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Louise A. Reeves Archer (October 23, 1893 – April 1, 1948) was an American teacher and activist who fought to educate African Americans during the 1930s and 1940s. During this time, racial barriers limited a black student's access to education. They had limited resources compared to white children and were deprived education beyond seventh grade — when twelve grades was already common practice.
A dedicated teacher, Louise Archer brought Vienna's African American community together in service to its school.
In 1922 Archer became teacher and principal for a one-room segregated school in
Arlington National Cemetery
Louise Archer Elementary School website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Louise Livingstone College alumni Morgan State University alumni Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 20th-century American educators Educators from North Carolina Educators from Virginia People from Vienna, Virginia 1893 births 1948 deaths People from Fayetteville, North Carolina 20th-century American women educators 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American educators
Louise A. Reeves Archer (October 23, 1893 – April 1, 1948) was an American teacher and activist who fought to educate African Americans during the 1930s and 1940s. During this time, racial barriers limited a black student's access to education. They had limited resources compared to white children and were deprived education beyond seventh grade — when twelve grades was already common practice.
A dedicated teacher, Louise Archer brought Vienna's African American community together in service to its school.
Early life
Louise Reeves grew up inNorth Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
and attended Livingstone College
Livingstone College is a private, historically black Christian college in Salisbury, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Livingstone College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the S ...
. She taught school in Southampton County, Virginia
Southampton County is a county located on the southern border of the Commonwealth of Virginia. North Carolina is to the south. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,996. Its county seat is Courtland.
History
In the early 17th century ...
, where she married Romulus C. Archer Jr. in 1915. They moved to Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, in 1922 and she continued her education, later earning a B.S. from Morgan State College
Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known a ...
.
Career in education
In 1922 Archer became teacher and principal for a one-room segregated school in Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
, Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. Devoted to her students, she often transported children to school herself and worked to improve their learning experience. She organized a Parent-Teacher Association to raise funds for supplies and a new building, which opened in 1939 with three rooms. In 1941 students, parents, and faculty raised $300, which paid for a music teacher, bus expenses, kitchen supplies, and the installation of electric lights. Archer also established one of Fairfax County
Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of Northern Virginia and borders both the city of Alexandria, Virginia, Alexandria and ...
's earliest 4-H Clubs for African Americans and her students participated in garden projects to raise vegetables for lunches prepared at school.
Archer provided a high-quality education. In addition to the academic curriculum, she taught sewing, cooking, music, and poetry to her students in fifth through seventh grades, which was then the highest level of public education available to African Americans in the county. After Archer's death, families petitioned the county to name the school in her honor. Louise Archer Elementary School continues to remember her service to the community with an annual celebration in her honor.
In 1948, Archer died of a heart attack; the school was renamed Louise Archer Elementary School in her honor in 1950.
References
External
Arlington National Cemetery
Louise Archer Elementary School website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Louise Livingstone College alumni Morgan State University alumni Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 20th-century American educators Educators from North Carolina Educators from Virginia People from Vienna, Virginia 1893 births 1948 deaths People from Fayetteville, North Carolina 20th-century American women educators 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American educators