Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16834, Jackson P. Burley High School Flag, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift from James Hollins, President, Jackson P. Burley Varsity Club to the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 5 June, 2023.

Biographical / Historical

Burley Middle School was originally built in 1950 as a combination of three schools for African-Americans: Jefferson High School, Esmont High School, and Albemarle Training School. The school opened in 1951 and was named for a prominent African-American community leader, Jackson P. Burley.

In 1967 the school officially desegregated and became known as the Jack Jouett Junior Annex, and was used to relieve the overpopulated Jack Jouett Junior High. In 1973 the school was renamed Jackson P. Burley, housing grades six and seven and in 1974 it became an Albemarle County middle school with grades six through eight.

Burley was the Black high school during segregation. When schools were integrated, the school colors were given to Jouett Middle School instead of remaining with Burley, which became an integrated middle school.

Alumni of Burley formed the Burley Varsity Club and arranged to have a ceremonial flag of Burley's colors created. On May 20,2023, they symbolically retired the colors in acknowledgement of the high school closing in 1968. https://www.cbs19news.com/story/48940367/jackson-p-burley-school-retires-colors-after-55-years

(To clarify, this flag was created in 2023.)

For hist note: Burley Varsity Club: https://sites.google.com/k12albemarle.org/the-burley-varsity-club/home

Content Description

This collection contains a commemorative flag of Jackson P. Burley High School colors retirement ceremony. The flag is 5' x 8' in size, made in 2023, of polyester in Kelly green and gold flag with the Jackson P. Burley High School Bears insignia. Below the school's name reads "1951-1967".

Burley was the Black high school during segregation in Charlottesville. Located on Rose Hill Drive, it opened in 1951 to serve students from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. When schools were integrated in 1968, the school colors were given to Jouett Middle School instead of remaining with Burley, which became an integrated middle school. Alums of Burley formed the Burley Varsity Club in 2007 and arranged to have a ceremonial flag of Burley's colors created. On May 20, 2023, they symbolically retired the colors to acknowledge the high school closing in 1968.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans -- Education
• Jackson P. Burley High School (Charlottesville, Va.)
• School integration -- Virginia