Freedmen's Public School Letters
According to Florence historian Lee Freeman, "The Freedmen’s Public School, seems to have succeeded a series of earlier schools, such as that taught in 1865 by native African-American and former Wesleyan College bootblack "Prof." George Poole (1830-aft. 1900) and also a school under t...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Electronic |
| Published: |
Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/656 |
| format |
Electronic |
|---|---|
| collection |
School Collection |
| building |
Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection |
| publisher |
Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection |
| topic |
Photographs, documents, and clippings |
| spellingShingle |
Photographs, documents, and clippings Freedmen's Public School Letters C.A. Tenge (1 and 2, 6) |
| fulltopic |
Photographs, documents, and clippings School; Community |
| description |
According to Florence historian Lee Freeman, "The Freedmen’s Public School, seems to have succeeded a series of earlier schools, such as that taught in 1865 by native African-American and former Wesleyan College bootblack "Prof." George Poole (1830-aft. 1900) and also a school under the auspices of the Freedmen's Bureau in early 1866 taught by EM Mears and his wife (apparently supported by a Presbyterian Aid Society). In mid-1869 the Mears appear to have opened up a private academy in Florence which had 22 students.
The Freedmen's Public School opened on October 29, 1866 at Church Springs Methodist Episcopal (ME) Church (now Greater St. Paul AME Church), which was located on the NE corner of Court and Bluff Streets, and was founded by the Pittsburgh Freedmen’s Aid Commission. There was no tuition and the principal was noted black educator Oscar M. Waring (1837-1911), a graduate of Oberlin College. Waring was assisted by locals William S. Robinson and (Celeste?) Allen. Starting with 40 students, by July of 1867 the enrollment was reported as 204 "and so successful was Mr. Waring that a number came from neighboring places to board in Florence and to go to school." The result was that "From the testimony of a number of the most prominent white citizens, including Gov. [RM] Patton, the local press, and our Superintendent, this has been one of the most successful Freedmen's schools in the Southwest." Besides the ordinary curriculum, the Freedmen’s Public school also had a Normal Department "in which the more advanced pupils [will] be placed and instructed with a view to preparing them for teachers."
On January 24, 1867, white educator Dr. David R. Lindsay (1821-1898), brother of Alabama Governor Robert B. Lindsay and uncle of Maud Lindsay, editor of the Florence Journal reported that “The school in Florence is apparently in a flourishing condition, and the character of its teacher in his outward conduct is entirely blameless, and creditable to him as a stranger in our community.”
The school, founded to educate the children of Florence’s freed slaves, apparently eventually morphed into the Florence Colored Grammar School, which by October of 1869 was being conducted by noted black educator educator Jacob Reed Ballard (1845-1902). There is some confusion regarding these early schools and their principals and teachers. For example, in September of 1869 a "Miss Graham" of Albany, New York was said to be superintendent of a freedmen's school in Florence, Alabama. Graham was reportedly harassed into leaving town by a group of Klansmen. So far I can't find any other references anywhere to this Miss Graham or her run-in with the Klan. Prof. Oscar Waring seems to have remained in Florence until sometime in early 1869, at which time he relocated to Winchester, Virginia where he worked as a teacher for the Presbyterian Committee on Missions until 1872; he earned his law degree and taught mathematics at Alcorn College before serving a principal at a school in Louisville, Kentucky. By 1879 Waring and his wife (whom he married while in Louisville) moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Prof. Waring served as principal of the Charles Sumner High School until his retirement in 1908; he died in St. Louis in 1911 and the City of St. Louis named the Oscar M. Waring Elementary School in his honor in 1940."