Part 2 of five in a series offering close-up images of the children in E. Courtney Fitts‘ class at the Colored Graded School, circa 1931.










Part 2 of five in a series offering close-up images of the children in E. Courtney Fitts‘ class at the Colored Graded School, circa 1931.
Taken circa 1931, this beautiful photograph of E. Courtney Fitts‘ class (likely first graders) at the Colored Graded School deserves a closer look. Mrs. Fitts stands in a fur-trimmed coat in front of the school’s double doors, just under the building’s street number — 705. The Colored Graded School was notoriously overcrowded, and all fifty children standing on the steps below her may well were in Mrs. Fitts’ class.
I am only able to identify three of the children, but I honor them all in this five-part series.
Circa 1992, the C.H. Darden High School Alumni Association published a pamphlet featuring a short memoir of the school’s long-time principal Edward M. Barnes (1905-2002). Among other things, Mr. Barnes spoke of the school boycott that led to the opening of Wilson Normal and Industrial Institute. Accompanying the text are these remarkable images.
First, another group photograph of the Colored Graded School’s teachers. Eleven teachers walked off the job to protest the superintendent’s assault on Mary C. Euell. Presumably, these are the eleven.
“The Staff of Wilson Graded School c. 1918. Ms. Uzell, the teacher whom the Superintendent slapped. Back Row: 3rd from right.” [The teacher’s name, in fact, was Euell.]
Second, a group photograph of students standing in front of the familiar bay windows and entry door of the Colored Graded School on Stantonsburg Street. The school’s highest grade level was eighth, and this may have been a group of graduating students.
“Our only public school was emptied of all the students” “The Colored Graded School”
Third, and most astonishingly, a photograph of the two-story building that housed Wilson Normal and Industrial School, also known as the Independent School, its lawn and balconies brimming with students and, it appears, parents.
“The Independent School was housed in one of Mr. Sam Vick’s houses on E. Vance Street.”
I am trying to track down the originals of these photographs to share with you. As I have testified repeatedly, the school boycott and creation of the W.N.I.A. were the most revolutionary collective strikes against white supremacy (and, to use a thoroughly modern term: misogynoir) in the history of Wilson County.
In the meantime, here’s W.N.I.A. on East Vance Street in the 1922 Sanborn map of Wilson. The shotgun (endway) house at 602 is clearly visible above.
The school building was still standing in 1964, as shown in this close-up of an aerial image of part of Wilson.
However, by time the city was next photographed in 1971, the Independent School building had been demolished.
This apartment building occupies the site today.
Aerial photos courtesy of Wilson County Technology Services Department; photo of 604-606 East Vance Street by Lisa Y. Henderson, June 2020.
Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1911.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 May 1929.
Stantonsburg Street School was also known as the Colored Graded School and, later, Sallie Barbour Elementary School.
“The wife of Prof. J.D. Reid” was Eleanor P. Reid.
Wilson Mirror, 19 November 1890.
Frank Oscar Blount married Nettie Amanda Steward in Philadelphia in 1890.
Nettie S. Blount of 926 Lombard Street, aged about 30, died 2 April 1892 in Philadelphia. She was buried in Philadelphia’s Lebanon Cemetery.
The Wilson County Public Library’s Local History Collection contains a bound transcription of the Minutes of the Wilson Graded School 1881-1887, 1891-1902, compiled by school superintendent Charles L. Coon. Here, with annotations in brackets, are extracts from those minutes.
——
July 14th 1891
The Board met in the offices of F.A. Woodard.
…
The first order of business was the election of teachers. The following was selected with the salary of each (for colored school). P.O. [F.O.] Blount salary $30.00, Prof. Winstead $25.00, Levi Peacock $25.00, Addie Battle $20.00, Lucy Thompson 20.00
…
——
Sept 29th 1891
The Board met in office of F.A. Woodard.
…
The object of the meeting was to hear complaints against some of the Col teachers in Col Graded School viz Levi Peacock and Ida Thompson.
Several Col men were present & urge their dismissal.
The Board discussed the matter & decided unanimous that the charges were not sufficient cause for removal. Nothing further appearing the Board adjourned.
…
[There are no further clues to the complaints lodged or the reasons “several colored men” urged the dismissals of Levi H. Peacock and Ida Thompson.]
——
Dec. 30th 1891
The Board met in the office of Dr. Albert Anderson.
…
The first business was the resignation of F.O. Blount, principal of Col. School. On motion resignation was accepted.
B.R. Winstead was elected principal to fill the unexpired term of F.O. Blount.
Annie Washington was elected as teacher in col school to commence on Jany 6th 1892 at $20.00 per month if qualified for the position after examination by supt. Foust. No other business the board adjourned.
…
——
May 9th 1892
The Board met in office of F.A. Woodard, President.
…
The first order in business was the election of Supt. & Teachers for the white & colored schools.
