Report for the Williams School in Virginia
9/1869
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Following the Civil War and the ratification of the 13th Amendment, formerly enslaved persons faced many challenges. Congress established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands — better known as the Freedmen’s Bureau —within the War Department on March 3, 1865. The Bureau provided assistance to tens of thousands of formerly enslaved people. It helped freedpeople establish schools, purchase land, locate family members, and legalize marriages. The Bureau also supplied necessities such as food, clothing, and hospitals.
Teachers reported to the Freedmen’s Bureau monthly listing information such as the number of students enrolled in their school, sources of financial support, and what subjects students were studying. Despite their impoverished condition, African Americans contributed as best they could to support education in their communities. It is reported by this teacher that "the people are not able to pay the tuition, but they want to send their children to school."
Teachers reported to the Freedmen’s Bureau monthly listing information such as the number of students enrolled in their school, sources of financial support, and what subjects students were studying. Despite their impoverished condition, African Americans contributed as best they could to support education in their communities. It is reported by this teacher that "the people are not able to pay the tuition, but they want to send their children to school."
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
National Archives Identifier: 595082
Full Citation: Report for the Williams School in Virginia; 9/1869; Teachers' Monthly School Reports, 3/1866 - 6/1871; Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Record Group 105; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/report-williams-school, May 6, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.