A Guide to the Teacher's Register for Virginia Public Schools, Broad Run District, Colored School #A, 1886-1894 Teacher's Register for Virginia Public Schools, Broad Run District, Colored School #A
SC 0058
Teacher's Register for Virginia Public Schools, Broad Run District, Colored School #A
1886-1894
Physical Characteristics
Creator
Martha Rust Hummer, Sterling, VA.
Language
English
Abstract
This collection contains the teacher's register for Colored School #A in the Broad Run District of Loudoun County. The register
covers the years 1886-1894. During these years, the school was known by several names. It was often referred to simply as
"Colored School #A," but was sometimes called Cedar Lane in the years 1888-1892. Beginning in 1893, the school was also called
Farmwell Colored School. It always retained the #A designation, however. The register contains the names of students and their
attendance records. Several African American teachers worked at the school over the years, including Morgan M. Snowden (fl.
1890), John Jackson (fl. 1890), W. A. Thomas (fl. 1890), John C. Walker (b. 1869), and Adam Smith (fl. 1890).
Physical characteristics and conditions affect use of this material. Photocopying not permitted.
Preferred Citation
Teacher's Register for Virginia Public Schools, Broad Run Magisterial District, Colored School #A, 1886-1894 (SC 0058), Thomas
Balch Library, Leesburg, VA..
In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed a new constitution, popularly called the Underwood
Constitution after the president of the state constitutional convention, John Curtiss Underwood (1809-1873). The new constitution
mandated a "uniform system of public free schools," and encouraged its introduction in all counties of Virginia as soon as
possible. Though the Underwood Constitution was reviled by many in Virginia as "carpet bag" legislation, the mandate led to
significant progress in the education of the citizens of Virginia. The constitution established the office of the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction to oversee county management of schools. Part of the office's oversight included a requirement that
teachers fill out and maintain a register for each school. The registers included the names of students, their attendance,
a record of visitors to the schools, brief descriptions of the schools, and lists of text books used.
The new constitution did not end the segregation of schools in Virginia, though that had been one of the goals of Underwood.
In Loudoun County, most schools for white children were given identifying numbers, while schools for African Americans were
given letters. Generally, Loudoun County employed African American men to teach in the colored schools.
This collection contains the teacher's register for Colored School #A in the Broad Run District of Loudoun County. The register
covers the years 1886-1894. During these years, the school was known by several names. It was often referred to simply as
"Colored School #A," but was sometimes called Cedar Lane in the years 1888-1892. Beginning in 1893, the school was also called
Farmwell Colored School. It always retained the #A designation, however. The register contains the names of students and their
attendance records. Several African American teachers worked at the school over the years, including Morgan M. Snowden (fl.
1890), John Jackson (fl. 1890), W. A. Thomas (fl. 1890), John C. Walker (b. 1869), and Adam Smith (fl. 1890).
Ancestry Library Edition, United States Census, United States Census and Voter Lists. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com (accessed
27 August 2011).
Buck, J. L. Blair. T he Development of Public Schools in Virginia, 1607-1952 . Commonwealth of Virginia. 1952.
Di Zerega, Philip. History of Secondary Education in Loudoun County, Virginia . University Archives. University of Virginia. 1948.
Scheel, Eugene M. " . . . to the Colored people of Waterford and vicinity, a Study of the Architecture and History of Their
One-Room School, Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia." Studies in Vernacular Architecture SVA-48. 1979.
Teacher's Register for Virginia Public Schools, Broad Run Magisterial District, Kavanaugh Colored School #E, 1886-1894 (SC
0057), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.
Ancestry Library Edition, United States Census, United States Census and Voter Lists. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com (accessed
27 August 2011).
Buck, J. L. Blair. T he Development of Public Schools in Virginia, 1607-1952 . Commonwealth of Virginia. 1952.
Di Zerega, Philip. History of Secondary Education in Loudoun County, Virginia . University Archives. University of Virginia. 1948.
Scheel, Eugene M. " . . . to the Colored people of Waterford and vicinity, a Study of the Architecture and History of Their
One-Room School, Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia." Studies in Vernacular Architecture SVA-48. 1979.
Teacher's Register for Virginia Public Schools, Broad Run Magisterial District, Kavanaugh Colored School #E, 1886-1894 (SC
0057), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.