The Union School in Natchez was the first public, co-educational school by the city for African American students formed in 1871 and closed c. 1925, and was located at the southeast corner of North Union and Monroe Streets in
Natchez Natchez may refer to:
Places
* Natchez, Alabama, United States
* Natchez, Indiana, United States
* Natchez, Louisiana, United States
* Natchez, Mississippi, a city in southwestern Mississippi, United States
* Grand Village of the Natchez, a site o ...
, Mississippi.
History
The Union School was established in 1871 as a brick building and it had thirteen rooms which held up to 948 children.
The school opened in the fall of 1871, led by Theodore H. Greene and employed 9 black teachers, with the enrollment of 406 students. In 1887, the school was led by principal John S. Meekins, with enrollment of 267 students. By 1909, the school had enrollment of 1,175 students. In 1924, the lower grade levels had as many as 120 students in a single classroom, which prompted the school board to plea with the mayor to make changes.
[ With ]
In 1925, the
Brumfield High School
Brumfield High School, formerly G. W. Brumfield School, was a segregated public high school for African American students built in 1925 and closed in 1990; located in Natchez, Mississippi. With
It has been listed as a Mississippi Landmark since ...
, another African American public school in Natchez, was built to alleviate the overcrowding.
The school namesake was George Washington Brumfield (1866–1927) who had taught classes at the Union School and served as a principal, after his arrival to Natchez in the 1890s.
Brumfield also served as the Sunday school teacher at Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Zion Chapel
AME Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the AME Church or AME, is a Black church, predominantly African American Methodist Religious denomination, denomination. It adheres to Wesleyan-Arminian theology and has a connexionalism, c ...
).
The Union School operated during a period of
racial segregation
Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into race (human classification), racial or other Ethnicity, ethnic groups in daily life. Racial segregation can amount to the international crime of apartheid and a crimes against hum ...
in Mississippi. The
Natchez Institute
The Natchez Institute was a segregated K-12 public school "for whites-only" established in 1845 and closed in ? in Natchez, Mississippi. It was the first public, co-educational school in the city that offered a full course of classes. It is listed ...
was the first public school by the city for white-only students, established in 1845.
By 1950s, the Union School building was demolished. The school is included in the "African American Public Education, Natchez Trails" historical marker at its former site.
See also
*
History of Natchez, Mississippi
The city of Natchez, Mississippi, was founded in 1716 as Fort Rosalie, and renamed for the Natchez people in 1763.
Pre-European settlement (to 1716)
According to archaeological excavations, the area has been continuously inhabited by various ...
*
Natchez Junior College
Natchez Junior College, formerly Natchez College, was a private historically black college and later junior college opened in 1884 and closed in 1989, located in Natchez, Mississippi, United States.
Natchez College was formed in 1884 by an effor ...
, historically black college opened in 1884
References
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Public schools in Mississippi
Schools in Adams County, Mississippi
Buildings and structures in Natchez, Mississippi
Educational institutions established in 1871
1871 establishments in Mississippi
Historically segregated African-American schools in Mississippi