Mathews in Mathews County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Thomas Hunter (Rosenwald) School

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 26, 2021

1. Thomas Hunter (Rosenwald) School Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

African Americans formed the Mathews Educational League in 1923 and raised $9,900 to build a four-room school here in 1926-1927. Donations came mainly from the black community, with additional contributions from white residents, the county school board, and the Julius Rosenwald Fund. This fund, established by the president of Sears, Roebuck, and Co., and inspired by the work of Booker T. Washington, helped build more than 5,000 schools and supporting structures for black students between 1917 and 1932. Named for Thomas Hunter, a former slave, this school was accredited during the 1939-1940 session and moved into a new brick building here in 1953. County schools were desegregated in 1969.

Erected 2018 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number ND-17.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 37° 26.164′ N,

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76° 19.623′ W. Marker is in Mathews, Virginia, in Mathews County. Marker is on Church Street (Virginia Route 611) just south of Put-In-Creek Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mathews VA 23109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mathews County Courthouse Square (approx. 0.3 miles away); Captain Sally L. Tompkins, C.S.A. (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mathews County Confederate Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Civil War In Mathews County (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Cricket Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away); Tompkins Cottage Museum (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kingston Parish Glebe (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mathews.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 26, 2021

2. Thomas Hunter (Rosenwald) School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.