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Rosenwald School Voices Sometimes a relevant post finds us and this one is priceless! The Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond recently featured an exhibit entitled,"A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN: JULIUS ROSENWALD, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, AND THE 4,978 SCHOOLS THAT CHANGED AMERICA." Although it was a limited time photographic exhibition, the story lives on in a number of video interviews with alumni who attended those schools. The museum continues to share those stories with us on their website, and what a treasure. (Find the link below.) From the VMHC website: "This exhibition explores the history and legacy of one of the most transformative educational initiatives in American history forged by Booker T. Washington, a Black educator, and Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish businessman and philanthropist. Between 1912 and 1937, their program provided seed money to build thousands of schools for Black children across the segregated South. These schools countered the deep educational disparities during Jim Crow and had a profound and lasting impact on our nation. Inspired by this remarkable story, contemporary photographer Andrew Feiler traveled around the South to document Rosenwald schools and their communities. This exhibition showcases 26 of his photographs and stories. In addition, there is a VMHC-organized section devoted to Rosenwald schools in Virginia with historical artifacts, images, oral histories with alumni, and interactive elements. Feiler’s powerful photographs, combined with the Virginia-specific contents, provide a testament to the power of education and interracial collaboration." Do Not Miss This Video...Begin here! The story told by the photographer Andrew Feiler is fascinating. This video offers more valuable information on the Rosenwald story and highlights notable civil rights leaders who attended these schools including Congressman John Lewis. This is a great place to start your journey through this fascinating website!
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The story of what went on inside that eminently successful country school is an important part of Americana. It should be preserved along with a few remaining buildings wherein the great cultural pageant took place." ARCHIVES
December 2025
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