Wilson Daily Times, 30 September 1939.
The Daily Times predicted hundreds of pressmen for a match-up between A.&T. and Virginia Union at Wilson’s Municipal (later Fleming) Stadium in October 1939. White fans were expected, too, and “the grandstand will be divided, the third base line half for white spectators and the first base section of the stands for colored fans.”
Wilson Daily Times, 20 April 1944.
North Carolina A.&T. State University’s Choral Society performed at Darden High School’s auditorium in April 1944.
North Carolina A.&T.’s eight-page monthly newsletter The Register, “The Cream of College News,” covered campus happenings throughout the year. The July 1939 issue featured several short pieces about the young women vying for the title Miss A.&T. of Summer School. Among them, Lucille Jones of Wilson:
The Register, “Social News,” 12 July 1939.
On the same page, in “Candidates Interviewed”:
Another article revealed that Jones placed second in the contest.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 July 1942.
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In the 1920 census of Plowden Mills township, Clarendon County, South Carolina: Junious Simmons, 24; wife Clara, 19; and son David L., 1.
In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Junius Simmons, 33; wife Clara, 29; and children Levi, 11, Joseph, 9, Frank, 4, and Julia May, 5 months.
In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Junius Simmons, 44; wife Clara, 39; and children Levi, 21, Joseph, 20, Frank, 15, Julia, 10, Lettie, 5, Thomas, 1, and Edward, 9.
In 1940, David Levi Simmons registered for the World War II draft in Wayne County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 May 1918 in Manning, South Carolina; lived at Route 1, Fremont, Wayne County; his contact was father Junious Simmons; and he was a student at A.&T. College, Greensboro, N.C.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Wilson Daily Times, 5 November 1933.
Bulletin of A.&T. College (1933-34), published quarterly by The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina.
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Carl W. Hines went on to become a beloved mathematics and band teacher at C.H. Darden High School and a principal at Adams and B.O. Barnes Elementary Schools.
Wilson Daily Times, 20 December 1940.
The Carolina Times, 18 October 1939.
In the fall of 1939, C.I.A.A. rivals North Carolina A.&T. and Virginia Union staged a gridiron match in Wilson, most likely at Fleming Stadium. Five thousand football fans watched the Aggies narrowly defeat the Panthers, 7-6.
Lauraetta J. Taylor (1916-1977), daughter of Russell Buxton and Viola Gaither Taylor, was a legendary women’s basketball coach at Fayetteville State University. A gymnasium on campus is named in her honor.
Pittsburgh Courier, 26 March 1977.
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In the 1920 census of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: on Johnston Bow, preacher Russell B. Taylor, 35; wife Viola, 31, seamstress; and children Beatrice, 7, Janett, 5, and Sarah, 1.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on East Nash Street, Methodist minister Russell B. Taylor, 48, widower; children Laura, 14, Sarah, 11, Christopher, 7, and William, 4; daughter Beatrice Barnes, 18, public school teacher, and her son Elroy, 1; and lodgers Cora Speight, 49, laundress, and Mamie Williams, 30, ironer, and Roscoe McCoy, 32, farm laborer.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 536 East Nash, preacher and public school teacher Russell B. Taylor, 52; children Loretta, 23, and Sarah, 21, both teachers, Leonard, 16, and William, 14; grandson Elroy Barnes, 11; and lodgers Isiar Jones, 36, Virginia-born construction laborer; Mitchell Frazier, 32, South Carolina-born truck driver; John Baldwin, 29, Lumberton, N.C.-born tobacco redrying factory laborer, and his wife Clyde, 26, a native of Wilmington, N.C.
1939 edition of The Ayantee, the yearbook of North Carolina State A.&T. University in Greensboro. Taylor’s sister Sarah G. Taylor graduated from A.&T. that year.
Seventy-four years ago today, Willa B. Jones Turner was initiated into the Alpha Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on the campus of North Carolina State A.&T. University. She is third from left on the top row here. Congratulations, Soror Turner!
Photo courtesy of S.M. Stevens.
Pittsburgh Courier, 28 October 1939.
Five thousand fans watched A.&.T. upset Virginia Union at a game staged in Wilson in 1939.