia, with Lucy\n         Langston, Robert Daniel's great great grandmother, who was\n         described as being of African and Virginia Indian origins.","Lucy langston lived as the only wife of Ralph Quarles, a\n         white farmer and landholder in Louisa County. Although this\n         was not a legal union(black-white marriages had been outlawed\n         in Virginia in 1692), the two lived as man and wife for more\n         than thirty years.","From this union came four children: Maria (Daniel's great\n         grandmother), Gideon, Charles and John Mercer Langston (who\n         become the first president of Virginia State in 1886-1887.\n         Ralph Quarles had given his common law wife her freedom\n         earlier and all four of these children were born free between\n         the years of 1800-1829.","Maria Langston married early and her proud father gave her\n         a section of his farm as a wedding gift and also from her\n         father she recieved as her personal property her husband\n         Joseph Powell, who was a slave belonging to Ralph Quarles.\n         Maria Langston like other free blacks, (men and women) around\n         the state of Virginia were forced to hold their husbands and\n         or wives as their personal property in order to keep the\n         family unit together.","From this union came Robert Daniel's grandmother Lucinda,\n         who like her mother also married a slave and was forced to\n         hold him as her enslaved property. Charles Daniel, father of\n         Robert Daniel was born in 1845 in Louisa and until around 1870\n         lived with his father and learned his trade in shoemaking.","In 1871 he entered the Richmond Institute graduating from\n         the Normal Department in 1877 and its Academic Department in\n         1878. He studied law for one year at Howard University and\n         then accepted a teaching position in Danville, Virginia.","In 1888 he was invited to become the Secretary of Virginia\n         Normal and Collegiate Institute. It was here in the old\n         Virginia hall that Robert Daniel and all but one of the eight\n         Daniel children were born.","Robert P. Daniel graduated from Virginia Union University\n         in 1924. Later, he obtained his MA and his doctorate at\n         Teachers College. He also completed a post doctoral study in\n         Bible at the Union Theological Seminary in New York during the\n         summers of 1943 and 1946.","Robert Daniel began his career in higher education at\n         Virginia Union University in Richmond as an instructor in\n         mathematics in 1924. Concurrently, Dr. Daniel supervised the\n         establishment of the Norfolk division of Virginia Union\n         University which later became the Norfork division of Virginia\n         State College. He was named president of Shaw University in\n         1936 until 1950.","Dr. Daniel was elected president of Virginia State College\n         by the State Board of Education on December 15th 1949\n         following the death of Luther H. Foster.","Dr. Daniel was an active member of several state and\n         national professional organizations."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRobert Prentiss Daniel Papers, Accession # 1976-16,\n            Special Collections and University Archives, Johnston\n            Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg,\n            VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Robert Prentiss Daniel Papers, Accession # 1976-16,\n            Special Collections and University Archives, Johnston\n            Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg,\n            VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Daniel Papers document primarly his becoming the\n         President of Shaw University in 1936 and Virginia State\n         University in 1950. There is also correspondence concerning\n         his activities with a national radio program \"Wings over\n         Jordan\" and with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.In the daniel\n         papers are also some very interesting newsletters printed by\n         the \"Political Action Committee\" of the Petersburg Improvement\n         Association. These newsletters address the attempts to\n         desegrate public facilities in Petersburg.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Daniel Papers document primarly his becoming the\n         President of Shaw University in 1936 and Virginia State\n         University in 1950. There is also correspondence concerning\n         his activities with a national radio program \"Wings over\n         Jordan\" and with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.In the daniel\n         papers are also some very interesting newsletters printed by\n         the \"Political Action Committee\" of the Petersburg Improvement\n         Association. These newsletters address the attempts to\n         desegrate public facilities in Petersburg."],"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\"\u003ePersonal and business\n         correspondence of the fifth President of Virginia State\n         University. Robert P. Daniel was one of the movers in\n         establishing what is now Norfolk State University. He was also\n         very involved in efforts to integrate the institutions of\n         higher learning in Virginia. Acc.#1976-16\u003c/abstract\u003e\n      "],"abstract_tesim":["Personal and business\n         correspondence of the fifth President of Virginia State\n         University. Robert P. Daniel was one of the movers in\n         establishing what is now Norfolk State University. He was also\n         very involved in efforts to integrate the institutions of\n         higher learning in Virginia. Acc.#1976-16"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":363,"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_vipets00052_c02_c02_c01"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02_c05","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Writing-Interracial Marriage\n1947","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02_c05#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02_c05","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02_c05"],"id":"vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02_c05","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062","_root_":"vipets_vipets00062","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02","parent_ssim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series IV: Literary","Subseries B: Articles"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00062","vipets_vipets00062_c04","vipets_vipets00062_c04_c02"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing-Interracial Marriage\n1947","title_ssm":["Writing-Interracial Marriage\n1947"],"title_tesim":["Writing-Interracial Marriage\n1947"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing-Interracial