GB69 Harrison School
Harrison School Faculty 1948/1950.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
1948
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB69
Gainsboro
GB68 Harrison School
Mr. Thomas Payne's first class.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB68
Gainsboro
GB67.6 Harrison School
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67.6
Gainsboro
GB67.5
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unkown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67.5
Gainsboro
GB67.4 Harrison School
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67.4
Gainsboro
GB67.3 Harrison School
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67.3
Gainsboro
GB67.2 Harrison School
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67.2
Gainsboro
GB67.1 Harrison School
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67.1
Gainsboro
GB67 Harrison School
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School.
Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Roanoke Public Libraries
Unknown
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
GB67
Gainsboro