Category Archives: Education

Springfield High School class of 1914 (graduation brochure)

Posted on May 15, 2014 by editor

The 116 graduates in Springfield High School’s class of 1914 held their commencement ceremonies at the grand Chatterton Opera House. Slightly over half were women. The graduation brochure was provided by the family of graduate Alice Blumle.       … Continue reading →

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Jessie Palmer Weber

Posted on January 4, 2014 by editor

Jessie Palmer Weber was Illinois state librarian from 1898 until her death in 1926 and also helped organize and served as the first secretary of the Illinois State Historical Society. She also was involved in creating the Journal of the Illinois … Continue reading →

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St. James Trade School (closed high schools)

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

St. James Trade School trained boys, originally orphans, for such jobs as mechanic, baker, the building trades, butcher and others from 1930 until 1972. St. James was a boarding school from 1930 to 1963 and then became a day school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Education, Schools and school districts | 5 Comments

Springfield Junior College

Posted on December 13, 2013 by editor

Springfield Junior College was founded in 1929 by the Ursuline order of Catholic nuns. Its name was changed to Springfield College in Illinois in 1968. The school became affiliated with Benedictine University of Lisle, Ill. in 2003. It now is … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 7 Comments

Springfield School District desegregation order (1976)

Posted on November 19, 2013 by editor

The Rev. Negil McPherson filed suit against the Springfield School District in April 1974, accusing the district of “numerous deliberate actions all of which boiled down to creating, fostering, and maintaining racial and ethnic segregation in the Springfield, Illinois, public … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Local government, Schools and school districts | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Gertrude Wright

Posted on November 14, 2013 by editor

Gertrude Wright, who was the first African American to graduate from Springfield High School, went on to marry Clement Morgan, a lawyer in Massachusetts. Both Wright Morgan and her husband played prominent roles in W.E.B. Dubois’ Niagara Movement, designed as … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Prominent figures | 3 Comments

Josephine Snowden Meek

Posted on November 11, 2013 by editor

Josephine Snowden Meek was salutatorian of the Springfield High School midwinter graduating class in January 1907; she might well have been valedictorian except that she was black. See Black honor student controversy, 1907.

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Black honor student controversy, 1907

Posted on November 11, 2013 by editor

White students in the January 1907 graduating class at Springfield High School objected when it appeared that two black students, both girls, were in line to become the class’s valedictorian and salutatorian. In a suspiciously sudden reversal of fortune, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Prominent figures, Women | Tagged , | 4 Comments

First Black high school graduate

Posted on November 5, 2013 by editor

The first African-American high school graduate in Springfield wanted to be a schoolteacher, but it would be 80 more years before the local public schools would employ a Black teacher. So Gertrude Wright (1861-1931) became a teacher in St. Louis, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Ethnic groups, Local government, Schools and school districts, Women | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Bettie Stuart Institute

Posted on November 1, 2013 by editor

The Bettie Stuart Institute educated young women, mainly from the Springfield area, from the 1860s into the 1930s. Courses ranged from English, math and foreign languages to art, vocal and instrumental music, but, as an advertisement for the school pointed … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Education, Prominent figures, Schools and school districts, Uncategorized, Women | Leave a comment