Marriage\n1947"],"text":["Writing-Interracial Marriage\n1947","A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series IV: Literary","Subseries B: Articles","box-folder 49:5"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series IV: Literary","Subseries B: Articles"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","Series IV: Literary","Subseries B: Articles"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":840,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"containers_ssim":["box-folder 49:5"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#3/components#1/components#4","timestamp":"2026-06-23T07:06:20.598Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vipets_vipets00062","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00062","_root_":"vipets_vipets00062","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00062","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vsu/vipets00062.xml","title_ssm":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"title_tesim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"normalized_title_ssm":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"text":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts","1984-39","100,000 items","Collection is open to research.","Series I. Correspondence, Family, Personal, and Community Activites Boxes #1-14","Sub-Series A. Family Box #1 Correspondence generated by Harry Roberts and other members of his family. Most of the correspondence is with his sister and brother. Arranged chronologically within the folder.","Sub-Series B. Personal Boxes #1-12 The bulk of this sub-series consist of correspondence between Harry Roberts and hundreds of individuals he met and worked with. Included in this sub-series are material, which\nhelp to document the Civil Rights movement in Petersburg. of particular note was Roberts attempts to establish a forum to disciss interracial problems. This sub-series is divided into two sections. The first part\nis made up of correspondences arranged by folder headings. The second section is made up of correspondence by date. both sections are arranged chronologically.","Sub-Series C. Community Activities Boxes #13-14 Correspondence maintained by Harry Roberts concerning numerous issues in and around Petersburg. The correspondence includes copies of many of Robers' editorials\nwritten during the late 1950's and early 1960's.","Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Boxes #15-34","Sub-Series A. The Association of Social Science Teachers in Negro Colleges Boxes #15-17A,18A The ASSA was established by African-American professeors of social science and served as a platform for the\npresentation of paper and, issues directed to the African-American experience. Roberts held several positions within this group including this association published The Journal of Social Science Teachers.","Sub-Series B. The Virginia Social Science Association 1964-1967 Boxes #18-18A The Virginia Social Science Association opened its doors to African-Americans in the 1960's.","Sub-Series C. The Virginia Council of Churches Boxes #19-20 Correspondence, newsletters, and reports mainly focused on how the church could or should aid in bringing about social change.","Sub-Series D. The Faculty Christian Fellowship Box #20 Organized in 1952 at Berea, Kentucky this organizations goal was to improve and make aware of developments and activities of Christian faculty members in\nU.S. schools and universities. Correspondence arranged chronology.","Sub-Series E. Hollins College Box #20 Correspondence with Bell Beard Boone and the sociology department of Hollins College. Much of the correspondence pertains to their studies of rural life in South West\nVirginia.","Sub-Series F. Central State Hospital Box #20 Mainly correspondence pertaining to improving services at the Central State Hospital, which provided services to African-Americans only. Included in the sub-series\nare a number of newsletters concerning activities at the training school. Although a state agency the newsletters were printed by the employees of the training school.","Sub-Series G. The Society of Social Problems Boxes #21-22 One of the many professional organizations Roberts held membership","Sub-Series H. The Southen Sociology Society Box #22 Correspondence with other members, concerning meetings, papers and research interest.","Sub-Series I. The Frontiers Club Boxes #23-25A The Frontiers a national service organization, which devoted it's time and resources to uplifting the life and total betterment of African-American young men. A\nregional chapter of this organization was established by the teaching faculties of Virginia State and Peabody High School","Sub-Series J. The Rural Sociology Society Box #26 The Bulk of these materials document Roberts professional involvement with this group. Correspondence with fellow members regarding interest, grants, and areas\nof mutual concerns.","Sub-Series K. Southern Regional Education Board Box #26 The Southern Regional Education Board. Established in 1949, this group met on a yearly basis and discussed some of the South's problems. This sub-series\ncontains minutes, reports, and correspondence.","Sub-Series L. The Virginia Council on Human Relations Box #27 One of the oldest organizations in Virginia which sought to improve race relations in the commonwealth reports, minutes and correspondences which\ndocument some of their activities.","Sub-Series M. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Boxes #28-31 Harry Roberts was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and chaired the educational committee which awarded a prize for the best essay addressing some\naspect of citizenship in America. The sub-series includes copies of those essay, beginning in box 30.","Sub-Series N. The Virginia Voters League Box #32 The Virginia Voters League was first organized by Luther Porter Jackson and Robert Cooley in 1941. Luther Jackson died in 1950 and there were several\nunsuccessful attempts to continue the work of the league through the early 1950's.","Sub-Series O. The NAACP Box #32 Correspondence form both the national and state offices.","Sub-Series P. The Summer School for Ministers Boxes #33-33A In 1943 a meeting was held at Virgina State College for Negroes (now Virginia State Univeristy) to discuss the problem of \"rural Negro ministers.\"\nThis was a cooperative meeting attended by the president of the states's HBCU's. At this meeting the \"Conference of Virginia Negro Colleges on Rural Life\" was formed. The first summer school for ministers was held\nin 1943 and continued until 1950 under Roberts direction at Virginia State.","Sub-Series Q. The Leagues of Colored Peoples Box #34 The League of Colored Peoples was established at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support those students who were from various parts\nof the Empire. Students from the Caribbean, East, West, and South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India composed the membership. Included are copies of their newsletter, The Keys.","Series III. The Department of Sociology Boxes #35-48","Sub-Series A. Annual Reports Box #35 Harry Roberts began the department of Sociology at Virginia State Univerisity in 1935. In this sub-series are all of the deparments records from 1935-1968.","Sub-Series B. Correspondence By Folder Heading Box #35 Correspondence maintained by Roberts, arranged by folder heading.