Description: Photograph from the Columbus Citizen Journal collection identified on its reverse as "Franklinton School" at the corner of West Broad and Sandusky Street in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. The school, at 666 West Broad Street, was built in 1879 and demolished in early 1956 in order to make way for the Columbus innerbelt highway. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_13_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; School buildings; Education--Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows Benjamin W. Arnett (1836-1906), a member of the Ohio House of Representatives during its 67th session (1886-1887). Arnett was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. A teacher and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he moved to Ohio in 1867, and served as pastor and teacher at churches in Cincinnati, Toledo, Urbana, and Columbus. In 1886, as a Republican representative from Greene County in the Ohio General Assembly, Arnett introduced legislation to repeal the state's "Black Laws." First enacted in 1803, these laws limited the freedom and rights of the state's African American residents. Arnett was particularly concerned that state law did not ensure that black children had the same educational opportunities as white children. In 1887, statutes regarding education were changed; the state was thereafter required to provide equal opportunities to all children regardless of race. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om871_806473_004
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Ohio Government; Education; Civil Liberties; Religion in Ohio; Ohio House of Representatives; Segregation--Laws and legislation;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Group portrait of six students with their teacher, posed outside of their schoolhouse. Handwriting on the negative reads "Our school 05" and "Miss Wilking Teacher." This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was taken in the region of southeastern Ohio and central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio History Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_B26_F2427
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Photographers--Ohio; Portrait photography--United States--History; School buildings; Students; Education
Places: Ohio; West Virginia
 

Description: Photograph identified as Fair Avenue School in Columbus, Ohio, from the Columbus Citizen-Journal Collection. A typed caption on the reverse reads "Fair Av Elementary School, 1395 Fair-av, closed for remodeling--note work of prankster in putting up "for sale" sign." Fair Avenue Elementary School was located at 1395 Fair Avenue. It was built in 1890, and closed in June 2010. The building now houses A+ Arts Academy, founded in August 2004. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_02_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; School buildings; Education--Ohio; Construction industry--Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photograph of a young boy smiling at the camera as a smock is fastened around his neck by his teacher. The image was submitted by photographer John Sheckler of Middletown, Ohio, in the Professional category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. Sheckler provided a caption on the photograph's reverse that reads, "A head start school time to finger paint." Head Start, created in 1965, is a federally-funded child development program providing school readiness, health and family support for low-income children below kindergarten age. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B02F13_01_01
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Children; Education; African American Ohioans; Child care; Arts and crafts
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph identified as Fair Avenue School in Columbus, Ohio, from the Columbus Citizen-Journal Collection. A caption on the reverse reads "Fair-Av. Grade School Jan. 1942--celebrating its 50th Birthday." Fair Avenue Elementary School was located at 1395 Fair Avenue. It was built in 1890, and closed in June 2010. The building now houses A+ Arts Academy, founded in August 2004. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_03_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; School buildings; Education--Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Class portrait of a group of students and their teacher outside of one-room schoolhouse, against a backdrop of wooded hillside. Handwriting on the negative is obscured by damage to the emulsion. This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was taken in the region of southeastern Ohio and central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio History Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_B27_F2537
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Photographers--Ohio; Portrait photography--United States--History; Children; Education; School buildings
Places: Ohio; West Virginia
 

Description: Photograph identified as Fair Avenue School in Columbus, Ohio, from the Columbus Citizen-Journal Collection. A typed caption on the reverse reads "The south wing of Fair avenue school which has no fire escapes. Kids in this section would have to go through hallway into main part of the school pictured at the right, thence out through the main door on Fair avenue side." A handwritten note reads "bombing during war." Fair Avenue Elementary School was located at 1395 Fair Avenue. It was built in 1890, and closed in June 2010. The building now houses A+ Arts Academy, founded in August 2004. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_01_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; School buildings; Education--Ohio; Safety;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Group portrait showing students and their teacher at Hill Grove School, possibly in Burning Springs, West Virginia. Most of those pictured have a hand raised to shade their eyes from the sun. Their school building and an outhouse can be seen in the background. This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was taken in the region of southeastern Ohio and central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio History Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_B26_F2424
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Photographers--Ohio; Portrait photography--United States--History; School buildings; Students; Education
Places: Ohio; West Virginia
 

