Woodville Rosenwald School Desk- Gloucester County, VA
Photographed by Colleen Betti
Institution: Bethel, Glenns, and Woodville Schools Archaeology Project
State: Virginia
Object: Desk
Era: 20th Century
This is a desk fragment from the Woodville Rosenwald School in rural Virginia. Rosenwald schools were a Progressive Era building development initiated by Booker T Washington and funded by Julius Rosenwald- president of Sears Roebuck. The project starting with 6 Black schools in Tuskegee, Alabama and grew to include several thousand school buildings by the 1930s.
A key element to the school building system was funding. Rosenwald paid 1/3 of the costs, while the other 2/3’s were expected to be paid between the African American community and the white school board. Once completed, school buildings were donated back to the school board with no guarantee for additional support.
Fundraising for the Woodville's Rosenwald School began in 1923 to replace an older, one room school house from the late 19th century. Despite the set terms of funding, the African American residents chose to raise the remaining 2/3's of the budget themselves and rather than accept contributions from Gloucester County’s school board. One of the biggest contributions came from T.C. Walker, the first black attorney in Virginia.
By 1928, Woodville did appeal to the county school board for funding and were awarded $100 dollars. Individual patrons also help purchase supplies like new desks for $20. This fragment may represent one of the “new” wooden desks, which were now foldable due to iron joints added under the seat. Examples of these desks can be seen from the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, sold by Sears Roebuck.