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence By Date Boxes #36-46 Correspondence maintained bt Roberts arranged by date.","Sub-Series D. Sociology Graduates Box #47 Roberts undertook a ten year study to document the accomplishments of the department. Information was obatined from graduates regarding what they were doing, located,\ngraduate training, and how had the program chainged their lives.","Sub-Series E. Notes on History of the Sociology Department Box #48 Research date compiled by Roberts and he attempted to develop a profile of the sociology department and its graduates.","Sub-Series F. HBCU, Graduates in the TVA States 1941-1950 Box #48 In the 1960's a study was undertaken to measure how certain programs of the Tennessee Valley authority had helped or hurt African-American\npopulation in the Tennessee Valley.","Series IV. Literary Boxes #49-52","Sub-Series A. Diary Box #49 Diary maintained by Roberts over a period from 1932-1968. Entries begin while Roberts was a student in England. Some of the material, record his observations, thoughts and general\nitems of interest from the perspective of a young African-American male living and studying in Europe. Other materials of interest concern various issues concerining the Chesterfield and Petersburg area later\nafter joining the faculty at Virginia State University.","Sub-Series B. Articles Box #49 A wide range of pieces authored by Roberts. This sub-series includes articles published as well as pieces addressed to local newspapers. In this sub-series is Roberts study on\n\"Black-White\" soldiers, additionally there are articles or papers based on his Doctoral Dissertation and Master Thesis.","Sub-Series C. Thesis and Dissertation Boxes #50-52 Drafts of Roberts Dissertation, and his thesis The Life and Labor of Rural Virginia Negroes, 1942.","Series V. Research Data Boxes #52-55","Sub-Series A. Dissertation Research Boxes #52-53 Articles, (non published) about rural Viginia life, and local problems of interest","Sub-Series B. The Jerome Davis Papers 1954-1955 Boxes #54-55 The correspondence and minutes of the Columbia Conserve Company document Jerome Davis's role in mediating a labor dispute. Other arbitratiors were\nPaul H. Douglan Sherwood Eddy and James Myers. The Conserve Company in the 1930's was experimenting with what they called \"Industrial Democracy\"","Series VI. Photographs Box #56-57","Sub-Series A. Family/Personal Photographs Box #56 A board range of photographs kept by Harry Roberts. Several photographs of family members. The majority however are related to travel and organization which\nRoberts was associated with and university activities","Sub-Series B. Jerome Davis Photographs Box #57 Taken in Russia before and during the Bolsheviks Revolution.","Series VII. Printed Boxes #58-64","Sub-Series A. African-American Newspapers Tray #58 Unique grouping of African-American Newspapers, published in Virginia.","Sub-Series B. The Expected Box #59 The offical publication of the Virginia Baptist State Converntion. News articles, biographies, views of the association.","Sub-Series C. The Zion Herald News Box #59 Church news, items of intrest concerning church members and highlights of this Petersburg church.","Sub-Series D. The Baptist Trumpet Box #59 Published in Arrington, on behalf of a number of churches in the northern Virginia area.","Sub-Series E. The Mountain Voice Box #59 Published in Pinewood, Kentucky for the Mountain Preachers Bible and Kindred Clear Creek Activists; 1948-1951","Sub-Series F. Religion and Labor Box #59 THe offical newsletter for the Religion and Labor Foundation 1958-1960","Sub-Series G. The Richmond Unitarian Boxes #60-61 Newsletters of the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia.","Sub-Series H. Newsletters Box #61 Publications that include the Virginia Council of Churches, NAACP newsletters, journals and other materials.","Sub-Series I. Printed programs and brochures Box #62 A combination of printed programs and brochures some of which document Roberts speaking engagements.","Sub-Series J. Journals and Pamphlets Box #63 A wide range of printed material. Most of the materials consern interest of Roberts as a faculty member at Virginia State.","Sub-Series K. Postcards and Scrapbooks Box #46 Roberts aquired a number of postcards during his travels. In addition several scrapbooks were maintained which include a number of printed journals.","Harry Walter Roberts was born in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania to Wallace and Frances (Jackson) Roberts and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. After completing his secondary education, he matriculateed at Wilberforce\nUniversity, where he earned an A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and the B.D. degree from Yale Univerity. He also studied at the London School of Economics, where he earned the M.A. with distinction in 1935.","With the completion of his M.A. in 1935, Harry Roberts joined the faculty of what was the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University. During his thirty-four years at Virginia State he\nestablished the Department of Sociology and was the founder of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, and the National Sociology Honor Society. He also continued his academic studies and earned from Yale\nUniversity in 1942, a Ph.D. degree.","Roberts was a member of a number of professional organizations far too numerous to cite here. In many of these organizations he held elected offices. In addition, he worked with a number of groups and\nassociations in the academic arena.","Dr. Roberts was an authority on rural Virginia Blacks and rural Baptiat churches and conducted extensive research in there area, some of which were done in cooperation with Virginia Polytechnic Institute ( and\nState University). His works have been published in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Negro Education, the Journal of Social Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Quarterly Review of Higher Education\nAmong Negroes, Social Forces, Social Problems, Rural Sociology, Viginia State University Gazette, and the Viginia Teachers Bulletin.","Roberts like many other members of the faculty at Virginia State was both a scholar and a social and political activist. As a scholar Roberts was a prodigious investigatior of African American life and culture\nin rural Virginia. He also produced a number of scholarly studies, which examined the problems of race relations in the United States. Harry Roberts was also active in a number of activities, which attempted to\nbring about social, economic, and political change. He maintained a life long relationship with Jerome Davis who he met while a student a Yale Univeristy. In the 1960's he joined Davis on a trip to the Soviet\nUnion, which raised local conerns abour Roberts politics. In addition Roberts attempted to form an alliance of local ministers in Petersburg who would commit to bringing about peaceful integration in Petersburg.