Cumberland in Cumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Jackson Davis
Cumberland Court House, Virginia
— Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® —
Jackson Davis, an educational reformer and amateur photographer, was born in Cumberland County, VA, to William Anderson and Sally Wyatt (Guy) Davis on September 25, 1882. He attended the public schools of Richmond, VA, and received his B.A. from the College of William and Mary in 1902 and his M.A. from Columbia University in 1908.
Throughout his career Davis specialized in Southern education, interracial problems, and education in Belgian Congo and Liberia. From 1915 to 1946 his work at the General Education Board in New York, NY, was focused on improving education in the Southern states. During this time he took nearly 6,000 photographs of African-American schools, teachers and students throughout the Southeastern United States. His photographs – most intended to demonstrate the wretched conditions of African-American schools and to show how they could be improved – provide a unique view of Southern education during the first half of the twentieth century.
Davis died in Cartersville, VA, on April 15, 1947. At the time of his death he was president of the board of trustees of Booker T. Washington Institute in Liberia, president of the New York Colonization Society, and a member of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation and of the Advisory Committee on Education in Liberia. Davis’ influence on behalf of better relations and understanding between whites and African Americans and his pioneer work in promoting regional centers of education in the South were of immense significance. His photographs and papers were donated after his death to the University of Virginia Library.
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(Right) Jackson Davis photograph of an exhibit in Cumberland Court House.
(Below and Far Right) Portraits of black teachers taken by Jackson Davis at the Cumberland Courthouse between the years 1913-1945.
(Bottom) Cumberland County native, Jackson Davis, b.1882-d.1947.
Photos courtesy of The Jackson Davis Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library.
Erected by Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1925.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 29.806′ N, 78° 14.695′ W. Marker was in Cumberland, Virginia, in Cumberland County. Marker was at the intersection of Foster Road and Anderson Highway (U.S. 60), on the left when traveling north on Foster Road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Cumberland VA 23040, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. First Call For Independence (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Jackson Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); Cumberland County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederate Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Campaign of 1781 (approx. 2.4 miles away); Buckingham County / Cumberland County (approx. 5.8 miles away); Cumberland County / Powhatan County (approx. 6.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cumberland.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "Jackson Davis".
Also see . . .
1. Jackson Davis (education official). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 23, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Teachable History: The Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail. Recreation website entry (Submitted on July 23, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,144 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 27, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.