(1 and 2) Letter from Capt C.A. Tenge, Freedmen's Bureau Agent of Florence to Col. John B. Callis, reporting on the condition of the school in Florence. Historian Lee Freeman notes, "Tenge reports 110 students with an average attendance of 86 and also the number of students using various readers. Then he mentions the "alphabet class" taught by EM Mears and wife under the supervision of what appears to have been a Presbyterian aid society. Tenge also references several "minor schools" in the surrounding area taught by freedmen. Prof. George Poole's school had apparently been one such school taught in Florence in 1865. Tenge also noted that "the former aversion of the whites [to black schools] is fastly [sic] diminishing."(3 and 4) Letter from F.M. Mears, a teacher in the Florence Freedmen's Public School, to Col. John B. Callis. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes that Mears is notifying Callis, "of the fact that there were two freedmen teaching in schools near Florence who couldn't read well enough in McGuffey's Third Reader to be teaching other freedmen and asks Col. Callis to empower Capt. Tenge, the Freedmen's Bureau Agent of Florence with the authority to examine teachers in the freedmen's schools to ensure their qualifications to teach."Report by Oscar M. Waring, principal of the Florence Freedmen's Public School, to bureau agent C.A. Tenge concerning the progress of the school. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "Waring notes that the school had 40 pupils enrolled with an average daily attendance of 37 and 1 teacher (Waring) but that he anticipates a school of 125 or 150 students soon."Letter from C.A. Tenge to Col. John B. Callis about the success of the Freedmen's Public School in Florence. Historian Lee Freeman notes: "Tenge also references two or three other freedmen's schools in Lauderdale County who aren't sending reports to him, one of them named "Garner," whom Tenge calls "an adventurer." Tenge also mentions the recent fire in Florence which destroyed his saddlery, harness-making and upholstery business and the Freedmen's Bureau Office which was upstairs over his business. Tenge informs Callis that the cause of the fire was arson, and it was set in order to destroy the Bureau Office and burn out several Unionist families in Florence, however Tenge was able to save "all my books and papers."" |
| title |
Freedmen's Public School Letters |
| titleStr |
Freedmen's Public School Letters |
| author |
C.A. Tenge (1 and 2, 6) |
| author_facet |
C.A. Tenge (1 and 2, 6) F.M. Mears (3 and 4) Oscar M. Waring (5) |
| author2 |
F.M. Mears (3 and 4) Oscar M. Waring (5) |
| id |
PSSschool656 |
| url |
https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/656 |
| _version_ |
1782476913863819265 |
| spelling |
Freedmen's Public School Letters C.A. Tenge (1 and 2, 6)F.M. Mears (3 and 4)Oscar M. Waring (5)School; Community According to Florence historian Lee Freeman, "The Freedmen’s Public School, seems to have succeeded a series of earlier schools, such as that taught in 1865 by native African-American and former Wesleyan College bootblack "Prof." George Poole (1830-aft. 1900) and also a school under the auspices of the Freedmen's Bureau in early 1866 taught by EM Mears and his wife (apparently supported by a Presbyterian Aid Society). In mid-1869 the Mears appear to have opened up a private academy in Florence which had 22 students.
The Freedmen's Public School opened on October 29, 1866 at Church Springs Methodist Episcopal (ME) Church (now Greater St. Paul AME Church), which was located on the NE corner of Court and Bluff Streets, and was founded by the Pittsburgh Freedmen’s Aid Commission. There was no tuition and the principal was noted black educator Oscar M. Waring (1837-1911), a graduate of Oberlin College. Waring was assisted by locals William S. Robinson and (Celeste?) Allen. Starting with 40 students, by July of 1867 the enrollment was reported as 204 "and so successful was Mr. Waring that a number came from neighboring places to board in Florence and to go to school." The result was that "From the testimony of a number of the most prominent white citizens, including Gov. [RM] Patton, the local press, and our Superintendent, this has been one of the most successful Freedmen's schools in the Southwest." Besides the ordinary curriculum, the Freedmen’s Public school also had a Normal Department "in which the more advanced pupils [will] be placed and instructed with a view to preparing them for teachers."
On January 24, 1867, white educator Dr. David R. Lindsay (1821-1898), brother of Alabama Governor Robert B. Lindsay and uncle of Maud Lindsay, editor of the Florence Journal reported that “The school in Florence is apparently in a flourishing condition, and the character of its teacher in his outward conduct is entirely blameless, and creditable to him as a stranger in our community.”