\nHarry Roberts was a scholar, and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a believer in the social gospel. The Roberts papers document his activities not only as a scholar but\nalso a social and policital activist. The Roberts papers are a window into a time lost. Anyone interested in the Aferican American history in the rural life in Virgina should seek the papers of Harry Roberts","There are no restrictions.","Harry W. Roberts was a professor of sociology at Virginia State University from 1935 until 1968. While at Virginia State Roberts was an authority on African American life and culture in\nrural Virginia. His papers consist of correspondence, writings, and a few photographs. Acc. #1984-39","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"collection_ssim":["A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1984-39"],"unitid_tesim":["1984-39"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia State University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"acqinfo_ssim":["A gift from Mrs. Roberts"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["100,000 items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is open to research.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Collection is open to research."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSeries I. Correspondence, Family, Personal, and Community Activites Boxes #1-14\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family Box #1 Correspondence generated by Harry Roberts and other members of his family. Most of the correspondence is with his sister and brother. Arranged chronologically within the folder.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Personal Boxes #1-12 The bulk of this sub-series consist of correspondence between Harry Roberts and hundreds of individuals he met and worked with. Included in this sub-series are material, which\nhelp to document the Civil Rights movement in Petersburg. of particular note was Roberts attempts to establish a forum to disciss interracial problems. This sub-series is divided into two sections. The first part\nis made up of correspondences arranged by folder headings. The second section is made up of correspondence by date. both sections are arranged chronologically.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Community Activities Boxes #13-14 Correspondence maintained by Harry Roberts concerning numerous issues in and around Petersburg. The correspondence includes copies of many of Robers' editorials\nwritten during the late 1950's and early 1960's.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries II. Organizations and Affiliations Boxes #15-34\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. The Association of Social Science Teachers in Negro Colleges Boxes #15-17A,18A The ASSA was established by African-American professeors of social science and served as a platform for the\npresentation of paper and, issues directed to the African-American experience. Roberts held several positions within this group including this association published The Journal of Social Science Teachers.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The Virginia Social Science Association 1964-1967 Boxes #18-18A The Virginia Social Science Association opened its doors to African-Americans in the 1960's.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. The Virginia Council of Churches Boxes #19-20 Correspondence, newsletters, and reports mainly focused on how the church could or should aid in bringing about social change.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Faculty Christian Fellowship Box #20 Organized in 1952 at Berea, Kentucky this organizations goal was to improve and make aware of developments and activities of Christian faculty members in\nU.S. schools and universities. Correspondence arranged chronology.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. Hollins College Box #20 Correspondence with Bell Beard Boone and the sociology department of Hollins College. Much of the correspondence pertains to their studies of rural life in South West\nVirginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Central State Hospital Box #20 Mainly correspondence pertaining to improving services at the Central State Hospital, which provided services to African-Americans only. Included in the sub-series\nare a number of newsletters concerning activities at the training school. Although a state agency the newsletters were printed by the employees of the training school.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Society of Social Problems Boxes #21-22 One of the many professional organizations Roberts held membership\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. The Southen Sociology Society Box #22 Correspondence with other members, concerning meetings, papers and research interest.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. The Frontiers Club Boxes #23-25A The Frontiers a national service organization, which devoted it's time and resources to uplifting the life and total betterment of African-American young men. A\nregional chapter of this organization was established by the teaching faculties of Virginia State and Peabody High School\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. The Rural Sociology Society Box #26 The Bulk of these materials document Roberts professional involvement with this group. Correspondence with fellow members regarding interest, grants, and areas\nof mutual concerns.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. Southern Regional Education Board Box #26 The Southern Regional Education Board. Established in 1949, this group met on a yearly basis and discussed some of the South's problems. This sub-series\ncontains minutes, reports, and correspondence.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series L. The Virginia Council on Human Relations Box #27 One of the oldest organizations in Virginia which sought to improve race relations in the commonwealth reports, minutes and correspondences which\ndocument some of their activities.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series M. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Boxes #28-31 Harry Roberts was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and chaired the educational committee which awarded a prize for the best essay addressing some\naspect of citizenship in America. The sub-series includes copies of those essay, beginning in box 30.