East Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Meigs School
The First African American High School in Nashville
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 26, 2021
1. Meigs School Marker
Named in honor of James L. Meigs, Nashville's second superintendent of public school. Meigs was established in 1883 as an elementary school for African-American students. An African American, Robert S. White, served as its first principal. Since no high schools for African Americans existed, Mrs. Sandy Porter attempted to enroll her sono, James Rice Porter, in the all-white public Fogg High School in 1886. After he was denied admission, Mrs. Porter and the African-American community protested to the board of ecuation and the city council.
On September 20, 1886, under Principal D.N. Croswaitie, an African American, Meigs became the first public African-American high school in Nashville. In the academic year of 1897-98, Meigs' high school department was transferred to Pearl School. Meigs remained an elementary and junior high school until 1958, when it again became a high school. In 1969, Meigs graduated its last high school class; the following year it reverted to a middle school. In 1983, it became the Meigs Magnet School for grades five through eight.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 1886.
Location. 36° 10.561′ N, 86° 45.631′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in East Nashville. It is on Ramsey Street just west of North 8th Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 715 Ramsey St, Nashville TN 37206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Miles House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 0.2
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 26, 2021
2. Meigs School Marker
Also see . . . Meigs School. Wikipedia article (Submitted on June 26, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia.)
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 26, 2021
3. Meigs School Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,093 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 26, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