The school, founded to educate the children of Florence’s freed slaves, apparently eventually morphed into the Florence Colored Grammar School, which by October of 1869 was being conducted by noted black educator educator Jacob Reed Ballard (1845-1902). There is some confusion regarding these early schools and their principals and teachers. For example, in September of 1869 a "Miss Graham" of Albany, New York was said to be superintendent of a freedmen's school in Florence, Alabama. Graham was reportedly harassed into leaving town by a group of Klansmen. So far I can't find any other references anywhere to this Miss Graham or her run-in with the Klan. Prof. Oscar Waring seems to have remained in Florence until sometime in early 1869, at which time he relocated to Winchester, Virginia where he worked as a teacher for the Presbyterian Committee on Missions until 1872; he earned his law degree and taught mathematics at Alcorn College before serving a principal at a school in Louisville, Kentucky. By 1879 Waring and his wife (whom he married while in Louisville) moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Prof. Waring served as principal of the Charles Sumner High School until his retirement in 1908; he died in St. Louis in 1911 and the City of St. Louis named the Oscar M. Waring Elementary School in his honor in 1940."(1 and 2) Letter from Capt C.A. Tenge, Freedmen's Bureau Agent of Florence to Col. John B. Callis, reporting on the condition of the school in Florence. Historian Lee Freeman notes, "Tenge reports 110 students with an average attendance of 86 and also the number of students using various readers. Then he mentions the "alphabet class" taught by EM Mears and wife under the supervision of what appears to have been a Presbyterian aid society. Tenge also references several "minor schools" in the surrounding area taught by freedmen. Prof. George Poole's school had apparently been one such school taught in Florence in 1865. Tenge also noted that "the former aversion of the whites [to black schools] is fastly [sic] diminishing."(3 and 4) Letter from F.M. Mears, a teacher in the Florence Freedmen's Public School, to Col. John B. Callis. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes that Mears is notifying Callis, "of the fact that there were two freedmen teaching in schools near Florence who couldn't read well enough in McGuffey's Third Reader to be teaching other freedmen and asks Col. Callis to empower Capt. Tenge, the Freedmen's Bureau Agent of Florence with the authority to examine teachers in the freedmen's schools to ensure their qualifications to teach."Report by Oscar M. Waring, principal of the Florence Freedmen's Public School, to bureau agent C.A. Tenge concerning the progress of the school. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "Waring notes that the school had 40 pupils enrolled with an average daily attendance of 37 and 1 teacher (Waring) but that he anticipates a school of 125 or 150 students soon."Letter from C.A. Tenge to Col. John B. Callis about the success of the Freedmen's Public School in Florence. Historian Lee Freeman notes: "Tenge also references two or three other freedmen's schools in Lauderdale County who aren't sending reports to him, one of them named "Garner," whom Tenge calls "an adventurer." Tenge also mentions the recent fire in Florence which destroyed his saddlery, harness-making and upholstery business and the Freedmen's Bureau Office which was upstairs over his business. Tenge informs Callis that the cause of the fire was arson, and it was set in order to destroy the Bureau Office and burn out several Unionist families in Florence, however Tenge was able to save "all my books and papers.""Lee Freeman1866-02-08 (1 and 2)1866-05-15 (3 and 4)1866-11-02 (5)1866-11-06 (6)Still Image JPG Feb_1866_p_1.jpg (1)
Feb_1866_p_2.jpg (2)May_15_1866_p_1.jpg (3)
May_15_1866_p_2.jpg (4)Nov_2_1866.jpg (5)Nov_6_1866.jpg (6)https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/656https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/55b693226f74a414c376a93620d86862.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASNRMBMX265PGDDPJ&Expires=1700697600&Signature=yPj5GAu17YTH0lpq3y2IWxYUvVw%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/47a3edb49997c1afd8e1c9fdf8a04b9f.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASNRMBMX265PGDDPJ&Expires=1700697600&Signature=XjBVGytLicEZ1IpM8QbEB%2BMioUo%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/e5372cf53c25e9f46a8fe8c09d5adf62.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASNRMBMX265PGDDPJ&Expires=1700697600&Signature=v20guwebOkpzwTQ0Lvg8OMW6678%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/5acb957b6eb4fc1c431120e7bcb857ec.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASNRMBMX265PGDDPJ&Expires=1700697600&Signature=Roh9oRmxSuypVlRZPV6V7xiRpsQ%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/1de7f32f707d799af244beef3cbd3564.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASNRMBMX265PGDDPJ&Expires=1700697600&Signature=bbxMERfSpVaOsWwthwDmiamiuTI%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/3a9a9668ca5fc52fe2309ef7b6155566.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASNRMBMX265PGDDPJ&Expires=1700697600&Signature=pK3XGY2l6dQcFjeWL84ze%2ByqNAU%3DHuntsville, Series 111, Vol.. 57, p. 245, #391. (1 and 2)Huntsville, Series 112, Vol. 58, Letters Received, pp. 170-171, # 541. (3 and 4)Huntsville, Series 112, Vol. 59, Letters Received, p. 29. (5)From Huntsville, Series 112, Vol. 59, Letters Received, p. 28. (6)English Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission. |