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series N. The Virginia Voters League Box #32 The Virginia Voters League was first organized by Luther Porter Jackson and Robert Cooley in 1941. Luther Jackson died in 1950 and there were several\nunsuccessful attempts to continue the work of the league through the early 1950's.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series O. The NAACP Box #32 Correspondence form both the national and state offices.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series P. The Summer School for Ministers Boxes #33-33A In 1943 a meeting was held at Virgina State College for Negroes (now Virginia State Univeristy) to discuss the problem of \"rural Negro ministers.\"\nThis was a cooperative meeting attended by the president of the states's HBCU's. At this meeting the \"Conference of Virginia Negro Colleges on Rural Life\" was formed. The first summer school for ministers was held\nin 1943 and continued until 1950 under Roberts direction at Virginia State.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series Q. The Leagues of Colored Peoples Box #34 The League of Colored Peoples was established at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support those students who were from various parts\nof the Empire. Students from the Caribbean, East, West, and South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India composed the membership. Included are copies of their newsletter, The Keys.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries III. The Department of Sociology Boxes #35-48\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Annual Reports Box #35 Harry Roberts began the department of Sociology at Virginia State Univerisity in 1935. In this sub-series are all of the deparments records from 1935-1968.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Correspondence By Folder Heading Box #35 Correspondence maintained by Roberts, arranged by folder heading.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Correspondence By Date Boxes #36-46 Correspondence maintained bt Roberts arranged by date.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. Sociology Graduates Box #47 Roberts undertook a ten year study to document the accomplishments of the department. Information was obatined from graduates regarding what they were doing, located,\ngraduate training, and how had the program chainged their lives.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. Notes on History of the Sociology Department Box #48 Research date compiled by Roberts and he attempted to develop a profile of the sociology department and its graduates.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. HBCU, Graduates in the TVA States 1941-1950 Box #48 In the 1960's a study was undertaken to measure how certain programs of the Tennessee Valley authority had helped or hurt African-American\npopulation in the Tennessee Valley.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries IV. Literary Boxes #49-52\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Diary Box #49 Diary maintained by Roberts over a period from 1932-1968. Entries begin while Roberts was a student in England. Some of the material, record his observations, thoughts and general\nitems of interest from the perspective of a young African-American male living and studying in Europe. Other materials of interest concern various issues concerining the Chesterfield and Petersburg area later\nafter joining the faculty at Virginia State University.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Articles Box #49 A wide range of pieces authored by Roberts. This sub-series includes articles published as well as pieces addressed to local newspapers. In this sub-series is Roberts study on\n\"Black-White\" soldiers, additionally there are articles or papers based on his Doctoral Dissertation and Master Thesis.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. Thesis and Dissertation Boxes #50-52 Drafts of Roberts Dissertation, and his thesis The Life and Labor of Rural Virginia Negroes, 1942.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries V. Research Data Boxes #52-55\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Dissertation Research Boxes #52-53 Articles, (non published) about rural Viginia life, and local problems of interest\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The Jerome Davis Papers 1954-1955 Boxes #54-55 The correspondence and minutes of the Columbia Conserve Company document Jerome Davis's role in mediating a labor dispute. Other arbitratiors were\nPaul H. Douglan Sherwood Eddy and James Myers. The Conserve Company in the 1930's was experimenting with what they called \"Industrial Democracy\"\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VI. Photographs Box #56-57\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. Family/Personal Photographs Box #56 A board range of photographs kept by Harry Roberts. Several photographs of family members. The majority however are related to travel and organization which\nRoberts was associated with and university activities\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. Jerome Davis Photographs Box #57 Taken in Russia before and during the Bolsheviks Revolution.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSeries VII. Printed Boxes #58-64\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series A. African-American Newspapers Tray #58 Unique grouping of African-American Newspapers, published in Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series B. The Expected Box #59 The offical publication of the Virginia Baptist State Converntion. News articles, biographies, views of the association.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series C. The Zion Herald News Box #59 Church news, items of intrest concerning church members and highlights of this Petersburg church.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series D. The Baptist Trumpet Box #59 Published in Arrington, on behalf of a number of churches in the northern Virginia area.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series E. The Mountain Voice Box #59 Published in Pinewood, Kentucky for the Mountain Preachers Bible and Kindred Clear Creek Activists; 1948-1951\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series F. Religion and Labor Box #59 THe offical newsletter for the Religion and Labor Foundation 1958-1960\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series G. The Richmond Unitarian Boxes #60-61 Newsletters of the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series H. Newsletters Box #61 Publications that include the Virginia Council of Churches, NAACP newsletters, journals and other materials.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series I. Printed programs and brochures Box #62 A combination of printed programs and brochures some of which document Roberts speaking engagements.