Gregory Normal School was an American segregated high school in
Wilmington, North Carolina for African American students, that operated from 1868 to 1921. It was the first school admitting African American students in Wilmington after the
American Civil War.
It had been named the Wilmington Normal School, and the Gregory Normal Institute.
History
It was originally known as Wilmington Normal School when it was organized by a group of eight
Protestant missionaries from
New England who were sponsored by the
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association (AMA) was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on in Albany, New York. The main purpose of the organization was abolition of slavery, education of African Americans, promotion of racial equality, and ...
.
It was a high school-level school that sought to prepare its students for studying in colleges and universities elsewhere.
It was renamed the Gregory Normal Institute in 1883 in honor of
James J. H. Gregory
James is a common English language surname and given name:
*James (name), the typically masculine first name James
* James (surname), various people with the last name James
James or James City may also refer to:
People
* King James (disambiguat ...
of
Marblehead, Massachusetts, who made a substantial donation to the school's operations.
In 1921, the classes ceased at this site.
The Gregory Congregational Church (now Gregory Congregational United) that stood next to the school is still active.
A public elementary school located a few blocks away from the former site is named the Gregory School.
Alumni
*
George Edward Davis, professor at
Biddle University and later supervisor of
Rosenwald School building
*
Addie Whiteman Dickerson (1878–1940), businessperson, politician, clubwoman, suffragist, and peace activist
*
Caroline Sadgwar Manly
Caroline may refer to:
People
*Caroline (given name), a feminine given name
* J. C. Caroline (born 1933), American college and National Football League player
* Jordan Caroline (born 1996), American (men's) basketball player
Places Antarctica
*C ...
, one of the
Fisk Jubilee Singers, and wife of
Alexander Manly
Alexander (or Alex) Lightfoot Manly (May 13, 1866– October 5, 1944) was an newspaper owner and editor who lived in Wilmington, North Carolina. With his brother, Frank G. Manly, as co-owner, he published the ''Daily Record'', the state's only d ...
*
Bertha McNeill
Bertha Clay McNeill (November 12, 1887 – September 21, 1979) was an American civil rights activist, peace activist, and educator. She grew up in North Carolina and earned a teaching certificate there before moving to Washington, D.C., whe ...
(1887–1979), activist and educator
References
Additional sources
History of Education in North Carolina, p. 329
External links
{{Authority control
1868 establishments in North Carolina
Historically segregated African-American schools in North Carolina
Defunct schools in North Carolina
Educational institutions established in 1868
Educational institutions disestablished in 1921
Schools in Wilmington, North Carolina