…
Teachers for col. school
B.R. Winstead Principal $30.00, L.H. Peacock $25.00, Annie Washington Vick $25.00, Annie Blake $20.00, Sudie Harris $20.00
…
——
May 30th 1896
The Board in office at Branch & Co.’s bank, with Gen. Hackney ch’m in chair.
It was stated that the object of the meeting was to elect the teachers of the Colored School. The election resulted as follows:
Principal of building S.A. Smith $30.00 per month
Teachers L.H. Peacock $25.00, G.H. Towe $25.00, Miss Ida Rountree $20.00, Mrs. S.H. Vick $20.00
…
[Though among the best-educated members of their community, African-American teachers struggled to make ends meet on their salaries. As shown in this 1899 notice of sheriff’s sale, several waited until their property was at risk to pay taxes — or lost it to public auction.]
——
Feb. 10th 97
The Board met in the office of Mr. A.B. Deans, Dr. Moore absent.
Mr. Oettinger moved that the position of Primary Teacher in the Colored School, held by Mrs. S.H. Vick, be declared vacant, owing to her physical inability to fill the place the remainder of the spring. Carried.
Mr. Oettinger moved that Mrs. R.C. Melton be employed to fill out the unexpired term. Carried.
The Committee appointed to arrange for the rental of an additional home for the Colored School, reported that they had investigated the matter & decided not to rent for this spring.
…
[“Physical inability” appears to have been a euphemism for Annie Washington Vick’s pregnancy with son Daniel, born in 1897.
The crowded conditions of Wilson’s only public school for black children had become acute by 1897, when the school board considered, but rejected, a suggestion to rent a house as an overflow classroom.]
——
Mar 13th, 97
School Board met in office of Mr. A.B. Deans, Mr. Oettinger, Dr. Anderson & Mr. Wootten absent.
Prof. Smith, Prin. of Col. Sch., made a statement as to his understanding of the conditions upon which he took the sch. census of the col. race last year.
After discussion, Dr. Moore moved to reconsider the motion made at a previous meeting, to deduct $16.22 from am’t p’d Prof. Smith for his work) from the last month’s salary, & to deduct only $6.22 thus paying him $10.00 for his services. Carried.
…
[Each year, a school board representative conducted a survey of school-aged children in its district to determine the need for teachers at each grade level. Occasionally, as noted elsewhere in the minutes, the board would scrap an upper grade for want of students. The root of Simeon Smith’s pay question is not clear.]
——
Feb. 18th, 1898
School Board met in the office of Mr. J. Oettinger, Mr. A.B. Deans absent.
Supt stated that he had called the meeting to consider the crowded condition of affairs at the colored school, and to make arrangements for securing more room.
It was agreed to build at once, a two room addition, 24×50 ft. and place sufficient piazza space for the entire building.
Mr. Oettinger moved that Mr. W.P. Wootten, Dr. C.E. Moore and the Supt. be appointed a committee to have building put up at once. Carried.
…
[The board finally moved to address the crowding, authorized the building to two new classrooms and a porch.]
——
Mar. 2nd, 98
Called meeting of School Board at office of Mr. A.B. Deans. All present.
Supt. was ordered to purchase desks necessary to properly seat the new building at colored school.
Building comm. reported new building about ready for use.
…
[It’s hard to imagine that the rooms were thrown up in less than two weeks, but if they were, this seems a testament to poor quality.
——
Aug. 31, 98.
Board met at call of Supt. to elect a teacher for 5th & 6th Grades, Colored School. All present.
Supt. reported that he had held an examination on the 29th inst. at which all applicants were examined.
Mrs. A.V.C. Hunt had stood the best examination, and was duly elected to fill the vacancy at salary of $20.00 per month.
….
[Two months after her hire as a teacher, erstwhile grocer Annie V.C. Hunt was embroiled in a conflict that led to the shooting death of her husband James Hunt in 1900.]
——
Sept. 27, 00.
Board met in extra session, at office of W.P. Wootten. All present except Mr. Oettinger.
Sec’y stated that meeting had been called at request of S.A. Smith, Prin. Col. School, for the purpose of investigating the charges against him, as per rumors being circulated regarding his character by Chas. Barbour.
Chas. Barbour, being called, stated that he had no charges to make against Smith, that he merely wanted Board to discharge his wife, Sallie Barbour, from her position as teacher in Col. School. She had not requested to be allowed to resign, but he desired her discharged. He gave no valid reason for his wish. Supt. stated that he had no complaints to make against Mrs. Barbour.
Charges against Smith were dismissed, & Barbour was told that Board could not discharge his wife without cause.
…
[Shortly after this humiliating attempt by Charles Barbour to have his wife discharged from her teaching position, Sallie Barbour filed for divorce. Her petition cited a litany of abuses, including physical violence, and she sought custody of their sons.
——
Nov. 10, 00.