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series J. Journals and Pamphlets Box #63 A wide range of printed material. Most of the materials consern interest of Roberts as a faculty member at Virginia State.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eSub-Series K. Postcards and Scrapbooks Box #46 Roberts aquired a number of postcards during his travels. In addition several scrapbooks were maintained which include a number of printed journals.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Series I. Correspondence, Family, Personal, and Community Activites Boxes #1-14","Sub-Series A. Family Box #1 Correspondence generated by Harry Roberts and other members of his family. Most of the correspondence is with his sister and brother. Arranged chronologically within the folder.","Sub-Series B. Personal Boxes #1-12 The bulk of this sub-series consist of correspondence between Harry Roberts and hundreds of individuals he met and worked with. Included in this sub-series are material, which\nhelp to document the Civil Rights movement in Petersburg. of particular note was Roberts attempts to establish a forum to disciss interracial problems. This sub-series is divided into two sections. The first part\nis made up of correspondences arranged by folder headings. The second section is made up of correspondence by date. both sections are arranged chronologically.","Sub-Series C. Community Activities Boxes #13-14 Correspondence maintained by Harry Roberts concerning numerous issues in and around Petersburg. The correspondence includes copies of many of Robers' editorials\nwritten during the late 1950's and early 1960's.","Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Boxes #15-34","Sub-Series A. The Association of Social Science Teachers in Negro Colleges Boxes #15-17A,18A The ASSA was established by African-American professeors of social science and served as a platform for the\npresentation of paper and, issues directed to the African-American experience. Roberts held several positions within this group including this association published The Journal of Social Science Teachers.","Sub-Series B. The Virginia Social Science Association 1964-1967 Boxes #18-18A The Virginia Social Science Association opened its doors to African-Americans in the 1960's.","Sub-Series C. The Virginia Council of Churches Boxes #19-20 Correspondence, newsletters, and reports mainly focused on how the church could or should aid in bringing about social change.","Sub-Series D. The Faculty Christian Fellowship Box #20 Organized in 1952 at Berea, Kentucky this organizations goal was to improve and make aware of developments and activities of Christian faculty members in\nU.S. schools and universities. Correspondence arranged chronology.","Sub-Series E. Hollins College Box #20 Correspondence with Bell Beard Boone and the sociology department of Hollins College. Much of the correspondence pertains to their studies of rural life in South West\nVirginia.","Sub-Series F. Central State Hospital Box #20 Mainly correspondence pertaining to improving services at the Central State Hospital, which provided services to African-Americans only. Included in the sub-series\nare a number of newsletters concerning activities at the training school. Although a state agency the newsletters were printed by the employees of the training school.","Sub-Series G. The Society of Social Problems Boxes #21-22 One of the many professional organizations Roberts held membership","Sub-Series H. The Southen Sociology Society Box #22 Correspondence with other members, concerning meetings, papers and research interest.","Sub-Series I. The Frontiers Club Boxes #23-25A The Frontiers a national service organization, which devoted it's time and resources to uplifting the life and total betterment of African-American young men. A\nregional chapter of this organization was established by the teaching faculties of Virginia State and Peabody High School","Sub-Series J. The Rural Sociology Society Box #26 The Bulk of these materials document Roberts professional involvement with this group. Correspondence with fellow members regarding interest, grants, and areas\nof mutual concerns.","Sub-Series K. Southern Regional Education Board Box #26 The Southern Regional Education Board. Established in 1949, this group met on a yearly basis and discussed some of the South's problems. This sub-series\ncontains minutes, reports, and correspondence.","Sub-Series L. The Virginia Council on Human Relations Box #27 One of the oldest organizations in Virginia which sought to improve race relations in the commonwealth reports, minutes and correspondences which\ndocument some of their activities.","Sub-Series M. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Boxes #28-31 Harry Roberts was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and chaired the educational committee which awarded a prize for the best essay addressing some\naspect of citizenship in America. The sub-series includes copies of those essay, beginning in box 30.","Sub-Series N. The Virginia Voters League Box #32 The Virginia Voters League was first organized by Luther Porter Jackson and Robert Cooley in 1941. Luther Jackson died in 1950 and there were several\nunsuccessful attempts to continue the work of the league through the early 1950's.","Sub-Series O. The NAACP Box #32 Correspondence form both the national and state offices.","Sub-Series P. The Summer School for Ministers Boxes #33-33A In 1943 a meeting was held at Virgina State College for Negroes (now Virginia State Univeristy) to discuss the problem of \"rural Negro ministers.\"\nThis was a cooperative meeting attended by the president of the states's HBCU's. At this meeting the \"Conference of Virginia Negro Colleges on Rural Life\" was formed. The first summer school for ministers was held\nin 1943 and continued until 1950 under Roberts direction at Virginia State.","Sub-Series Q. The Leagues of Colored Peoples Box #34 The League of Colored Peoples was established at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support those students who were from various parts\nof the Empire. Students from the Caribbean, East, West, and South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India composed the membership. Included are copies of their newsletter, The Keys.","Series III. The Department of Sociology Boxes #35-48","Sub-Series A. Annual Reports Box #35 Harry Roberts began the department of Sociology at Virginia State Univerisity in 1935. In this sub-series are all of the deparments records from 1935-1968.","Sub-Series B. Correspondence By Folder Heading Box #35 Correspondence maintained by Roberts, arranged by folder heading.","Sub-Series C. Correspondence By Date Boxes #36-46 Correspondence maintained bt Roberts arranged by date.","Sub-Series D. Sociology Graduates Box #47 Roberts undertook a ten year study to document the accomplishments of the department. Information was obatined from graduates regarding what they were doing, located,\ngraduate training, and how had the program chainged their lives.","Sub-Series E. Notes on History of the Sociology Department Box #48 Research date compiled by Roberts and he attempted to develop a profile of the sociology department and its graduates.","Sub-Series F. HBCU, Graduates in the TVA States 1941-1950 Box #48 In the 1960's a study was undertaken to measure how certain programs of the Tennessee Valley authority had helped or hurt African-American\npopulation in the Tennessee Valley.","Series IV. Literary Boxes #49-52","Sub-Series A. Diary Box #49 Diary maintained by Roberts over a period from 1932-1968. Entries begin while Roberts was a student in England. Some of the material, record his observations, thoughts and general\nitems of interest from the perspective of a young African-American male living and studying in Europe. Other materials of interest concern various issues concerining the Chesterfield and Petersburg area later\nafter joining the faculty at Virginia State University.","Sub-Series B. Articles Box #49 A wide range of pieces authored by Roberts. This sub-series includes articles published as well as pieces addressed to local newspapers. In this sub-series is Roberts study on\n\"Black-White\" soldiers, additionally there are articles or papers based on his Doctoral Dissertation and Master Thesis.","Sub-Series C. Thesis and Dissertation Boxes #50-52 Drafts of Roberts Dissertation, and his thesis The Life and Labor of Rural Virginia Negroes, 1942.","Series V. Research Data Boxes #52-55","Sub-Series A. Dissertation Research Boxes #52-53 Articles, (non published) about rural Viginia life, and local problems of interest","Sub-Series B. The Jerome Davis Papers 1954-1955 Boxes #54-55 The correspondence and minutes of the Columbia Conserve Company document Jerome Davis's role in mediating a labor dispute. Other arbitratiors were\nPaul H. Douglan Sherwood Eddy and James Myers. The Conserve Company in the 1930's was experimenting with what they called \"Industrial Democracy\"","Series VI. Photographs Box #56-57","Sub-Series A. Family/Personal Photographs Box #56 A board range of photographs kept by Harry Roberts. Several photographs of family members. The majority however are related to travel and organization which\nRoberts was associated with and university activities","Sub-Series B. Jerome Davis Photographs Box #57 Taken in Russia before and during the Bolsheviks Revolution.","Series VII. Printed Boxes #58-64","Sub-Series A. African-American Newspapers Tray #58 Unique grouping of African-American Newspapers, published in Virginia.","Sub-Series B. The Expected Box #59 The offical publication of the Virginia Baptist State Converntion. News articles, biographies, views of the association.","Sub-Series C. The Zion Herald News Box #59 Church news, items of intrest concerning church members and highlights of this Petersburg church.","Sub-Series D. The Baptist Trumpet Box #59 Published in Arrington, on behalf of a number of churches in the northern Virginia area.","Sub-Series E. The Mountain Voice Box #59 Published in Pinewood, Kentucky for the Mountain Preachers Bible and Kindred Clear Creek Activists; 1948-1951","Sub-Series F. Religion and Labor Box #59 THe offical newsletter for the Religion and Labor Foundation 1958-1960","Sub-Series G. The Richmond Unitarian Boxes #60-61 Newsletters of the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia.","Sub-Series H. Newsletters Box #61 Publications that include the Virginia Council of Churches, NAACP newsletters, journals and other materials.","Sub-Series I. Printed programs and brochures Box #62 A combination of printed programs and brochures some of which document Roberts speaking engagements.","Sub-Series J. Journals and Pamphlets Box #63 A wide range of printed material. Most of the materials consern interest of Roberts as a faculty member at Virginia State.","Sub-Series K. Postcards and Scrapbooks Box #46 Roberts aquired a number of postcards during his travels. In addition several scrapbooks were maintained which include a number of printed journals."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHarry Walter Roberts was born in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania to Wallace and Frances (Jackson) Roberts and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. After completing his secondary education, he matriculateed at Wilberforce\nUniversity, where he earned an A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and the B.D. degree from Yale Univerity. He also studied at the London School of Economics, where he earned the M.A. with distinction in 1935.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eWith the completion of his M.A. in 1935, Harry Roberts joined the faculty of what was the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University. During his thirty-four years at Virginia State he\nestablished the Department of Sociology and was the founder of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, and the National Sociology Honor Society. He also continued his academic studies and earned from Yale\nUniversity in 1942, a Ph.D. degree.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eRoberts was a member of a number of professional organizations far too numerous to cite here. In many of these organizations he held elected offices. In addition, he worked with a number of groups and\nassociations in the academic arena.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Roberts was an authority on rural Virginia Blacks and rural Baptiat churches and conducted extensive research in there area, some of which were done in cooperation with Virginia Polytechnic Institute ( and\nState University). His works have been published in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Negro Education, the Journal of Social Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Quarterly Review of Higher Education\nAmong Negroes, Social Forces, Social Problems, Rural Sociology, Viginia State University Gazette, and the Viginia Teachers Bulletin.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Harry Walter Roberts was born in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania to Wallace and Frances (Jackson) Roberts and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. After completing his secondary education, he matriculateed at Wilberforce\nUniversity, where he earned an A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and the B.D. degree from Yale Univerity. He also studied at the London School of Economics, where he earned the M.A. with distinction in 1935.","With the completion of his M.A. in 1935, Harry Roberts joined the faculty of what was the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University. During his thirty-four years at Virginia State he\nestablished the Department of Sociology and was the founder of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, and the National Sociology Honor Society. He also continued his academic studies and earned from Yale\nUniversity in 1942, a Ph.D. degree.","Roberts was a member of a number of professional organizations far too numerous to cite here. In many of these organizations he held elected offices. In addition, he worked with a number of groups and\nassociations in the academic arena.","Dr. Roberts was an authority on rural Virginia Blacks and rural Baptiat churches and conducted extensive research in there area, some of which were done in cooperation with Virginia Polytechnic Institute ( and\nState University). His works have been published in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Negro Education, the Journal of Social Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Quarterly Review of Higher Education\nAmong Negroes, Social Forces, Social Problems, Rural Sociology, Viginia State University Gazette, and the Viginia Teachers Bulletin."