Comments on: Mapping segregation in Virginia’s early public schools

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:41:43 +0000

Hi Dave,

The Fairfax County school records are maintained in the Fairfax County public school archives in Fairfax. For more information, contact Nancy Tyler, Records Management Specialist, at netyler@fcps.edu or 703-329-7746.

The Virginia Public Records Act gives the county clerk the authority to maintain records of historical importance that remain in the locality or transfer them to the state archives at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. For more information on researching local school records, contact Archives Reference Services at archdesk@lva.virginia.gov or by phone 804-692-3888.

Good luck with your research!

By: Dave Cavanaugh

Dave Cavanaugh — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:45:17 +0000

Would the library have a collection for Fairfax County schools-1870-1951 (or partial) including school board minutes, pay slips, exam and placement records for teachers, and attendance records? The primary interest is colored schools in FFX County. Thanks

By: Dale

Dale — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:42:23 +0000

Hi Pamela,

The full citation for the record is Jefferson Township School Census Map, 1870, Alexandria County (Va.) Superintendent of Schools Records, 1851-1920 (bulk 1870-1884). Local government records collection, Alexandria/Arlington County (Va.) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

The photograph of the African American students ca. 1895 is of an unknown location. We used it as an illustrative example.

There are two groups of records that might be helpful to you in researching the late-nineteenth-century history of communities in present-day Arlington (formerly Alexandria County): The Alexandria County (Va.) Superintendent of Schools Records, 1851-1920 (bulk 1870-1884), and the Jefferson Township Board of Public Free Schools Minutes, 1881-1880. The Supertintendent of Schools records contain annual reports, correspondence, oaths of office, and personnel records documenting the administration of the public school system in Alexandria County in these years. The Jefferson Township Board of Public Free Schools Minutes, 1881-1880, include some information on school buildings in Jefferson Township. These records consist of monthly minutes recording spending by the Board, teachers hired for white and African American schools (including names of teachers and salaries), votes, and elections of board members. Minutes also include references to money spent on school buildings, grounds, and fuel (kindling wood and coal) and annual summaries of accounts.

For more information on these records, consult the finding aids to the records:
http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/lva/vi04265.frame

http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/lva/vi04272.frame

We hope this helps. Good luck in your research.

By: Pamela Cressey

Pamela Cressey — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:40:33 +0000

This is a fascinating map of schools in Jefferson Township. Can you provide the full citation? Also, what is the citation and location of the photo of school children? Is this local to Arlington, Alexandria? We are currently working on the african american community called “The Fort” in what is now Fort Ward Park on Braddock Rd. Historical research by several people provide information about the school established on the property.