Called meeting of Board held in office of Drs. Moore & Anderson, Mr. Wootten and & Mr. Simms absent.
Sec’y stated that he had been enjoined by S.A. Woodard, Att’y for Chas. Barbour, against paying Mrs. Barbour any further salary.
Upon motion, the Sec’y was instructed to inform Mrs. Barbour that her salary was withheld till she obtained legal order, giving full authority to Board to pay her salary to her alone.
…
[Failing to get her fired, Barbour secured an injunction prohibiting the school board from paying his wife. The board determined to advise Sallie Barbour that her salary would be withheld until she got a court order making it payable to her alone.]
——
Feb. 2, /01
Meeting of the Board, all present. Sec’y stated that he received the resignation of Mrs. Hunt as teacher of 5th Grade, Col. School.
Resignation accepted to take effect at once.
Motion made that Clarrissy Williams be elected to fill the unexpired term of Mrs. Hunt. Carried.
…
[The board hired Clarissa Williams to fill the position vacated by Annie Hunt when she left Wilson. Williams would prove to be a loyal employee, declining to resign in the wake of the Coon-Euell slapping incident and serving briefly as colored school principal when J.D. Reid was forced out.]
——
Mar. 30, 1901.
At a called meeting of the Board, the Sec’y presented the resignation of G.H. Towe, as teacher of 3rd and 4th Grades, in Colored.
The resignation was accepted to take effect at once.
The Supt. reported the result of an examination he had held to fill this vacancy, and, upon motion, Cora Miller was elected to fill out the unexpired term of G.H. Towe.
…
[Five months later, Cora Miller married George Washington, brother of Annie Washington Vick.]
——
MINUTES OF BOARD SESSION OF 1901-1902.
[No date.]
Board met in the office of Dr. Moore, Mr. Simms absent.
…
The resignation of S.A. Smith as Principal of the Colored School was accepted, as he had been elected to a similar position in the Schools of Winston. To fill this vacancy the Board elected J.D. Reid, Wilson, N.C.
To fill the other vacancies in the Colored School, the Board elected Cora Miller, and Mrs. S.A. Smith, both of Wilson, N.C.
…
[Simeon Smith took a position at a large African-American graded school in Winston-Salem. His wife soon joined him there.]
——
Today marks the 101st anniversary of the resignation of 11 African-American teachers in Wilson, North Carolina, in rebuke of their “high-handed” black principal and the white school superintendent who slapped one of them. In their wake, black parents pulled their children out of the public school en masse and established a private alternative in a building owned by a prominent black businessman. Financed with 25¢-a-week tuition payments and elaborate student musical performances, the Independent School operated for nearly ten years. The school boycott, sparked by African-American women standing at the very intersection of perceived powerless in the Jim Crow South, was an astonishing act of prolonged resistance that unified Wilson’s black toilers and strivers.
The school boycott is largely forgotten in Wilson, and its heroes go unsung. In their honor, today, and every April 9, I publish links to these Black Wide-Awake posts chronicling the walk-out and its aftermath. Please read and share and speak the names of Mary C. Euell and the revolutionary teachers of the Colored Graded School.
https://afamwilsonnc.com/2016/01/07/we-tender-our-resignation-and-east-wilson-followed/
https://afamwilsonnc.com/2018/03/30/the-heroic-teachers-of-principal-reids-school/
https://afamwilsonnc.com/2016/12/10/a-continuation-of-the-bad-feelings/
https://afamwilsonnc.com/2018/02/11/604-606-east-vance-street/
Wilson Daily Times, 10 March 1922.
To my astonished delight, historian David Cecelski cited to my recent post on Mary C. Euell and the school boycott — and shouted out Black Wide-Awake — today. In a piece dedicated to Glenda Gilmore on the occasion of her retirement, Cecelski describes a letter from Euell to W.E.B. Du Bois he found among Du Bois’ papers, collected at and digitized by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Researching the letter’s context led him to Black Wide-Awake, and he penned a warm and gracious thanks for my research.
Euell wrote the letter from her home at 135 Pender Street on 22 April 1918, not two weeks after leading her colleagues in a walkout. She made reference to Du Bois’ letter of the 18th and promised to send “full details of [her] trouble here in Wilson,” including newspaper clippings and photographs. Though no follow-up correspondence from Euell is found in the collection, there is a newspaper clipping sent April 12 by Dr. A.M. Rivera, a dentist and N.A.A.C.P. leader from Greensboro, North Carolina. (Coincidentally, Dr. Rivera’s office was in the Suggs Building.)
Greensboro Daily News, 12 April 1918.
(The collection also contains a brief letter from Mrs. O.N. Freeman [Willie Hendley Freeman] referring to an enclosed a 7 August 1920 Wilson Daily Times article and noting “this might interest you or be of some value to some one as I know your sentiments by reading the Crisis.” I have not been able to locate the article in online databases and do not know whether it related to the on-going boycott.)