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts], Accession #[ 1984-39], Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["[A Guide To the Papers of Harry Walter Roberts], Accession #[ 1984-39], Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRoberts like many other members of the faculty at Virginia State was both a scholar and a social and political activist. As a scholar Roberts was a prodigious investigatior of African American life and culture\nin rural Virginia. He also produced a number of scholarly studies, which examined the problems of race relations in the United States. Harry Roberts was also active in a number of activities, which attempted to\nbring about social, economic, and political change. He maintained a life long relationship with Jerome Davis who he met while a student a Yale Univeristy. In the 1960's he joined Davis on a trip to the Soviet\nUnion, which raised local conerns abour Roberts politics. In addition Roberts attempted to form an alliance of local ministers in Petersburg who would commit to bringing about peaceful integration in Petersburg.\nHarry Roberts was a scholar, and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a believer in the social gospel. The Roberts papers document his activities not only as a scholar but\nalso a social and policital activist. The Roberts papers are a window into a time lost. Anyone interested in the Aferican American history in the rural life in Virgina should seek the papers of Harry Roberts\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Roberts like many other members of the faculty at Virginia State was both a scholar and a social and political activist. As a scholar Roberts was a prodigious investigatior of African American life and culture\nin rural Virginia. He also produced a number of scholarly studies, which examined the problems of race relations in the United States. Harry Roberts was also active in a number of activities, which attempted to\nbring about social, economic, and political change. He maintained a life long relationship with Jerome Davis who he met while a student a Yale Univeristy. In the 1960's he joined Davis on a trip to the Soviet\nUnion, which raised local conerns abour Roberts politics. In addition Roberts attempted to form an alliance of local ministers in Petersburg who would commit to bringing about peaceful integration in Petersburg.\nHarry Roberts was a scholar, and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a believer in the social gospel. The Roberts papers document his activities not only as a scholar but\nalso a social and policital activist. The Roberts papers are a window into a time lost. Anyone interested in the Aferican American history in the rural life in Virgina should seek the papers of Harry Roberts"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eHarry W. Roberts was a professor of sociology at Virginia State University from 1935 until 1968. While at Virginia State Roberts was an authority on African American life and culture in\nrural Virginia. His papers consist of correspondence, writings, and a few photographs. Acc. #1984-39\n\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Harry W. Roberts was a professor of sociology at Virginia State University from 1935 until 1968. While at Virginia State Roberts was an authority on African American life and culture in\nrural Virginia. His papers consist of correspondence, writings, and a few photographs. Acc. #1984-39"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":1348,"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_vipets00062_c04_c02_c05"}},{"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c01","type":"Sub-Series","attributes":{"title":"Writing/Manuscript","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vipets_vipets00001_c04_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c01","ref_ssm":["vipets_vipets00001_c04_c01"],"id":"vipets_vipets00001_c04_c01","ead_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001","_root_":"vipets_vipets00001","_nest_parent_":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssi":"vipets_vipets00001_c04","parent_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vipets_vipets00001","vipets_vipets00001_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"Writing/Manuscript","title_ssm":["Writing/Manuscript"],"title_tesim":["Writing/Manuscript"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Writing/Manuscript"],"text":["Writing/Manuscript","Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings","Box-folder 7:161"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935","Speeches and Writings"],"level_ssm":["Sub-Series"],"level_ssim":["Sub-series"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":169,"repository_ssim":["Virginia State University"],"collection_ssim":["Major William Henry Johnson Papers \n         \n         1884-1935"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 7:161"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"_nest_path_":"/components#3/components#0","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_c04_c01"}}],"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 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1921,\n         1988","hits":125},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=A+Guide+to+the+Delta+Omega+Chapter+of%0A+++++++++Alpha+Kappa+Alpha+Sorority+Inc.%2C+%0A+++++++++1921%2C%0A+++++++++1988\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026view=compact"}},{"attributes":{"label":"A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n         Richardson \n         \n         1918-1976","value":"A Guide to the Papers of Archie G.\n         Richardson \n         \n         1918-1976","hits":1962},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=A+Guide+to+the+Papers+of+Archie+G.%0A+++++++++Richardson+%0A+++++++++%0A+++++++++1918-1976\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+State+University\u0026view=compact"}},{"attributes":{"label":"A Guide to the Papers of Charles\n         White, \n         \n         1785-1956","value":"A Guide to the Papers of Charles\n         White, \n         \n         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