Description: This 4.5 by 6.5-inch (11.43 by 16.51 cm) photograph shows Daniel A. Payne, who in 1863 became first African American president of Wilberforce University. Payne was born in 1811 in Charleston, South Carolina to free parents of mixed black, white, and American Indian ancestry. In 1835, he moved north to enroll in a seminary. He was licensed to preach in 1837 and ordained in 1839. Although affiliated with several denominations, Payne eventually settled on the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which ordained him bishop in 1852. In his ministry, Payne focused on education as the key to empowerment. In 1863 he was able to raise enough money to purchase Wilberforce University on behalf of the A.M.E. Church. Between 1863 and 1876, Payne provided leadership as president of the university, which became a respected leader in educating African Americans. Wilberforce University was established in 1856 in Green County under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was named for William Wilberforce (1759-1833), an English abolitionist. When the African Methodist Episcopal Church purchased the university in 1863, Union Seminary, which the A.M.E. Church founded in 1844, also became part of Wilberforce. The university was the first to be owned and run by African Americans. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1277_792530_109
Subjects: African Americans; Education; Universities and colleges; Students
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This 4.25 by 5.75-inch (10.79 by 14.61 cm) engraving of Benjamin William Arnett is a reproduction of a photograph taken by L. Hunster. It appeared in Harper's Weekly on May 18, 1878, together with an article on the International Sunday School Convention in Atlanta. Arnett traveled to Georgia to represent Ohio at the convention, which was attended by delegates from Protestant denominations in every state. Its purpose was to discuss religious education for children. Arnett was refused admission to the convention because of his race. Arnett (1836-1906) was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. A teacher and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Arnett moved to Ohio in 1867. He served as pastor and teacher at churches in Cincinnati, Toledo, Urbana, and Columbus. In 1886, as Republican representative from Greene County in the Ohio General Assembly, Arnett introduced legislation to repeal the state's "Black Laws." First enacted in 1803, Ohio's "Black Laws" limited the freedom and rights of African American residents. Arnett was particularly concerned that state law did not ensure that black children had the same educational opportunities as white children. In 1887, statues regarding education were changed; the state was thereafter required to provide equal opportunities to all children regardless of race. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om871_806451_001
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Ohio Government; Education; Civil Liberties; Religion in Ohio; Segregation--Laws and legislation;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This 6.5" by 9.5" (16.51 by 24.13 cm) photograph is the only known image of the "Black Cats," or the men of Beta Kappa Sigma at Wilberforce University. The "Black Cat Club" was a club with the purpose of fostering good times among the members. The members met at various places, usually an attic room of some member. While never officially incorporated or recognized by the university, it was a forerunner to fraternities that later established chapters at Wilberforce University. One of the men in the photograph is Charles Young, who later became an army officer, expert mapmaker, and musician. Charles Young is the second person from the left, in the second row from the front. Young (1864-1922), a Kentucky native raised in Ohio, graduated from Ripley Colored High School in 1880. He won appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1884 and in 1889 became the third African American graduate from the school. Young taught military science at Wilberforce University and later served in the Spanish American War as the major in command of the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.). He had an exceptional military career, highlighted by his appointments to serve as military attache to Haiti and Liberia. He commanded troops in the "Punitive Expedition" in Mexico, and during the "Filipino Insurrection." He was also superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks. At the outset of World War I, Young was the highest-ranking African American in the army. Rather than promote him, and place in a position of authority over white soldiers, the army involuntarily retired Young from active duty, ostensibly because of ill health. To prove his fitness for duty, he rode horseback from his home in Wilberforce, Ohio, to Washington, D.C. The army, nevertheless, did not promote him to colonel until after he retired from service. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1800_1765263_001
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Education; Young, Charles, 1864-1922; Greek letter societies
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)