School Integration in Waynesboro, Virginia, from an African-American Perspective oral histories

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection open to research. Access to original audiocassettes is restricted pending reformatting. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], A Guide to School Integration in Waynesboro, Virginia, from an African-American Perspective oral histories, 2001, SdArch 0024, Special Collections, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
xx cubic feet
Creator:
Owens, Vivian W.
Abstract:
The collection comprises five interviews detailing the integration of the school system in Waynesboro, Virginia. The interviews focus on school life and the transition from Rosenwald School to Kate Collins Middle School and Harrisonburg High School.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], A Guide to School Integration in Waynesboro, Virginia, from an African-American Perspective oral histories, 2001, SdArch 0024, Special Collections, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises five interviews detailing the integration of the school system in Waynesboro, Virginia. The interviews focus on school life and the transition from Rosenwald School to Kate Collins Middle School and Harrisonburg High School. They focus on socio-economic differences between students, the impacts of integration, and participation in school programs.

Vermel Grant speaks to aspects of school integration, such as Homecoming Court, and how the integration impacted her secondary education experiences. She also discusses her mother's experiences as Rosenwald School in the 1930s. Carolyn Redd talks about integration, the popular teen radio stations, and segregated movie theaters. Deborah Sease Allen talks about the arrival of white students to Rosenwald School in the 1960s and the impacts on social values for students based on socio-economic status. Susan Rose talks about changes in curriculum and teaching styles after integration as well as her thoughts the issues facing contemporary black students. Blanche Victoria Williams also talks about how the curriulum changed and mentions extracurriculars she partook in such as cheerleading, basketball, and chorus.

Biographical / historical:

Rosenwald schools were built across the south for advancements in Black education. Two locations were built in Rockingham County and served a large portion of the Black community in the area. The schools remained segregated until the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954. During the 1960s, the schools became integrated.

Acquisition information:
Collection was donated on March 26, 2002 by Vivian Owens.
Processing information:

Collection was originally cataloged at the item level; the descriptive metadata was compiled into a finding aid format in 2022.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard